Personal profile
Biography
I hold a BA in Experimental Psychology and MSc in Human Biology from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Behavioural Ecology from the University of St Andrews. I also completed my first post-doc research period at St Andrews, on a Leverhulme Trust funded project exploring social cognition in savannah elephants, working in collaboration with the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. After that, I spent a long time working as a consultant for various conservation projects in southern Africa, before returning to academic research with a Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowship, held at the University of Sussex. I've also worked as an Associate Lecturer for the Open University.
Research Interests
My research considers the evolution of social skills and intelligence in mammals, particularly elephants. Over time, this has grown into a wider interest in the conservation and management of savannah elephant populations, so I try to use my knowledge of animal behaviour and cognition to contribute to and enable sustainable, fair and effective conservation practices.
Teaching Responsibilities
I'm the coordinator for The Science of Psychology module, the first module of the online MSc Psychology (conversion) degree. I also supervise undergraduate research project degrees, and lecture on the first year (L4) Perspectives in Psychology and Animal Behaviour modules.
Education/Academic qualification
Ph.D., Chimpanzee travel and feeding, University of St Andrews
Award Date: 23 May 2005
MSc, Human Biology, Institute of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford
1 Oct 2000 → 1 Oct 2001
Award Date: 30 Oct 2001
BA (Hons), Experimental Psychology, Oriel College, University of Oxford
4 Oct 1997 → 15 Jun 2000
Award Date: 1 Jul 2000
External positions
Member, Elephant Sub Group of the Expert Working Group on Culture and Social Complexity, UNEP Convention on Migratory Species
2017 → …
Member, Elephant Specialist Advisory Group of South Africa
1 Jul 2013 → Jun 2024
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Investigating intentionality in elephant gestural communication
Eleuteri, V., Bates, L. A., Nyaradzo Masarira, Y., Plotnik, J. M., Hobaiter, C. & Stoeger, A., 9 Jul 2025, In: Royal Society Open Science. 12, 18 p., 242203.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure) -
Knowledge transmission, culture and the consequences of social disruption in wild elephants
Bates, L. A., Fishlock, V., Plotnik, J., de Silva, S. & Shannon, G., 1 May 2025, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 380, 14 p., 20240132.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile44 Downloads (Pure) -
Elephant calves have been found buried – what does that mean?
Bates, L. A. & Proops, L., 15 Mar 2024, The Conversation.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access -
Integrating a “One Well-being” approach in elephant conservation: evaluating consequences of management interventions
van de Water, A., Garaï, M. E., Burnett, M. M., Henley, M., Di Minin, E., Streicher, J. P., Bates, L. A. & Slotow, R., 3 Aug 2024, In: Ecology and Society. 29, 3, 59 p., 15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile178 Downloads (Pure) -
Multimodal communication and audience directedness in the greeting behaviour of semi-captive African savannah elephants
Eleuteri, V., Bates, L. A., Rendle-Worthington, J., Hobaiter, C. & Stoeger, A., 9 May 2024, In: Communications Biology . 7, 12 p., 472.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile27 Downloads (Pure)
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Personality, cognition and crop-raiding by savannah elephants
Bates, L. (Research Leader), Thomson, R. (PI), Plotnik, J. M. (Team Member) & Romero, T. (Team Member)
1/10/24 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Identifying postures in savannah elephants
Bates, L. (Research Leader), Sidhu, T. (PI), Proops, L. (Team Member) & Hobaiter, C. (Team Member)
3/10/22 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Leadership in female savannah elephants
Bates, L. (Research Leader) & Scrase, J. (PI)
1/10/21 → 30/04/25
Project: Research
Activities
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Lunchtime Lecture at Linnean Society
Bates, L. (Speaker)
15 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Review of grant application
Bates, L. (Reviewer)
26 Sept 2025Activity: Grant Peer-Review › Grant Peer-Reviewer (External)
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Invited presentation: Knowledge and culture in savannah elephants
Bates, L. (Invited speaker)
20 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Unlocking Nature Panel: Revealing Elephant Intelligence
Bates, L. (Speaker)
26 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Consultant for TV documentary
Bates, L. (Consultant)
15 Jan 2023 → …Activity: Consultancy types › Consultancy
Press/Media
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Can humans ever understand how animals think?
30/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited
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