Behaviour and Welfare of Hong Kong’s Free-Ranging Feral Bovids (Cattle and Water Buffalo)
The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) at City University of Hong Kong, in partnership with Cornell University, offers a unique PhD opportunity focused on the behaviour and welfare of Hong Kong’s free-ranging feral bovids—cattle and water buffalo. The JCC aims to be a centre of excellence in veterinary medicine and life sciences, with a mission to train high-calibre professionals who address grand challenges in animal and human health under the One Health paradigm. The Centre for Animal Health and Welfare (CAHW), the first of its kind in Asia, supports high-quality, non-invasive research to promote animal health and welfare.
Hong Kong, known for its urban landscape, actually consists of extensive country parks that host populations of feral cattle and water buffalo. These animals, once used as draught animals, now live and reproduce freely, presenting a rare opportunity to study their social structure, behaviour, and health outside farm environments. Globally, bovids are significant livestock, but most research focuses on farmed populations. This project allows the successful candidate to explore aspects of feral bovid behaviour, health, and welfare, with flexibility to develop research ideas in collaboration with the supervisor.
Current research at JCC includes studies on personality homophily, adaptive behavioural strategies, allogrooming, social dynamics, epidemiology, and public attitudes towards feral ungulates. The project is supervised by Professor Alan McElligott (
academic profile
), who leads a team of PhD and postdoctoral researchers. The student will be based at City University of Hong Kong, with fieldwork conducted in accessible locations throughout Hong Kong’s subtropical country parks.
Applicants should be motivated, organized, and driven, with prior practical experience in field data collection. Excellent communication skills are essential for working with external partners. Ideal backgrounds include animal sciences, animal behaviour, animal welfare, behavioural ecology, comparative psychology, conservation biology, veterinary science, or zoology. Candidates from other relevant disciplines with strong prior performance are also considered. City University of Hong Kong requires a Bachelor’s degree for PhD admission; a relevant Master’s degree is preferred but not essential. International applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency. CVs must include degree grade details and GPA scores.
Funding is available for PhD studentships, and applicants may be eligible for scholarships. Most scholarship deadlines are December 1st each year. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter outlining their interests and potential research ideas, along with a short, 2-page CV, via email to Prof. McElligott by October 1, 2025. Applications are reviewed year round, and shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom.
For more information, visit the
Feral Water Buffalo Research Project
and
Feral Cattle Research Project
websites. The JCC and CAHW offer a vibrant research environment with access to diverse field sites and a collaborative team. This PhD project is ideal for students passionate about animal welfare, behavioural ecology, and conservation in a unique subtropical setting.
