Personal profile
Author IDs
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5770-4568
Scopus Author ID: 6701399660
ResearcherID: ABC-1179-2020
Google Scholar Profile: UndxAvAAAAAJ
Impact
Qualifications (Brief)
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. 2011. Queen Mary University of London.
PhD. Zoology. 1998. University College Dublin
BSc. Zoology. 1992. University College Cork.
Editor or Editorial Membership
Editor: PEERJ - the journal of Life and the Environment,
Editor: Research Ethics.
Editor: Journal of Zoology
Editorial Board Member: Animal Sentience
Editor: Animal Behaviour (2014-2017).
Membership of Professional Bodies
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB).
International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE).
International Society for Behavioral Ecology (ISBE).
Projects
Current PhDs
Christina T (City University of Hong Kong, 2025 - present. co-supervised by Prof. Kate Flay, City University of Hong Kong).
Topic: Behaviour and related biodiversity of feral buffalo
Jia LIU (City University of Hong Kong, 2024 - present. co-supervised by Prof. Kate Flay, City University of Hong Kong, and Prof. Jessica McArt, Cornell University).
Topic: Behaviour and welfare of feral buffalo
George Hodgson (City University of Hong Kong, 2021 - present. co-supervised by Prof. Kate Flay, City University of Hong Kong).
Topic: Behaviour and welfare of feral cattle
Tania Perroux (City University of Hong Kong, 2021 - present. Main supervisor, Dr. Kate Flay, City University of Hong Kong).
Topic: Behaviour, health and welfare of feral cattle
Press/Media
Most recent media and press releases:
“INTO FARM ANIMALS' MINDS - VERY CLEVER GOATS" (2020)
Kangaroos can communicate with humans (2020)
DOOBERT "The Animal Professionals" Podcast Interview (2020)
Simple way of 'listening' to chicks could dramatically improve welfare (2020)
Study Finds Goats Can Understand Human Gestures Like Pointing (2020).
Goats can distinguish emotions from the calls of other goats (2019).
Position(s) Available
I am always interested in hearing from motivated potential PhD or Postdoc candidates. Please email me an outline (max. 400 words) of your main research interests and a short CV.
Research Interests/Areas
- How Livestock Perceive and Communicate with People
- Expression and Perception of Animal Emotions
- Use of Vocalisations in Precision Livestock Farming
- Mother-Offspring relations in Livestock
- Domestic Animal Welfare, e.g. dogs and cats
- Public Attitudes to Animal Welfare and Sentience
Services outside CityUHK
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB). Member of ASAB Education Committee.
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB). Member of the EDIA (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility) Committee.
International Society for Applied Ethology. Member of the EDIA Committee.
Farm Sanctuary. Member of the Animals Advisory Committee.
Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), Visionary. https://www.ciwf.org.uk/about-us/visionaries/academia/dr-alan-mcelligott/
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 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations from the last five years
Research output
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Adaptive behavioural strategies to seasonal challenges by a semiurban feral ungulate
Bhattacharjee, D., Flay, K. J., Mumby, H. S. & McElligott, A. G., Jan 2026, In: Animal Behaviour. 231, 123414.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Distress calls as social stressors affecting chicken welfare
Herborn, K. A., Wilson, B., Collins, S. A., Mitchell, M. A., McElligott, A. G. & Asher, L., Jan 2026, In: Biology Letters. 22, 1, 10 p., 20250534.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Reliability and precision of thermal imaging measurements to study animal behaviour and welfare
Bhattacharjee, D. (Co-first Author), Mason, M. A. (Co-first Author) & McElligott, A. G., 2026, In: PeerJ. 14, 27 p., e20861.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Do Goats Recognise Humans Cross-Modally?
Mason, M. A., Semple, S., Marshall, H. H. & McElligott, A. G., 2025, In: PeerJ. 13, e18786 .Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile24 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Domestic goats can follow the direction of human voices to solve a hidden-object task
Watson, S. K., Nawroth, C., McElligott, A. G., Rossano, F. & Townsend, S. W., 10 Dec 2025, (Online published) bioRxiv.Research output: Working Papers › Preprint
Projects
- 2 Active
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LCF: The Role of Buffalo in Lantau Biodiversity Conservation
McElligott, A. G. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), FLAY, K. J. (Co-Investigator) & MUMBY, H. (Co-Investigator)
1/12/22 → …
Project: Research
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ConRes-RO: Provision of Service on Evaluating the Performance of Oral Contraceptive Drug to Feral Pigeons
LIU, K. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), FLAY, K. J. (Co-Investigator), McElligott, A. G. (Co-Investigator) & NEKOUEI JAHROMI, O. A. (Co-Investigator)
9/07/21 → …
Project: Research
Prizes
Press/Media
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Veterinary college sheds light on lives of Lantau’s water buffalo
7/09/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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There really is a herd of water buffalo living in Hong Kong
7/07/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Neglected Farmed Species Deserve More Welfare Research
BUKHARI, S. S. U. H., PARKES, R. S. V., Sneddon, L. U. & McElligott, A. G.
12/05/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Feral female buffalo build friendships based on similar personality traits, suggest animal welfare experts at CityUHK
FLAY, K. J., BHATTACHARJEE, D. & MCELLIGOTT, A. G.
5/12/24 → 11/12/24
6 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Goats can distinguish happy from angry individuals by human voice alone
30/01/24 → 5/02/24
11 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Activities
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The role of buffalo in Lantau biodiversity conservation
Bhattacharjee, D. (Speaker), Flay, K. (Speaker), Mumby, H. (Speaker) & McElligott, A. (Speaker)
26 Nov 2025Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Presentation
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Values and attitudes on water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Hong Kong
Mumby, H. S. (Speaker), Yang, D. (Speaker), Bhattacharjee, D. (Speaker), Flay, K. J. (Speaker) & McElligott, A. G. (Speaker)
26 Nov 2025Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Presentation
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Animal Behaviour Live Annual Conference 2025
BHATTACHARJEE, D. (Presenter), FLAY, K. J. (Participant), Mumby, H. S. (Participant), Zhang, J. (Participant), Wu, J. (Participant) & McElligott, A. G. (Participant)
13 Nov 2025 → 14 Nov 2025Activity: Organizing or Participating in a conference / an event › Conference / Symposium
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Importance of ethical oversight in research and its impact on standards
McElligott, A. G. (Speaker)
1 Oct 2025Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Talk/lecture
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Using Behaviour and Cognition Research to Advance Animal Welfare Impact
McElligott, A. G. (Speaker) & Briefer, E. F. (Speaker)
29 Aug 2025Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Presentation