Catherine Doyle

Catherine Doyle is the director of science, research and advocacy for the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which cares for a wide range of captive wild and exotic animals at three sanctuaries located in Northern California. The largest facility, the 2,300-acre ARK 2000 natural habitat sanctuary, provides refuge for elephants, lions, bears and tigers.

She conducts all advocacy efforts for PAWS, including providing expert testimony at government hearings, media outreach, efforts aimed at educating the public about the use of wild animals for entertainment and as pets, and the conservation of threatened and endangered species.

Catherine has a Master of Science degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College, where her research focused on keeper-elephant interactions, and she and is currently conducting a long-term behavioral study of the female African elephants at ARK 2000.

Prior to working for PAWS, she was the elephant campaign director for In Defense of Animals. Her knowledge of elephant health, welfare and management garnered her a reputation as an expert on conditions for elephants in captivity.

Catherine has appeared on television, radio, and in print worldwide, and has lectured on elephants in captivity and presented research on keeper-elephant interactions. Her chapter on elephants is featured in The Ethics of Captivity, and her essay on elephants in captivity is included in The Handbook of Practical Animal Ethics.