Océane Liehrmann

I am a French postdoctoral researcher in animal behaviour and welfare, currently affiliated with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Alnarp, Sweden and The University of Turku in Finland.
I hold MSc degrees in Behavioural ecology and neurosciences and completed my PhD in Biology at the University of Turku (finland, 2023), where I explored human–animal relationships in working animals such as Asian elephants, horses, and reindeer.

My research now focuses on understanding the cognitive and emotional lives of animals, and how human–animal interactions influence both welfare and safety. To approach this, I integrate behavioural studies, physiological monitoring, and new technologies such as electroencephalography (EEG), infrared thermography, and artificial intelligence. My aim is to develop non-invasive methods that shed light on animal emotions and cognition, and to provide practical tools for improving welfare in applied contexts.

Alongside this work, I also investigate the human side of human–animal relationships. My recent projects explore how horse owners’ personality traits and attachment styles shape the way they house and manage their horses. Since owners’ psychological profiles strongly influence animals’ daily living environments, this research connects human psychology with animal welfare, highlighting how improving horses’ lives often requires understanding their caregivers as well.

Bringing these lines of research together, I work across disciplines—biology, cognitive science, psychology, and artificial intelligence—to advance both animal welfare science and our understanding of the complex bonds humans form with animals.

• 2023         PhD in Biology - University of Turku (Turku, FINLAND)
• 2019         MSc Neurosciences – Behavioural sciences - University of Sciences (Caen, FRANCE)
• 2016         MSc Behavioural Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity - François Rabelais University (Tours, FRANCE)
• 2014         BSc Ecology and Biology of Organisms - Montpellier II University (Montpellier, FRANCE)

PhD student (Co-supervision)

• Veera Riihonen - University of Turku (FINLAND) – Human-Horse/cats social cognition
• Mihika Sen - university of Helsinki (FINLAND) - Human-Asian elephant conflict mitigation

• Ståhl, A.; Viitanen. A: Salonen, M. & Liehrmann, O. 2025. Psychometric Validation of the Adapted Pet Attachment Questionnaire in Measuring Human-Horse Attachment. Anthrozoös
• Vakili, F. S.; Pöysä, H.; Liehrmann, O.; Pöysä, H.; Runko, P.; Björkman, S.; Arzel, C. 2024. The older the bolder: anti-predator behavior during incubation in common goldeneye based on long-term individual data. Animal Behaviour.
• Liehrmann, O.; Olila, A.; Lummaa, V.; Lansade, L; Seltmann, M. 2024. Enhancing stress assessment in sledge reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): a pilot study on infrared thermal imaging and its opportunities for advancement as a Welfare Assessment Tool. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 11(3), 293-304  
• Abalos, J.; Pérez i de Lanuza, G.; Bartolomé, A.; Liehrmann, O.; Laakkonen, H.; Aubret, F.; Uller, T.; Carazo, P.; Font, E. 2024. Behavioral threat and appeasement signals take precedence over static colors in lizard contests. Behavioural Ecology arae045
• Liehrmann, O.; Lummaa, V.; Riihonen, V.; Lansade, L. 2024. Assessment of emotional changes and pain in horses using infrared thermal measurement of the eye. Measuring Behavior 2024 - Conference Proceedings P461-463.
• Jardat, P.; Liehrmann, O.; Reigner, F.; Parias, C.; Calandreau, L.; Lansade, L. 2023. Horses discriminate between human facial and vocal expressions of sadness and joy. Animal Cognition 26, 1733–1742.
• Liehrmann, O.; Olila, A.; Lummaa, V.; Lansade, L; Seltmann, M. 2023. First observation of reindeer responding to human-given cues. Journal of Comparative Psychology.  
• Liehrmann, O.; Cosnard, C.; Jardat, P.; Viitanen, A.; Riihonen, V.; Alander, E.; Sonja, K.; Lummaa, V.; Lansade, L. 2023. What drives horse success at following human-given cues? An investigation of handler familiarity and living conditions. Animal Cognition. press release, Yle
• Liehrmann, O.; Viitanen, A.; Riihonen, V.; Alander, E.; Sonja, K.; Lummaa, V.; Lansade, L. 2022. Multiple handlers, numerous owner changes and short relationship length affect horses’ responses to novel object tests. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 254, 105709
• Liehrmann, O.; Crawley, J.; Seltmann, M.; Feillet, S.; Nyein, K.; Aung, H. H.; Htut, W.; Oo, Z. M.; Lahdenperä, M.; Lansade, L.; Lummaa, V. 2021. Handler familiarity helps to improve working performance during novel situations in semi-captive Asian elephants. Scientific Reports. 11, 15480
• Crawley, J.; Liehrmann, O.; Franco dos Santos, D.; Nyein, K.; Aung, H. H.; Htut, W.; Oo, Z. M.; Seltmann, M.; Webb, J.; Lahdenperä, M.; Lummaa, V. 2021. Influence of handler relationships and experience on the health, stress and behaviour of semi-captive Asian elephants. Conservation Physiology. 00(00): coaa116
• Abalos, J.; Pérez i de Lanuza, G.; Bartolomé, A.; Liehrmann, O.; Laakkonen, H.; Aubret, F.; Uller, T.; Carazo, P.; Font, E. 2020. Don’t judge a lizard by its colour: no evidence for differential socio-sexual behaviour and space use in the colour morphs of the European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Ecology and Evolution. 001: 1- 20
• Said, S., Jégoux, F., Chassagneux, A., Liehrmann, O., Shukla, U., Guillaumat, E., Baltzinger, C. 2020. Dispersion des graines par le cerf élaphe (Cervus elaphus) pendant la saison de chasse : mise en place d'une expérimentation dans le Domaine national de Chambord. Revue Forestiere Francaise. LXXI(4-5):371-379
• Webb, J.L., Crawley, J.A.H., Seltmann, M.W., Liehrmann, O., Hemmings, N., Nyein, U.K., Aung, H.H., Htut W., Lummaa, V. & Lahdenperä, M. 2020. Evaluating the Reliability of Non-Specialist Observers in the Behavioural Assessment of Semi-Captive Asian Elephant Welfare. Animals. 10(1):167
• Girod, P., Liehrmann, O., Urvoist, T., Turlings T.C.J., Kenis, M., Haye, T. 2018. Host specificity of Asian parasitoids for potential classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii. Journal of Pest Sciences. 91(4)
• Liehrmann, O., Jégoux, F., Guilbert, M.A., Isselin-Nondedeu, F., Saïd, S., Locatelli, Y. & Baltzinger, C. 2018. Epizoochorous dispersal by ungulates depends on fur, grooming and social interactions. Ecology and Evolution. 8(3)