The effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on self-directed behaviour, activity budgets, movement patterns, and spatial use in semi-captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
Captive African elephants are continuously exposed to tourism, which can lead to chronic stress, and subsequently negatively impact an animals’ health, welfare, and fitness. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to global closures of animal tourism venues, and thus a sudden and prolonged absence of tourists. We examined the impact of this abrupt, unique scenario on […]
A multi-enclosure study investigating the behavioural response of meerkats to zoo visitors
The scientific literature indicates that visitors may affect both the behaviour and welfare of zoo animals. Captive born slender-tailed meerkats, Suricata suricatta, at three exhibits were studied under two treatments (1) unregulated visitor behaviour and (2) regulated visitor behaviour, where signage was positioned requesting visitors to be quiet and not to interact with the animals. […]
Bird Welfare in Zoos and Aquariums: General Insights across Industries
Animal welfare is a priority across accredited zoological institutions; however, historically, research has been prioritized for mammals. Bird-focused studies accounted for less than 10% of welfare research in zoos and aquariums over the last ten years. Due to the lack of scientific publications on bird welfare, zoo scientists and animal practitioners can look to other […]
Public feeding interactions as enrichment for three zoo-housed elephants
The past few decades have seen increased interest in studies examining the welfare of elephants and animal–visitor interactions. One understudied area for both pursuits is the impact of public feeding interactions. Our study examined the effects of public feedings on the general activity of three zoo-housed elephants. Prior to public feedings, we developed and assessed […]
The Effect of Visitors on Zoo Reptile Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Visitors to zoos can have positive, neutral, or negative relationships with zoo animals. This makes human–animal interactions (HAIs) an essential component of welfare and an important consideration in species selection for zoo exhibits and in enclosure designs. We measured the effect of visitors on reptiles by comparing open and closed periods during the lockdowns in […]
The Effect of Visitors on Zoo Reptile Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Visitors to zoos can have positive, neutral, or negative relationships with zoo animals. This makes human–animal interactions (HAIs) an essential component of welfare and an important consideration in species selection for zoo exhibits and in enclosure designs. We measured the effect of visitors on reptiles by comparing open and closed periods during the lockdowns in […]
A new feeding concept offering speciesappropriate animal enrichment and visitor attraction at the same time
Zoological gardens are considered important institutions for human-animal interactions. Facilitating human-animal contacts and the simultaneous protection of the animals from possible distress by visitors represent an important task of zoological gardens. We investigated the effects of a new roughage feeding setup for zoo-kept domestic herbivores on both, animals and visitors. In the setup, visitors are […]
Public Feeding Interactions as Enrichment for Three Zoo-Housed Elephants
The past two decades have seen increased interest in studies examining the welfare of elephants and animal–visitor interactions. One understudied area for both pursuits is the impact of public feeding interactions. Our study examined the effects of public feedings on the general activity of three zoo-housed elephants. Prior to public feedings, we developed and assessed […]
Caretaker attitudes and animal training are associated with alpaca behaviour towards humans—An online survey
Although alpacas are becoming increasingly popular animals, their behaviour towards humans has received little research interest until now. The purpose of our study was to investigate, for the first time, associations between caretaker attitudes and handling practices (i.e., frequency of different types of contact, and the use of training) and alpaca behaviour in the presence […]
Human–Animal Interactions in Zoos: What Can Compassionate Conservation, Conservation Welfare and Duty of Care Tell Us about the Ethics of Interacting, and Avoiding Unintended Consequences?
Human–animal interactions (HAIs) in zoos can be rewarding for both humans and animals, but can also be fraught with ethical and welfare perils. Contact with animals can be beneficial for all parties involved, and can indeed lead to pro-conservation and respect for nature behaviours being adopted by humans after so-called “profound experiences” of connecting or […]