How do we plan for the zoo exhibit of the future?
Zoos regularly build new exhibits, many of which cost millions of US dollars. It is important that exhibits deliver from an animal, visitor, and staff perspective. It is rare for zoo exhibits to be quantitatively assessed, including trialing of exhibit design, even though this is common practice in the museum sector. This paper highlights the […]
The Benefits of Increased Space and Habitat Complexity for the Welfare of Zoo-Housed King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums embrace animal welfare as a foundational principle of habitat design. Modern habitats are designed to provide animals with choices and agency over their environment, and to encourage species-appropriate behavior and space use. In 2016, the Detroit Zoological Society opened the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, […]
Postoccupancy evaluation of staff, visitors, and three species of animals in a zoo setting
Postoccupancy evaluation (POE) was used to assess newly constructed zoo exhibits from the perspective of three user groups: zoo staff, zoo visitors, and the animals. Staff represents a generally understudied user group in zoo-based POEs. We asked staff to rate the animals’ space, the visitors’ space, and the staff’s space at previous and new exhibits. […]
Which index should I use? A comparison of indices for enclosure use studies
Enclosure use assessments have gained popularity as one of the tools for animal welfare assessments and Post Occupancy Evaluations. There are now a plethora of studies and enclosure use indices available in published literature, and identification of the most appropriate index for each research question is often challenging. The benefits and limitations of four different […]
Comparison of confined mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) behavior in traditional and “ecologically representative” exhibits
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1999)18:33.3.CO;2-K Behavior in a confined group of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) was compared before and after their move from a traditional, all indoor exhibit to an indoor/outdoor facility. The outdoor exhibit was designed to represent as well as is possible important features of the mandrills’ forest habitat. We predicted that activity budgets in the outdoor […]