Behavioral Effects of Visitor Presence on Six Reptile Species

Like many people, life changed for zoo animals in 2020 when the world temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although their care was the same, no zoo guests were present during these shutdowns. Zoo guests can be a source of visual, auditory and olfactory stimulation that may be beneficial for some zoo animals but may be a source of stress for others.

Although research into how zoo guests affect some charismatic mega-vertebrates has been ongoing for years, there is little information on how zoo guests impact the behavior and welfare of reptiles. The Holden Reptile Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo was an ideal location to begin looking into this welfare question. Six species of reptiles in four habitats were selected based on their natural histories and an annual assessment of their welfare completed by the reptile care staff. Researchers from the Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics observed these reptiles during the temporary zoo closure and when the Zoo reopened to guests. Although the majority of the reptiles showed neutral changes to the Zoo reopening, a few had more pronounced changes in behavior.

The Catalina Island rattlesnakes (Crotalus catalinensis) showed increases in the time they spent investigating and their behavioral diversity. However, the European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus) showed decreases in the time spent visible and their evenness of space use. The lizards’ decrease in visibility was especially noticeable when there was an increase in zoo guests interacting with the glass habitat front. These results provide an initial understanding of how zoo guests may impact reptiles in a zoo setting. They also provide a starting point for future research to explore this topic in greater depth and expand our understanding of other natural history or individual variables, such as personality, which may influence how reptiles respond to zoo guests.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081034