Cage location effects on visitor attendance at three Sacramento Zoo mangabey enclosures
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1990 |
Authors: |
G. Mitchell, Stephanie Obradovich, Diana Sumner, Kristine DeMorris, Lisa Lofton, Jonathan Minor, Latrece Cotton, Todd Foster |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
exhibit, people, placement, sequence of visitation |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430090107.abs Research on the effects of enrichment would do well to consider carefully location and/or visitor habituation effects on animal behavior. In the present series of studies, 19,847 visitors to the Sacramento Zoo were counted and categorized by age and sex as they appeared at each of three mangabey cages having only slightly different locations within the zoo. A cage nearest the exit/entrance received significantly more visitors (had greater attracting power) than did a cage away from the exit but on the main path, while the latter cage had more patronage than a cage that was only a few feet off the main walkway. These effects persisted through both subtle and complete changes in the animal inhabitants of the cages. These very strong effects, which are similar to those described by Melton’s (Pychological Bulletin 30:720, 721, 1983; Museum News 14(3):6–8, 1936) classic “exit gradient” as well as to other possible effects of simple location (e.g., visitor habituation) are particularly important for species that are behaviorally responsive to visitors.