Conservation, animal behaviour, and human-animal relationship in zoos. Why is animal welfare so important?

., I. Escobar-Ibarra; Mota-Rojas, Daniel; Gual-Sill, Fernando; Sánchez, Carlos R.; Baschetto, Fidel; Alonso-Spilsbury, M.

doi:10.31893/jabb.21011

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…Ensuring good health and welfare is an increasingly important consideration for conservation of endangered species, whether free-ranging or managed to varying degrees under human care. As zoos around the world more extensively use evidence-based approaches to manage animals for improved welfare and conservation contributions [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], there is an increasing need to identify environmental factors that contribute to welfare outcomes. Within the scientific and legislative communities, definitions of animal welfare frequently reference overlapping conceptions of welfare: health or biological functioning, emotional or affective states, and the naturalness of an animal’s life [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Zoo Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare and Herd Dynamics with a More Complex and Expanded Habitat

Glaeser

Shepherdson

Lewis

et al. 2021

Animals

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Ensuring good health and welfare is an increasingly important consideration for conservation of endangered species, whether free-ranging or managed to varying degrees under human care. The welfare-based design of a new habitat for Asian elephants at the Oregon Zoo focused on meeting the elephants’ physical, physiological, psychological, and social needs 24 h a day and across life stages. The habitat was designed to encourage activity, promote species-typical behaviors, support changing social dynamics, offer increased opportunities for choice, and provide biologically meaningful challenges. In this 4-year study, we monitored elephant health and welfare indicators throughout the transition and acclimation from the previous habitat to the new habitat. Several welfare indicators obtained through longitudinal hormone analyses, behavior assessments, and GPS measurement of walking distance and space use provided evidence that these goals were achieved. The elephants were more active and walked farther on a daily basis in the new habitat, with an average walking distance of over 15 km per day. A switch from primarily caretaker-delivered food to seeking food on their own indicates that the disbursement of food with less temporal and spatial predictability increased foraging opportunities, which better satisfies appetitive motivations important for psychological well-being. All individuals showed adaptive and normal adrenal responses to change and challenge, with the highest fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations and variability during the construction phase, and a return to previous baseline concentrations in the new habitat, suggesting they acclimated well to the new environment. The elephants expressed a diverse range of species-typical behaviors and demonstrated social dynamics of a healthy herd in both habitats with transitions of individuals through life stages. They exhibited more autonomy in choosing whom to associate with socially and also by choosing different aspects of their environment with regular indoor/outdoor access and extensive resource use in the new habitat. Findings indicate that the complexity and flexibility of the new habitat and habitat management has been effective in improving overall welfare by providing meaningful challenges and the opportunity to express appetitive behaviors, by offering choice in environmental conditions, and by providing the space and resource distribution to support evolving herd dynamics and increased social equity for individuals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Zoo Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare and Herd Dynamics with a More Complex and Expanded Habitat

Glaeser

Shepherdson

Lewis

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…However, some clear contributing factors that influence visitor perceptions, attitudes and behaviors have been identified, and more factors are being discovered with continued research in this area (Clayton et al, 2009;Fernandez et al, 2009;Godinez & Fernandez, 2019). Some of these identified factors are: animal type/taxonomic group Whitworth, 2012), enclosure/exhibit design (Bitgood et al, 1988;Davey, 2006a;2006b;Nakamichi, 2007;Skibins & Powell, 2013), animal visibility, activity and behaviors (Bitgood et al, 1988;Davey 2006a;2006b;Hacker & Miller, 2016;Luebke et al, 2016;Margulis et al, 2003;Miller, 2013;Philpot, 1996;Ridgway et al, 2005), perceived animal wellbeing and welfare (Bexell et al, 2007;Chiapero et al, 2021;Davey, 2007b;Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021;Howell et al, 2019;Melfi et al, 2004;Miller, 2013;Miller et al, 2018;Packer et al, 2018;Razal & Miller, 2019), proximity to the animal Howell et al, 2019;Luebke et al, 2016;Whitehouse-Tedd et al, 2018), visual messaging/signage (Clayton et al, 2009;Read & Waran, 1996), live animal training, educational programmes and live-animal presentations (Alba et al, 2017;Anderson et al, 2003;Esson & Moss, 2014;Fernandez et al, 2009;…”

Section: What Is the Visitor Experience?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…scheduled school visits) and informal, free-choice learning (e.g. zoo visitors' engagement with signage or presentations) (Bexell et al, 2007;Chalmin-Pui & Perkins, 2017;Clayton, 2016;Dove & Byrne, 2014;Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021;Hayward & Rothenberg, 2004;Lindemann-Matthies & Kamer, 2005;Lukas & Ross, 2005;Miller et al, 2013;Moss et al, 2014;2017a;2017b;Nygren & Ojalammi, 2018;Spooner et al, 2019;Spooner, Jensen et al, 2021). Indeed, even the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) require accredited facilities to consistently measure the effective impact of their conservation and educational programmes/presentations to maintain accreditation (AZA, 2021), as do most of the other regional and global zoo and aquarium associations (Barongi et al, 2015;WAZA, 2005).…”

Section: The Effects Of Learning On Conservation Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another pertinent barrier to the adoption of pro-conservation behaviors are demographically related factors, such as where individuals live and socio-economic status, rather than a lack of knowledge (Moss et al, 2017a). Thus, it has been urged by some researchers that zoos, aquariums, and museums not only need to better understand why visitors attend their attractions, but they must also be more concerned with (1) what visitors do after they leave, and (2) better inspire visitors' active engagement for animals, welfare, and conservation (Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021;Safina, 2018). To achieve this, zoos may need to "widen the view of nature conservation, humananimal relations (HAR), and environmental education in zoos [as the current literature] does not take a critical enough stance on the zoos' conservation views" (Nygren & Ojalammi, 2018, as in Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021.…”

Section: The Effects Of Learning On Conservation Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it has been urged by some researchers that zoos, aquariums, and museums not only need to better understand why visitors attend their attractions, but they must also be more concerned with (1) what visitors do after they leave, and (2) better inspire visitors' active engagement for animals, welfare, and conservation (Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021;Safina, 2018). To achieve this, zoos may need to "widen the view of nature conservation, humananimal relations (HAR), and environmental education in zoos [as the current literature] does not take a critical enough stance on the zoos' conservation views" (Nygren & Ojalammi, 2018, as in Escobar-Ibarra et al, 2021. Outside of the zoo education context, a recent study on the public perception of bats found that after attending a bat-focused festival or an educational exhibit on bats, most adult participants reported increased knowledge of, and intent to help, wild bats in both an immediate and a post-visit follow-up survey (Hoffmaster, Vonk & Mies, 2016).…”

Section: The Effects Of Learning On Conservation Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Animal-Visitor Interactions and the Visitor Experience: Visitor Behaviors, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Learning in the Modern Zoo (Preprint)

Learmonth¹,

Chiew²,

Godinez³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Animal-Visitor Interactions (AVIs) have become commonplace in zoological institutions and facilities globally. However, most AVI research focuses on the effects of visitors on the welfare of animals, with considerably less studies examining the visitor experience itself. Furthermore, robust evaluations of the efficacy of zoo education programs and engagements for increasing visitor awareness of conservation issues, and for fostering long-term pro-conservation behavior changes in them, are under researched. This paper reviews the current literature that pertains to the effects of zoo visitation and AVIs on visitor perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes. We briefly note some of the known effects that zoo visitors have on zoo animals, and conversely explore the effects that factors such as enclosure design, animal visibility and behaviors, and AVIs can have on visitors’ overall experience whilst attending the zoo. We suggest that future research needs to more closely examine the relationships and interactions between zoo visitors and zoo animals; why some zoo visitors maintain repeat visitation over others; what the differences in beliefs and attitudes may be between “zoo visitors” and “non-zoo visitors” (i.e., other general public); and to make a concerted effort to understand: (1) what visitors are doing after they leave the zoo, and (2) whether visitors are adopting long-term pro-conservation behaviors into their daily lives. We further suggest that future research needs to start investigating indirect measures related to the visitor experience, such as: (a) individual conservation support outside of the zoo; (b) internet activity; (c) changes in sustainable purchasing practices related to knowledge gains; (d) financial investment in sustainable or ethical companies after knowledge gains; (e) and the longitudinal effects of zoo visits.

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The influence of welfare and bonds with animals on the job satisfaction of felid keepers in North America

DeSmet

Ogle

2022

Zoo Biology

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The current study set out to examine the perceptions of felid welfare in zoos and elucidate the factors that influence an individual animal care professional's acceptance and recognition of welfare. A total of 121 felid keepers employed in an Association of Zoos & Aquariums facility were included in analysis. Results demonstrate job satisfaction is directly linked to access to training on welfare topics. The relationship between job satisfaction and the fulfillment of the Five Freedoms is positively correlated. Additionally, overall job satisfaction does not appear to influence the bond with felids, but it does with other zoo animals. Those with lower reported job satisfaction demonstrate an overall lower bond with nonfelids, where this not observed in felids. Participants in this study demonstrate the direct connection between job satisfaction and perceived fulfillment of the Five Freedoms. Participants who were provided access to training and information on animal welfare often demonstrated a higher job satisfaction, more positive perception of their employer, and overall view of zoos meeting the Five Freedoms with captive felids.

show abstract

Conservation, animal behaviour, and human-animal relationship in zoos. Why is animal welfare so important?

Cited by 9 publications

References 110 publications

Supporting Zoo Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare and Herd Dynamics with a More Complex and Expanded Habitat

Supporting Zoo Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare and Herd Dynamics with a More Complex and Expanded Habitat

Animal-Visitor Interactions and the Visitor Experience: Visitor Behaviors, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Learning in the Modern Zoo (Preprint)

The influence of welfare and bonds with animals on the job satisfaction of felid keepers in North America

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