Domestic Animal Welfare at the Zoo: The Impact of an Animal Visitor Interaction Program on Chickens

Abstract

Many modern zoos strive to create connections between guests and animals through animal visitor interaction (AVI) programs. However, there has been relatively little research into the effect of AVI programs on the welfare of program animals. Previous research has revealed three factors that may affect AVI program animal welfare: species differences, handling and transport, and the provision of choice and control. We assessed the effects of an AVI program designed with these factors in mind on the behavior of a flock (N = 16) of zoo-housed domestic chickens (Gallus gallus). Behavioral data were collected on program days and on non-program (control) days, and we considered the time leading up to the program, the program itself, and the time immediately following the program. When comparing flock behavior on program days to control days, we found no differences in behavioral indicators of welfare during the time leading up to the program and during the program. Rates of aggression, however, were significantly greater after the program had concluded compared to the same time period on matched control days, but still occurred infrequently. Additionally, we recorded the spatial location of each animal while the program occurred and found that the chickens did not spend significantly more or less time in the feeding zone as visitor participation increased, although there were individual differences within the flock. We conclude that the relatively small behavioral changes seen were not indicative of a change in welfare and consider those results in the context of the program design.

The Welfare of Domestic Goats (Capra hircus) in a Zoo-Based Animal-Visitor Interaction Program

“…Previous research has found that goats, in comparison to other domestic species, may be less influenced by the presence of unfamiliar people (Anderson et al, 2004;Farrand et al, 2014), especially when options to move away from people are provided (Anderson et al, 2002). Considering how animals use their space is a simple but effective way to infer their comfort in the presence of visitors, as animals will generally tend to avoid situations that make them less comfortable if possible (Learmonth et al, 2018;Ramont et al, 2021;Saiyed et al, 2019;Wark et al, 2019). Our results suggest that goats are not averse to the presence of unfamiliar people, and that they may be attracted to them under certain conditions, namely, with the option to retreat and a limit on the maximum number of people present.…”

“…Furthermore, in a recent study investigating guinea pig responses to zoo visitors, Powell et al (2020) found that domesticated guinea pigs housed in an exhibit allowing them to be touched by visitors showed no systematic changes in glucocorticoids or body weight indicative of welfare compromise relative to when they were housed off exhibit without visitors touching them. Both Ramont et al (2021) and Powell et al (2020) interpret their zoo-based findings in light of research demonstrating that reduced behavioral and physiological responsiveness to potentially stressful stimuli, including human presence, is a common feature of domestication (e.g., Fallahsharoudi et al, 2015;Fraser & Broom, 1990;Künzl & Sachser, 1999;Price, 1984).…”

“…Goats were probably the first domesticated ruminant livestock species, estimated to have been domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago (Zeder & Hesse, 2000). Domestication history may be related to animal welfare in human visitor interaction programs in zoos; Ramont et al (2021) report that domesticated chickens showed little to no changes in behavioral indicators of welfare when they had the option to approach zoo visitors in a feeding program, and that greater visitor numbers did not predict chicken avoidance of visitor areas. Furthermore, in a recent study investigating guinea pig responses to zoo visitors, Powell et al (2020) found that domesticated guinea pigs housed in an exhibit allowing them to be touched by visitors showed no systematic changes in glucocorticoids or body weight indicative of welfare compromise relative to when they were housed off exhibit without visitors touching them.…”

Behavioral Responses of Captive Corvids to the Presence of Visitors

“…In many contexts, captive animals have been domesticated, e.g., on farms, pets, and thus, adapted to the presence of humans. For example, domestic chickens show little behavioral responses to visitors in an interaction program (Ramont et al, 2021). Typical zoo animals, born in captivity over generations, might have undergone a certain selection for tolerance towards humans (Frankham et al, 1986;McDougall et al, 2006).…”

“…The present study contributes novel insights into behavioral responses of non-domesticated avian species to the presence of zoo visitors. Most previous studies on visitors' effects have been conducted on mammals and studies on birds are rare (de Azevedo & Lima, 2012;Ramont et al, 2021;. In order to better understand the effects of zoo visitors on avian welfare, more studies on bird species are necessary.…”