The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors
The factors underlying the ‘zoo visit effect’ (changes in animal behaviour/physiology in response to visitor presence) are still poorly understood, despite it being widely investigated. The present study examined the effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour of 17 different species...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/8/139 |
| _version_ | 1818671181867253760 |
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| author | Marina B. Queiroz Robert J. Young |
| author_facet | Marina B. Queiroz Robert J. Young |
| author_sort | Marina B. Queiroz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The factors underlying the ‘zoo visit effect’ (changes in animal behaviour/physiology in response to visitor presence) are still poorly understood, despite it being widely investigated. The present study examined the effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour of 17 different species of mammals at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The behaviour of the animals was recorded using scan (focal in one case) sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour, during 12 continuous months. Data were analysed using a comparative method examining five different factors: diet, body weight, stratum occupied, activity cycle, and habitat, as well as three different visitor categories: small and quiet audience, medium size audience and medium noise, and large size and loud audience. Significant changes in the behaviour for each factor, especially increases in locomotor and resting behaviour, were observed in response to different visitor categories. The factors that most explained responses to visitor categories were habitat and activity cycle. Species from closed habitats compared to open habitats were significantly more impacted (more behaviour affected), probably, because they are, evolutionarily, less accustomed to visual contact with people. Diurnal species showed more behavioural changes than nocturnal ones, possibly, because they were being observed during their normal activity cycle. These results may help zoos identify which mammal species are most susceptible to the zoo visitor effect, and consequently, be more pro-active in the use of mitigating strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:19:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2654ec6c03374b92bd484e271be14300 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-2654ec6c03374b92bd484e271be143002022-12-21T21:58:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152018-08-018813910.3390/ani8080139ani8080139The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to VisitorsMarina B. Queiroz0Robert J. Young1Conservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia da PUC Minas, Prédio 41, Av. Dom José Gaspar, 500, Coração Eucarístico, Belo Horizonte 30535-610, MG, BrazilConservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia da PUC Minas, Prédio 41, Av. Dom José Gaspar, 500, Coração Eucarístico, Belo Horizonte 30535-610, MG, BrazilThe factors underlying the ‘zoo visit effect’ (changes in animal behaviour/physiology in response to visitor presence) are still poorly understood, despite it being widely investigated. The present study examined the effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour of 17 different species of mammals at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The behaviour of the animals was recorded using scan (focal in one case) sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour, during 12 continuous months. Data were analysed using a comparative method examining five different factors: diet, body weight, stratum occupied, activity cycle, and habitat, as well as three different visitor categories: small and quiet audience, medium size audience and medium noise, and large size and loud audience. Significant changes in the behaviour for each factor, especially increases in locomotor and resting behaviour, were observed in response to different visitor categories. The factors that most explained responses to visitor categories were habitat and activity cycle. Species from closed habitats compared to open habitats were significantly more impacted (more behaviour affected), probably, because they are, evolutionarily, less accustomed to visual contact with people. Diurnal species showed more behavioural changes than nocturnal ones, possibly, because they were being observed during their normal activity cycle. These results may help zoos identify which mammal species are most susceptible to the zoo visitor effect, and consequently, be more pro-active in the use of mitigating strategies.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/8/139animal welfarebehaviourmammalszoo enclosureszoo publiczoo visitors |
| spellingShingle | Marina B. Queiroz Robert J. Young The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors Animals animal welfare behaviour mammals zoo enclosures zoo public zoo visitors |
| title | The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors |
| title_full | The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors |
| title_fullStr | The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors |
| title_short | The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors |
| title_sort | different physical and behavioural characteristics of zoo mammals that influence their response to visitors |
| topic | animal welfare behaviour mammals zoo enclosures zoo public zoo visitors |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/8/139 |
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