The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density
Zoos strive to create experiences that inspire positive feelings toward animals which lead to conservation behaviors in their visitors. However, concerns regarding the welfare of animals living in zoos present a challenge in creating positive zoo experiences and promoting the conservation agenda and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/2/23 |
| _version_ | 1797485425336516608 |
|---|---|
| author | Wilson C. Sherman Darren E. Minier Caterina N. Meyers Michelle L. Myers |
| author_facet | Wilson C. Sherman Darren E. Minier Caterina N. Meyers Michelle L. Myers |
| author_sort | Wilson C. Sherman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zoos strive to create experiences that inspire positive feelings toward animals which lead to conservation behaviors in their visitors. However, concerns regarding the welfare of animals living in zoos present a challenge in creating positive zoo experiences and promoting the conservation agenda and moral authority of these cultural institutions. This research explores connections between zoo visitors’ positive affective responses and their assessments of animal welfare before and after two giraffes were introduced to a group of four giraffes in a multi-species savannah exhibit. A self administered questionnaire was completed by 499 visitors to the Conservation Society of California’s Oakland Zoo. The questionnaire measured visitors’ predispositions, affective responses, and assessments of animal welfare. Results suggest that visitors’ assessments of animal welfare, positive affective experience, and predisposition are positively correlated. Further, visitor assessments of animal welfare are generally more positive after the addition of new giraffes. Although visitors tended to report that the giraffes were very healthy and well cared for, they responded less positively when asked about how happy the giraffes were and how adequately sized their exhibit was. The findings suggest that understanding and improving zoo visitors’ assessments of animal welfare is important in improving positive experiences and conservation education outcomes during a visit to the zoo. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:19:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78ab510833614f7283bc4d1595366287 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-5636 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:19:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| spelling | doaj.art-78ab510833614f7283bc4d15953662872023-11-23T17:30:13ZengMDPI AGJournal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens2673-56362022-06-013228929910.3390/jzbg3020023The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe DensityWilson C. Sherman0Darren E. Minier1Caterina N. Meyers2Michelle L. Myers3Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USAConservation Society of California—Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA 94605, USAConservation Society of California—Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA 94605, USAConservation Society of California—Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA 94605, USAZoos strive to create experiences that inspire positive feelings toward animals which lead to conservation behaviors in their visitors. However, concerns regarding the welfare of animals living in zoos present a challenge in creating positive zoo experiences and promoting the conservation agenda and moral authority of these cultural institutions. This research explores connections between zoo visitors’ positive affective responses and their assessments of animal welfare before and after two giraffes were introduced to a group of four giraffes in a multi-species savannah exhibit. A self administered questionnaire was completed by 499 visitors to the Conservation Society of California’s Oakland Zoo. The questionnaire measured visitors’ predispositions, affective responses, and assessments of animal welfare. Results suggest that visitors’ assessments of animal welfare, positive affective experience, and predisposition are positively correlated. Further, visitor assessments of animal welfare are generally more positive after the addition of new giraffes. Although visitors tended to report that the giraffes were very healthy and well cared for, they responded less positively when asked about how happy the giraffes were and how adequately sized their exhibit was. The findings suggest that understanding and improving zoo visitors’ assessments of animal welfare is important in improving positive experiences and conservation education outcomes during a visit to the zoo.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/2/23perceptions of animal welfareaffective experiencevisitor studieszoos and aquariums |
| spellingShingle | Wilson C. Sherman Darren E. Minier Caterina N. Meyers Michelle L. Myers The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens perceptions of animal welfare affective experience visitor studies zoos and aquariums |
| title | The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density |
| title_full | The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density |
| title_fullStr | The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density |
| title_full_unstemmed | The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density |
| title_short | The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density |
| title_sort | more the merrier zoo visitors affective responses and perceptions of welfare across an increase in giraffe density |
| topic | perceptions of animal welfare affective experience visitor studies zoos and aquariums |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/2/23 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wilsoncsherman themorethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT darreneminier themorethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT caterinanmeyers themorethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT michellelmyers themorethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT wilsoncsherman morethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT darreneminier morethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT caterinanmeyers morethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity AT michellelmyers morethemerrierzoovisitorsaffectiveresponsesandperceptionsofwelfareacrossanincreaseingiraffedensity |