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The different physical and behavioural characteristics of zoo mammals that influence their response to visitors

Queiroz, MB; Young, RJ

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Authors

MB Queiroz



Abstract

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 showedmore 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.

Citation

Queiroz, M., & Young, R. (2018). The different physical and behavioural characteristics of zoo mammals that influence their response to visitors. Animals, 8(139), https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8080139

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 12, 2018
Online Publication Date Aug 14, 2018
Publication Date Aug 14, 2018
Deposit Date Aug 14, 2018
Publicly Available Date Aug 14, 2018
Journal Animals
Publisher MDPI
Volume 8
Issue 139
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8080139
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8080139
Related Public URLs http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals
Additional Information Projects : Productivity Scholarship

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