Visitors' Effects on the Welfare of Animals in the Zoo: A Review

@article{Davey2007VisitorsEO,
  title={Visitors' Effects on the Welfare of Animals in the Zoo: A Review},
  author={Gareth Davey},
  journal={Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science},
  year={2007},
  volume={10},
  pages={169 - 183}
}
  • Gareth Davey
  • Published 17 May 2007
  • Psychology
  • Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Since the 1970s, research about zoo visitors' effects on the welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity has intensified. Numerous studies have shown that characteristics such as visitor presence, density, activity, size, and position are associated with animal behavioral and—to alesser extent physiological—changes. Studies usually interpret these changes as negative (undesirable) or positive (enriching), but it remains unclear whether they significantly impinge on animal welfare. To make… 
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83
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Visitor effects on zoo animals
TLDR
It is extremely useful to know if the presence of visitors has an effect on zoo animals and what that might be and to apply the insight when providing a positive ‘zoo experience’ for guests, so that any research conducted within a zoo can be accurately assessed.
The Different Physical and Behavioural Characteristics of Zoo Mammals That Influence Their Response to Visitors
TLDR
Examining the effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour of 17 different species of mammals at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Minas Gerais, Brazil 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.
Animal-Visitor Interactions: Effects, Experiences, and Welfare
Animal-Visitor Interactions (AVI) within zoos and aquariums have become an increasingly studied topic. Influenced by both the broader field of Human-Animal Interactions (HAI), as well as visitor…
Assessing Animal Welfare in Animal-Visitor Interactions in Zoos and Other Facilities. A Pilot Study Involving Giraffes
TLDR
Results of animal welfare’s assessment of a pilot test of a six-step protocol based on six steps that aim to explore and assess the overall value of AVIs considering the impact both on animals and visitors are presented.
The Effect of Zoo Visitors on Activity Patterns of Captive
TLDR
The male zebra exhibited inter-species aggression directed toward the gazelle and was found to be incompatible in the mixed-species exhibit, and practical insight into maintaining and maximizing animal welfare in a zoo setting is provided.
Visitor effects on zoo orangutans in two novel, naturalistic enclosures
Zoo Animal Welfare: The Human Dimension
  • J. Cole, D. Fraser
  • Psychology
    Journal of applied animal welfare science : JAAWS
  • 2018
TLDR
It is suggested that attention to human factors, including treating animals as individuals and taking account of their personalities, and the attitudes and personalities of keepers provides major scope for improving the welfare of animals in zoos.
Visitor effects on anxiety in two captive groups of western lowland gorillas
Looking for Visitor’s Effect in Sanctuaries: Implications of Guided Visitor Groups on the Behavior of the Chimpanzees at Fundació Mona
TLDR
It is suggested that it is possible to mitigate potentially harmful visitor effects by restricting and supervising the visitor’s freedom of actions as well as providing animals on display with the means to evade or at least cope with the presence of visitors.
The effects of zoo visitors on Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) avoidance behavior in a walk-through exhibit.
TLDR
The reduction in quokka visibility when visitors were present indicates that visitors were at least moderately fear provoking for the quokkas in this experiment, but further research is required to examine the effects of visitor presence and behaviors on the behavior and stress physiology of quokas in walk-through enclosures, as there may be possible welfare implications.
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References

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TLDR
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TLDR
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