The Impact of 'Selfie' Tourism on the Behaviour and Welfare of Brown-Throated Three-Toed Sloths.

ABSTRACT: The use of wild animals as photo props is prevalent across the globe and is widely recognised to represent a potential animal welfare concern. However, detailed information regarding the specific impacts of such activity on wild animal behaviour is currently lacking. Herein, we investigated how brown-throated three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus) were handled by tourists, and how sloths behaved during wildlife 'selfies' taken in Manaus, Brazil and Puerto Alegria and Iquitos in Peru. In total, we observed 17 sloths (during 70 focal observations) that were provided for use in wildlife selfies on 34 different tours. We found that an average number of 5 people held each sloth during each focal observation. For 48.6% of the time the sloths were handled in a way which involved physical

SUBMITTER: Carder G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6262464 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature