Widespread Behavioral Responses by Mammals and Fish to Zoo Visitors Highlight Differences between Individual Animals.

ABSTRACT: The impact that humans have on zoo animals can vary based on the species of animal, exhibit design, and individual differences in behavioral responses. We independently analyzed data from 10 never-published studies that examined the impact of zoo visitors on zoo animal behavior. Of the 16 species studied, 90.9% of the mammal species and 60.0% of the fish species demonstrated a change in at least one behavior based on zoo visitor abundance or visitor behavior (e.g., noise, solicitation of interactions from zoo animals). In addition, behavioral changes associated with zoo visitors were present in animals housed in exhibits where there was direct contact with zoo visitors, as well as in exhibits where there was indirect contact and no direct contact. Individuals often varied in their behavior

SUBMITTER: Boyle SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7697811 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature