How do visitors affect the behaviour of zoo-housed big cats? A study published in Zoo Biology investigated:
✔Three species - Amur tiger, snow leopard, Eurasian lynx - observed in two periods: zoo open & zoo closed.
✔Higher inactivity when zoo open in all but female lynx.
✔Some natural behaviours were more frequently observed when zoo was closed, although results varied within & across species.
✔Increase in inactivity with longer exposure to visitors when zoo was open.
✔Applications to the management and welfare of zoo-housed big cats.

The new issue of the JZAR brings fresh new research on the effects of a giraffe feeding programme on the behaviour of both the giraffes and zebras in the exhibit:
✔Keeper-collected data.
✔No negative behavioural effects detected on either species.
✔Individual differences in behaviour recorded: further research recommended.

A study in JZBG surveyed 144 US-based zoo keepers to look for relationships between their perceived bonds with the animals in their care and their participation in conservation efforts:
✔Keepers that reported bonds with the animals were more likely to participate in some conservation actions, such as reduce personal wastage.
✔No association between keeper-animal bonds & participation in larger-scale conservation projects, such as habitat restoration.
✔Results can help informing zoos on how to promote behaviour change in both their visitors and staff.

In our first post of 2023, here is an evidence-based reminder of how valuable keeper-collected data can be:
✔ Keeper-collected data on zoo-housed Humboldt penguins was validated by more intensive researcher-collected data.
✔ High agreement between data once "out of sight" was removed.
✔ Multi-year keeper data detected pronounced seasonal changes in behaviour.
✔ Reduced activity on days zoo was closed.
✔ Once validated, keeper-collected data can facilitate long-term behavioural monitoring of captive animals.

A new model of visitor effects on zoo animal behaviour has been described in a new paper in Zoo Biology:
✔ "Dither effect" suggested, with non-linear behavioural responses (i.e. changes in comfortable- & anxiety-related behaviours) to different visitor densities;
✔ Model tested on seven species with results supporting the dither effect.

A study in JZBG investigated the perceived bonds of marine mammal trainers with the bottlenose dolphins in their care:
Modified Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) used;
✔128 trainers from 35 collections completed survey;
✔Most trainers reported to have a bond with the animals in their care, though scores were higher for companion animals;
✔Higher scores in female than male trainers.

The behaviour of zoo-housed white rhinoceros was studied in a paper published in Zoo Biology, with data collected by researchers & keepers:
✔Rhinos showed decreased activity in hot and sunny days;
✔Number of visitors had a negligible effect on behaviour (resting lower on busy days);
✔Overall match between researcher and keeper data, with differences in specific behaviours and periods of high visitor numbers.

Is the behaviour of zoo-housed binturongs affected by zoo closures? A paper in JZBG investigated:
✔ 24-hour behavioural monitoring via CCTV system;
✔ Time budget revealed crepuscular activity (natural in the species);
✔ No differences between periods in den use, vigilance or travel behaviors;
✔ Findings suggest neutral visitor effects on the species and highlights the advantages of investing in equipment for remote behavioural monitoring.

A study in JZBG investigated the effects of COVID-19 closures on the space use & glucocorticoid levels of multiple species:
✔ Glucocorticoid levels were not different between closure & reopening for any bears & were temporarily elevated in only two bantengs;
✔ After reopening: bantengs spent more time near visitors, polar bears spent more time near viewing areas & grizzly bears spent more time in outdoor area rather than the den;
✔ Gorillas: spent less time near visitors initially when zoo reopened, but effect disappeared with time;
✔ In general, results suggest neutral to positive visitor effects on these animals.

A study in Zoo Biology investigated the link between job satisfaction in zoo felid keepers, their bonds with animals & animal welfare:
 ✔ 121 felid keepers from AZA-accredited institutions;
✔ Direct link between job satisfaction & access to animal welfare training;
✔ Correlation between job satisfaction and fulfillment of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare;
✔ Lower job satisfaction resulted in lower bond with nonfelids - but no link observed with felids...

New study in JZAR assessed primate keeper knowledge & attitudes towards sharing potentially-detrimental images online of themselves & primates (which the IUCN Primate Specialist Group Section for Human Primate Interactions advises against):

✔Of the 421 primate keepers that completed the questionnaire, over half (56%) reported to share such images;

✔Of the 128 images surveyed under #primatekeeper, 64% were of situations previously shown to be detrimental to primate conservation;

✔The majority of keepers were not aware of the IUCN PSG SHPI or their guidelines regarding the sharing of images.

A study in Zoo Biology investigated Keeper-Animal Relationships (KAR) in 187 zoo keepers in 19 institutions:

✔ Zoo Keepers reported higher attachment to their pets than the zoo animals in their care;

✔ No differences between zoo species;

✔ Female keepers reported higher attachments to zoo animals than male keepers;

✔ Differences between institutions - "zoo culture" seems to influence KAR.

✔ Time spent with animals also significantly predicted KAR;

A paper in JZBG sought to investigate the impacts of zoo closures and re-openings (due to COVID-19) on the behaviour of several zoo-housed species:
 ✔ Variable behavioural changes across species;
 ✔ Most changes were non-significant;
 ✔ Grevy's zebras: > time in comfort behaviours & in public viewing-areas during closures;
 ✔ Chinese goral: > environmental interactions during closures;
 ✔ Some species may take longer to re-habituate to visitors.

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Photo credit: RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

The visitor effects on zoo-housed apes (gorillas, chimpanzees and gibbons) were investigated in a study in JZAR:

✔ Noise levels increased with visitor numbers;

✔ Some behavioural changes suggested a potential negative effect on welfare;

✔ Intra- and inter-specific differences in reactions to the public;

✔ The visitor effect is complex and influenced by multiple factors.

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Photo credit: Blackpool Zoo