Visitors excite primates in zoos
Abstract
Fifteen species of primate were observed to assess the effects of zoo visitors on their social behavior. When visitors were present primates were less affiliative, more active, but more aggressive. These changes were particularly marked in arboreal monkeys, especially in smaller species, and were reduced by 50% by lowering the height of spectators. Detailed observations of a group of mandrills indicated that with increasing numbers of visitors the monkeys showed a linear increase in attention to visitors, in activity, and in stereotyped behavior. All of these effects are consistent with an interpretation that visitors are a source of stressful excitement rather than of enrichment.
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Chamove et al. found less agonistic behaviour and more grooming behaviour in cotton-top tamarins, Diana monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs when visitors were crouching rather than standing.
“Chamove et al. [75] asked visitors to either stand or crouch at the viewing window for cotton-top tamarins, Diana monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs and found there was less agonistic behaviour and more grooming behaviour when the visitors were crouching rather than standing.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [75]
Chamove and Hosey investigated relationships between the body size of 12 species of primates and their responses to visitors, based on the hypothesis that small species may be particularly prone to effects from visitors.
“For example, Chamove and Hosey [75] investigated the relationships between the body size of 12 species of primates and their responses to visitors, based on the hypothesis that small species may be particularly prone to effects from visitors.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [75]
A negative correlation was found between body size and the level of activity in the primates, but the trend was not statistically significant.
“They found a negative correlation between body size and the level of activity in the primates. However, the trend was not statistically significant.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [75]
Greater visitor numbers were associated with higher rates of aggression in mangabeys, mandrills and gorillas.
“greater visitor numbers were associated with higher rates of aggression in mangabeys [73], mandrills [75] and gorillas [92].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [75]
Threats towards visitors increased with high visitor numbers in mandrills and golden-bellied mangabeys.
“For mandrills [75] and golden-bellied mangabeys, threats towards visitors increased with high visitor numbers [73].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [75]
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References 19 · Cited by 230
- Authors
- Chamove, A. S., Hosey, G. R., & Schaetzel, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Stirling (GB)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Chamove, Arnold S.
- Venue
- Zoo Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1988-01
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 359-369
- ISSN
- 0733-3188 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-2361
- OpenAlex
- W2009502439
- Cited by
- 230
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Zoo Biology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Chester Zoo
- Division of Chemistry
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- zoo visitors, primate social behavior, affiliative behavior, aggression, stereotypy, mandrill, visitor attention, zoo animal welfare, enrichment, stress
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