Visitor Effects on the Behavior of Captive Western Lowland Gorillas: The Importance of Individual Differences in Examining Welfare
Abstract
Given the conflicting and somewhat limited findings available on the effect of zoo visitors on primate behavior, the primary purpose of this study was to provide additional data on gorillas' response to variations in crowd size and to look at what other factors-both intrinsic (e.g. personality, sex, and rearing history) and extrinsic (e.g. group)-might influence such responses. Subjects included four groups (three mixed-sex and one bachelor) of captive western lowland gorillas living at Zoo Atlanta. Overall activity budgets and rates of social behaviors in high and low crowd conditions were compared. Behaviors suggestive of general welfare did not vary as a function of crowd size alone, although we did observe one significant interaction and several trends. Specifically, two groups spent more time engaged in undesirable behaviors in the high crowd condition, whereas the other two groups showed the opposite response pattern. Additionally, males, but not females, showed a trend toward greater rates of contact aggression in the high crowd condition, although wounding rates did not vary with crowd size. We also found trends towards variation in response to crowd size as a function of individual personality ratings. These results suggest that although the visitor effect may constitute an impediment to optimal animal welfare, this may only apply to some individuals or groups. We emphasize the importance of continuing to explore individual differences and the limitations of a one-si…
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Stoinski and colleagues studied four groups of gorillas in one zoo, examining how personality, sex and rearing history influenced their response to different crowd sizes.
“They studied four groups of gorillas in one zoo, examining how a range of animal variables (including personality, sex and rearing history) influenced their response to different crowd sizes.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [131]
Although not statistically significant, the researchers found sex differences in behavior, where males showed a trend towards higher rates of aggression when larger crowds were present.
“Although not statistically significant, the researchers found sex differences in behavior, where males showed a trend towards higher rates of aggression when larger crowds were present.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [131]
The ability for an animal to retreat from visitors can reduce or mitigate any stress associated with visitors.
“it is clear that the ability for an animal to retreat from visitors can reduce or mitigate any stress associated with visitors [116,131,138,141,142].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [131]
They found a trend towards variation in response to crowd size as a function of the individual personality ratings of extroversion, dominance, fearful and understanding.
“They studied four personality factors, including extroversion, dominance, fearful and understanding, and found a trend towards variation in response to crowd size as a function of the individual personality ratings of these factors.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [131]
Cites
Animal–visitor interactions in the modern zoo: Conflicts and interventions
Fernandez, E. J., Tamborski, M. A., Pickens, S. R., & Timberlake, W. (2009) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2009.06.002 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Evidence that zoo visitors influence HPA activity in spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyii rufiventris)
Davis, N., Schaffner, C. M., & Smith, T. E. (2005) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2004.08.020 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Visitor effects on anxiety in two captive groups of western lowland gorillas
Carder, G., & Semple, S. (2008) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2008.06.001 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Group differences in captive gorillas’ reaction to large crowds
Kuhar, C. W. (2008) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2007.04.011 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
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The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare
Sherwen, S. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2019) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani9060366 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
“With regard to managing visitor effects, it is clear that the ability for an animal to retreat from visitors can reduce or mitigate any stress associated with visitors [116,131,138,141,142].”
BackgroundBloomfield, R. C., Gillespie, G. R., Kerswell, K. J., Butler, K. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2015) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.21207 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Zoo animal welfare assessment: where do we stand?
Tallo-Parra, O., Salas, M., & Manteca, X. (2023) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani13121966 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
- Authors
- Stoinski, T. S., Jaicks, H. F., & Drayton, L. A.
- Affiliations
- Zoo Atlanta (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stoinski, Tara S.
- ORCID
- Stoinski, Tara S.
- Venue
- Zoo Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-10-28
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 586-599
- ISSN
- 0733-3188 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-2361
- OpenAlex
- W1940152361
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Zoo Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Keywords
- visitor effects, western lowland gorilla, captive primates, zoo animal welfare, crowd size, individual differences, personality, inappropriate behavior, activity budget, social behavior, sex differences, rearing history
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, Behavior, Animal, Female, Gorilla gorilla, Humans, Male, Personality, Sex Factors, Social Behavior, Observation
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