The influence of visitor interaction on the behavior of captive crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) and implications for welfare: Effects of Visitor Feed Experiences on Behavior of a Group of Crowned Lemurs and Implications for Welfare
Abstract
Research suggests that zoo visitors can have positive, negative, and neutral impacts on captive primate welfare; however, research investigating the implications of visitor-animal feeding experiences is extremely limited. In the UK, a large proportion of BIAZA zoos that house lemur species offer visitor interaction experiences (16 out of 33). This study investigated the impact on the behavior of a family group of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) housed at Newquay Zoo, UK of visitors, accompanied by a keeper, entering the enclosure to feed the lemurs. Behavior was observed under four conditions: (i) during visitor feed; (ii) 30 min post-visitor feed; (iii) during a keeper feed; and (iv) 30 min post-keeper feed. Keeper feeds were conducted by keepers only, on the day after visitor feeds. The lemur group spent significantly less time performing aggressive behavior and was also significantly more interactive with keepers during visitor feeds compared with keeper-only feeds. There was no significant difference in behaviors performed immediately after interacting with visitors. Over the study period, there was a tendency for interactions with visitors to increase, and for interactions with keepers during visitor feeds to decrease. After a 28-day interval without visitor interaction, the lemurs' interaction with visitors had returned to the level recorded at the start of the study. In conclusion, visitor interaction did not compromise the welfare of the study subjects in either th…
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Research on close encounter experiences has been limited to reports on dolphins, felids, crowned lemurs, giraffes, armadillos, red-tailed hawks and hedgehogs.
“Research so far has been limited to reports on the behaviour and welfare of dolphins involved in encounters [147,148], felids in behind the scenes experiences [149], crowned lemurs [146] and giraffes [150] in visitor feeding programs, as well as one study on armadillos, red-tailed hawks and hedgehogs involved in an education program [151].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [146]
Very little research has been conducted on close encounter experiences from both the animal's perspective and the visitor's perspective.
“However, very little research has been conducted on this topic from both the animal’s perspective and the visitor’s perspective [32,146].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [146]
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
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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
“However, very little research has been conducted on this topic from both the animal’s perspective and the visitor’s perspective [32,146].”
Background
- Authors
- Jones, H., McGregor, P. K., Farmer, H. L. A., & Baker, K. R.
- Affiliations
- Cornwall College (GB)
- Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- McGregor, P. K.
- ORCID
- McGregor, P. K.
- Venue
- Zoo Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-05
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 222-227
- ISSN
- 0733-3188 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2345791090
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 3.58
- 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 › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- Eulemur coronatus, captive primate welfare, aggression, habituation to humans
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, Behavior, Animal, Feeding Methods, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Lemur, Male
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