Retreat space and human visitor density moderate undesirable behavior in petting zoo animals
Abstract
This study focused on the relationship between nonhuman animal behavior and envi-ronment- specifically, between the undesirable behavior exhibited by domestic pet-ting zoo animals in the presence of humans and the spatial design of the petting zoo environment. A spatial feature of a petting zoo referred to as a retreat space was ma-nipulated so that it affected the animals' opportunity for individual control over inter-action with humans. Three conditions were tested: no retreat space, semi-retreat space, and a full-retreat space. The subjects of this study were 5 African pygmy goats (Capra hircus) and 2 Romanov sheep (Ovis aries). Investigators used a focal sam-pling technique to analyze approximately 27 hr of behavioral data collected. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression methods. The findings suggest that the full-retreat design beneficially moderated both sheep and goat behavior: Undesirable behaviors were lowest in the full-retreat condition. This study provides information that may improve human-animal interactions in a petting zoo setting and may in-crease animal well-being through exhibit design and management techniques.
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Some studies on ambassador programs with other species have reported negative behavioral responses to handling, including nipping and biting.
“Some studies on ambassador programs with other species have reported negative behavioral responses to handling, including nipping and biting [3,43].”
From Evaluating the Behavior and Temperament of African Penguins in a Non-Contact Animal Encounter Program (2019) · cites this paper as [43]
In a study investigating undesirable behaviors in the presence of visitors at a petting zoo, Anderson and colleagues found that animals exhibited fewer undesirable behaviors when allowed to retreat from visitors at will.
“In a study investigating undesirable behaviors in the presence of visitors at a petting zoo, Anderson and colleagues [43] found that animals exhibited fewer undesirable behaviors when allowed to retreat from visitors at will.”
From Evaluating the Behavior and Temperament of African Penguins in a Non-Contact Animal Encounter Program (2019) · cites this paper as [43]
Anderson and colleagues manipulated the amount of retreat space available to African pygmy goats and Romanov sheep and found that aggression and escape attempts were lowest when they had access to the full retreat.
“Anderson and colleagues [143] manipulated the amount of retreat space available to African pygmy goats and Romanov sheep and found that aggression and escape attempts were lowest when they had access to the full retreat.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [143]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Anderson, U. S., Benne, M., Bloomsmith, M. A., & Maple, T. L.
- Affiliations
- Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2002-04
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 125-137
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W1989384246
- Cited by
- 71
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Keywords
- petting zoos, inappropriate behavior, human-animal interaction, Romanov sheep, exhibition design, animal welfare, zoo animal behavior
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Animal Husbandry, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, Behavior, Animal, Human-Animal Bond, Escape Reaction, Facility Design and Construction, Fear, Goats, Humans, Sheep, Linear Models
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