Animal-visitor interactions in semi-contrived tourism settings: a study of ‘Meet &amp; Greets’ in UK zoos

Doodson, Polly; Melfi, Vicky; Webber, Amanda D.; Dumbell, Lucy

doi:10.1080/02508281.2022.2137651

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The guests were then introduced to two of the elephant caregivers, who delivered educational content and conducted learning sessions with the elephants (one or two animals). This encounter aligns with Doodson et al's definition of "Meet & Greet" offerings in UK zoos, where visitors meet zoo animals under the supervision of staff, often in non-public areas, which may allow visitors more intimate proximity to the animals, with or without direct physical contact or feeding opportunities [23] (p. 11).…”

Section: Settingsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Doodson et al argue against zoo animals behaving in ways that may be interpreted as unnatural for people’s amusement [ 23 ]. Given this, one might assume that requesting elephants to paint or stand on their hind legs should be discouraged.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This could be a valid interpretation under conditions of some elephant management programs; however, I argue that the consideration of key details contradicts this assumption. For example, Doodson et al specify that animals should not be “made to behave”, implying force or coercion [ 23 ] (p. 9). As has been discussed regarding ZT’s elephant training standards and philosophies, elephants are given the choice to participate and to engage in specific behaviors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sherwen and Hemsworth note the increasing trend of visitor feeding opportunities in zoos and caution that “visitors feeding animals may result in zoo animals associating visitors with a positive experience, but it may also result in mismanagement of nutrition for certain animals, resulting in health problems” [ 45 ] (p. 14). Doodson et al encourage zoos to provide animals with a choice regarding their participation in learning sessions and to ensure that the animals are not made to perform “unnatural” behaviors for visitors’ entertainment, lest they risk being perceived as exploitative and “inadvertently promote[ing] unethical fully-contrived captive-wildlife tourist experiences” [ 23 ] (p. 10). Given previous discourse, however, choice-based interactions that the animals find rewarding or enriching can be reasonably incorporated into visitor experiences, even when animals perform behaviors that might seem unnatural, if thoughtful educational messaging accompanies the activity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Zoo Visitors’ Most-Liked Aspects of Elephant Encounters and Related Perceptions of Animals’ Emotions and Welfare States: A Pragmatic Approach

Lacinak

2024

Animals

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Zoos strive to provide excellent welfare for resident animals, including those belonging to endangered species involved in captive breeding programs while addressing visitors’ concerns regarding the ethics of captivity. Zoos also rely on income and support from visitors to provide exceptional care for their animal residents. It is essential, therefore, that zoos consider how visitors perceive their animals’ well-being, including physical and psychological welfare. This pragmatic, qualitative research explores the aspects of training-focused enrichment activities provided for a resident herd of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that visitors liked/disliked, and it assesses perceptions of the animals’ emotions and welfare. Data were collected via surveys following live encounters at Zoo Tampa, Florida (USA). Reflexive Thematic Analysis generated key themes related to visitors’ most/least-liked aspects of the encounters, including proximity, elephant–caregiver relationships (ECRs), educational content, and teaching/learning opportunities for the elephants themselves. Participants in the research perceived the elephants as happy, content, calm, comfortable, engaged, excited, good, playful, and safe (among other emotional descriptors) and as having excellent welfare. Expressions of dislike referred to visitors’ inability to have contact with the elephants, such as via touching or feeding. While focused on one case-study zoo and a charismatic species, this study nonetheless provides zoos with insight into the impact that animal–caregiver interactions can have on visitors’ perceptions, and it offers a model that could be applied to other species and at other zoological institutions. These visitor experiences and visitor perceptions of animal welfare drive future visitor actions, including support for zoos.

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Section: Settingsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Zoo Visitors’ Most-Liked Aspects of Elephant Encounters and Related Perceptions of Animals’ Emotions and Welfare States: A Pragmatic Approach

Lacinak

2024

Animals

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“…Botanical Gardens and Zoos play a significant role in the knowledge, conservation with surveys on endangered species (assessment of endangered status) and/or species with socioeconomic potential, different scientific research, public engagement, and education (Mounce et al 2017;Learmonth et al 2021;Doodson et al 2022). Botanical gardens, for example, aim to ensure plant diversity for the well-being of both people and the planet (Miller et al 2015).…”

Section: Botanical Gardens and Ur-ban Ethnobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring biocultural diversity in urban ecosystems: an ethnobiological perspective

Albuquerque¹,

Ladio²,

Almada³

et al. 2023

Ethnobio Conserv

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Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generated by the interactions between people from different cultures, at large spatial and temporal scales, and very fast rates. This opinion piece explores the concept of urban ethnobiology as a critical field of research that investigates the complex and dynamic biocultural systems that exist in urban environments. We argue that interactions between humans and other life forms in urban ecosystems are influenced by a characteristic set of social, cultural, and political factors that are linked to urban environments, such as infrastructure development, population density, and governance structures. We emphasize the need for an interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to study the inherent complexity of these systems. By examining the sociocultural dynamics that shape the way urban biodiversity is perceived, used, and managed, we can gain deeper insights into the different dimensions of socio-cultural biodiversity in urban areas.

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Types of Visitor Experience

Doodson,

Dumbell,

Webber

et al. 2024

Human-Animal Interactions in Zoos

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Animal-visitor interactions in semi-contrived tourism settings: a study of ‘Meet & Greets’ in UK zoos

Cited by 5 publications

References 59 publications

Zoo Visitors’ Most-Liked Aspects of Elephant Encounters and Related Perceptions of Animals’ Emotions and Welfare States: A Pragmatic Approach

Zoo Visitors’ Most-Liked Aspects of Elephant Encounters and Related Perceptions of Animals’ Emotions and Welfare States: A Pragmatic Approach

Exploring biocultural diversity in urban ecosystems: an ethnobiological perspective

Types of Visitor Experience

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