Exposing the Tourist Value Proposition of Zoos and Aquaria

Abstract

The world's urban population has few opportunities for contact with real wild nature and little chance to develop a connection with nature in everyday life. To redress this problem in Western culture, major urban zoos are attempting to bridge the deficit in nature experience by constructing more simulated nature experiences as part of the animal viewing opportunity. The tourist value proposition in urban zoos, however, may not be in the simulated experience of artificial nature, but in the very real and authentic encounter with live "wild" animals and the contemplation of how our human society relates to the biological world. This article explores how zoo visitors describe their engagement with wildlife, how zoos provoke consideration of personal ethical relationships to nature, and how zoos connect an urban public to the natural world. This article builds on the biophilia hypothesis by considering the sociological attributes of zoo visiting and how the novel experience of encountering captive wild animals helps to develop environmental awareness. The article explores how a poetry installation at one urban zoo served to evidence this awareness in visitor comments, about conservation, personal connections to nature, and one aspect of the restorative role zoos offer. It is suggested that the uniqueness of live animals in the zoo is a forum for individuals to question the continuity between self and the natural world.

Human-Animal Interactions, Relationships and Bonds: A Review and Analysis of the Literature

“…In this hypothesis, human dependence on nature goes beyond a physical dependence, and also includes aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and spiritual satisfaction (Kellert, 1993). This hypothesis has been widely applied, for example in interpreting the health benefits that come from connecting with nature (Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St Leger, 2006), children's responses to pets and the natural world (Fawcett & Gullone, 2001;Kahn, 1997), and the enjoyment people gain from visits to the zoo (Fraser, Gruber, & Condon, 2007). This whole area concerning our relationships with and attitudes towards animals constitutes a field of study usually referred to as Human-Animal Studies, which "explores the spaces that animals occupy in human social and cultural worlds and the interactions humans have with them" (de Mello, 2012).…”

The Devil Made Me Do It: Influence of Values on Interpretation and Behaviors for Tasmanian Devils

“…For example, Clayton, Fraser, and Burgess (2011) found zoo visitors' environmental identity and connection to an animal were positively correlated with an interest in conservation. Other studies have documented increases in visitor awareness, empathy, and knowledge following zoo-based interpretation (Fraser, Gruber, & Condon, 2007;Gwynne, 2007;Woods, 2002). Other research has shown mixed results as to the efficacy of interpretive experiences influencing behaviors, and the overall likelihood of visitors adopting pro-conservation behaviors (Smith, Broad, & Weiler, 2008;Smith, Weiler, & Ham, 2011).…”

Factors that influence engagement in on-site environmentally responsible behaviours at music festivals

“…Nature-based tourism is varied and does not necessarily imply responsible travel or conservation of the environment (Buckley, Pickering, & Weaver, 2003). Examples of different contexts studied in nature-based tourism from the perspective of an environmentally responsible approach are: a) National parks (Brown et al, 2010;Davenport, Borrie, Freimund, & Manning, 2002;Halpenny, 2010;Puhakka, 2010); b) Zoos (Ballantyne, Packer, Hughes, & Dierking, 2007;Fraser, 2010;Lukas & Ross, 2005;Smith, Ham, & Weiler, 2011;Swanagan, 2000); c) Aquariums (Ballantyne et al, 2007;Fraser, Gruber, & Condon, 2007;Hall, 1992;Kemmerly & Macfarlane, 2009;Mann & Vernon, 2013); d) Wild-life watching (Ballantyne, Packer, & Falk, 2011;Ballantyne, Packer, & Hughes, 2009;Ballantyne, Packer, & Sutherland, 2011;Smith et al, 2011); and e) Heritage places (Brown, 1999;Uriely, Israeli, & Reichel, 2002).…”