Impacts of visitor number on Kangaroos housed in free-range exhibits

Abstract

Free range exhibits are becoming increasingly popular in zoos as a means to enhance interaction between visitors and animals. However very little research exists on the impacts of visitors on animal behaviour and stress in free range exhibits. We investigated the effects of visitor number on the behaviour and stress physiology of Kangaroo Island (KI) Kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus, and Red Kangaroos, Macropus rufus, housed in two free range exhibits in Australian zoos. Behavioural observations were conducted on individual kangaroos at each site using instantaneous scan sampling to record activity (e.g., vigilance, foraging, resting) and distance from the visitor pathway. Individually identifiable faecal samples were collected at the end of each study day and analysed for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentration. When visitor number increased, both KI Kangaroos and Red Kangaroos increased the time spent engaged in visitor-directed vigilance and KI Kangaroos also increased the time spent engaged in locomotion and decreased the time spent resting. There was no effect of visitor number on the distance kangaroos positioned themselves from the visitor pathway or FGM concentration in either species. While there are limitations in interpreting these results in terms of fear of visitors, there was no evidence of adverse effects animal welfare in these study groups based on avoidance behaviour or stress physiology under the range of visitor numbers that we studied.

The effects of environmental and visitor variables on the behavior of free‐ranging ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in captivity

“…Like Choo et al (), we investigated several different aspects of visitors including number, behavior, and the presence of a baby stroller. Visitor number had a limited influence on lemur behavior, which is similar to what other studies on free‐ranging species report (Choo, Todd, & Li, ; Sherwen et al, ). As visitor number increased locomotion and “on the ground” increased, this is supportive of the visitor attraction hypothesis (Hosey, ).…”

“…A recurring finding from visitor effect studies, which extends to various taxonomic groups, is that the ability to retreat from visitors lessens visitor induced stress (Carlstead & Shepherdson, ; Collins & Marples, ; Hosey, ). Thus, exhibit design is of significant importance when considering visitor effects (Sherwen, Hemsworth, Butler, Fanson, & Magrath, ). One area that visitor effect studies have almost entirely overlooked is that of free‐ranging zoo animals.…”

“…When considering the effect of the zoo environment on a captive species, it is practical to first consider the natural history of the species and the behavior of conspecifics in the wild (Hosey et al, ; Sherwen et al, ). Ring‐tailed lemurs are characterized by their behavioral flexibility and adaptability (Gould, Sussman, & Sauther, ; Sauther, Sussman, & Gould, ).…”

Effects of visitor numbers on captive European red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and impacts on visitor experience

“…Alternatively, the aforementioned interaction between adults and squirrels (which is largely static) might have meant that squirrels were less likely to move when adults were in the enclosure. The effects of visitors on locomotion has been seen previously in captive kangaroos whom have displayed increased locomotion as visitor numbers increase (Sherwen et al, ). While Sherwen's study did not distinguish between adult and child visitors on locomotion, the different—sometimes opposing—effects of adults and children on locomotion (and other behaviors) highlighted in our study clearly demonstrates the need for this distinction to be made in future studies of the visitor effect.…”

“…For example, in one of the few studies on walk‐through enclosures, Larsen, Sherwen, and Rault () found that koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) responded to large numbers of visitors and high noise levels by increasing vigilance behavior. Similarly, Sherwen et al () found that visitor‐directed vigilance increased with visitor number in Western grey kangaroos ( Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus ) and red kangaroos ( Macropus rufus ) housed in walk‐through enclosures. Changes such as these, especially when they involve non‐natural behavior, can not only be detrimental to welfare per se (Montaudouin & Le Pape, ) but potentially also to visitor numbers and income as the appearance of poor welfare can negatively affect public support (Miller, ).…”