Improved Wellbeing for Both Caretakers and Users from A Zoo-Related Nature Based Intervention—A Study at Nordens Ark Zoo, Sweden

Abstract

Nature-based interventions have been proposed to promote physical and mental health and give stress reduction. Little attention has been given to the potential of zoos for human health and wellbeing. A disadvantaged group in Sweden regarding access to nature are individuals with disabilities who consequently do not have the same access to these health benefits as other groups. To increase awareness and knowledge regarding spending time in nature and with animals, courses directed at caretakers for persons with disabilities and their users were held at Nordens Ark, a zoo in Sweden. To explore if the courses had led to increased nature activities, and if participating in the courses had affected caretakers’ and their users’ health and wellbeing, questionnaires and interviews for evaluating the courses were used. The results showed improved quality in nature visits because of course participation as well as positive effects for the wellbeing, sustainability for the caregivers and users in their working lives, and relationships were positively affected. The conclusion from this study is that nature and animal-based education should be more frequent to provide opportunities for a disadvantaged group to have the positive effects of nature of which most other groups have obvious access to.

Five ways to wellbeing at the zoo: improving human health and connection to nature

“…Nature-based interventions within the zoo can be of benefit for specific groups of people. For example, individuals with disabilities are less likely to spend time in nature than able-bodied people ( Sahlin et al, 2019 ). Providing nature based interventions for disabled people and their carers has positive educational outputs and improved caretakers enthusiasm for their profession by facilitating new ways of managing stress and providing tools to improve mood ( Sahlin et al, 2019 ).…”

“…For example, individuals with disabilities are less likely to spend time in nature than able-bodied people ( Sahlin et al, 2019 ). Providing nature based interventions for disabled people and their carers has positive educational outputs and improved caretakers enthusiasm for their profession by facilitating new ways of managing stress and providing tools to improve mood ( Sahlin et al, 2019 ). Zoos should work on their outreach programs with under-represented groups, and those with limited access to nature, to ensure the zoo’s green and blue spaces, and the animal collection, are accessible to all those who may benefit from being immersed in a natural setting.…”

Expanding the role of the future zoo: Wellbeing should become the fifth aim for modern zoos

“…Whilst access to many types of green space has consistently shown to promote many positive affective states in humans ( Mensah et al, 2016 ), the green environment of the zoo that is combined with the animal collection may be more enhancing for (positive) human wellbeing than visits to other forms of green space ( Akiyama et al, 2021 ). Being close to an animal has psychological benefits, which are further enhanced if an educator is also involved with the visitor-animal interaction ( Sahlin et al, 2019 ). Therefore, including Wellbeing as the fifth aim of the modern zoo places an emphasis on the usefulness and importance of zoo green and blue spaces to their visitors and the local community, and shows how these spaces can be used to further engage zoo visitors in a deeper consideration and appreciation of the natural world ( Figure 1 ).…”

School Counselor and Environmental Educator Partnerships: Reducing Eco-Anxiety From Climate Change, Increasing Self-Efficacy, and Enhancing Youth Advocacy

“…Along these lines, nature-based interventions in schools include activities that incorporate multidirectional interactions between physical, social, and cultural environments. Examples are gardening, hiking, or participating in activities that involve animals such as caring for, interacting with, or learning about them (Sahlin et al, 2019). National education policies and organizations have been successful in bringing about basic nature-based learning in schools by providing standards, curriculums, and resources that are low cost and highly adaptable (NAAEE, 2017; U.S. Health and Human Services [HHS], 2018).…”