Like Threaten Like in Mangabeys and People?

Visitor effect on the behavior of a group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) maintained at an island in Lake Catemaco, Veracruz/Mexico

“…This variety of responses contrasts with the results found previously in other primate species, such as Diana monkeys (Todd et al, ), gorillas (Wells, ), and gibbons (Cooke & Schillaci, ) in which an increase in activity levels in response to human presence has been reported. Likewise, two studies with 12 (Hosey & Druck, ) and 11 (Mitchell et al, ) primate species, respectively, also concluded that there is an association between human presence and higher activity levels. Thus, although increases in activity levels appear to be a general response to visitors in primates, our results do not support this.…”

“…The extent to which visitors affect primates is influenced by a number of variables such as the level of visitors' activity, the size of the groups, noise, or the presence of children, which have been correlated with changes in the locomotive behaviors, interactions with visitors, and space utilization in enclosures. (Birke, ; Cooke & Schillaci, ; Hosey & Druck, ; Mitchell, Herring, & Obradovich, ). Moreover, the different responses that human visitors elicit in primates appear to be related to species characteristics (e.g., size and habits); (Hosey & Druck, ; Wormell, Brayshaw, Price, & Herron, ).…”

“…Moreover, the different responses that human visitors elicit in primates appear to be related to species characteristics (e.g., size and habits); (Hosey & Druck, ; Wormell, Brayshaw, Price, & Herron, ). Some behavioral changes reported in captivity studies involve increases in agonistic interactions (Glatston, Geilvoet‐Soeteman, Hora‐Pecek, & Van Hooff, ; Mitchell et al, ; Perret, Preuschoft, & Preuschoft, ), motor activity (Cooke & Schillaci, ; Todd, Macdonald, & Coleman, ; Wells, ), and stereotypical behaviors (Hosey, ; Marriner & Drickamer, ), as well as a reduction of affiliative behaviors (Chamove et al, ). Likewise, studies undertaken in recent years in wild populations in a protected area in Brazil have yielded more information on these interactions, finding that tourists visiting capuchin monkeys ( Cebus libidinosos ) generally initiate the interactions and provide them with unsuitable food that leads to a decrease in foraging activity.…”

Visitor—Animal Interactions at the Zoo

“…In other words, a sleeping bear holds little interest for the average zoo visitor. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to visitors pounding on exhibit windows, throwing objects, or taunting animals in order to elicit some kind of response (Mitchell et al 1992a). But another way that visitors can see movement and get a direct personal response from an animal is to feed it (Mullan and Marvin 1987).…”

The “Visitor Effect”

“…In another study, Vrancken et al (1990) found that visitor presence effected the spatial distribution of one gorilla (the animal tended to stay near the viewing window when the public was present). Interestingly, Mitchell et al (1992a) showed that Golden-bellied Mangabeys displayed more frequent aggressive facial displays towards human visitors of the same sex. Snipp (2004) found that visitor presence within a walk-through lemur exhibit had little influence on the behaviour and exhibit use of the inhabitants.…”