Sound at the zoo: Using animal monitoring, sound measurement, and noise reduction in zoo animal management

Abstract

A clear need for evidence-based animal management in zoos and aquariums has been expressed by industry leaders. Here, we show how individual animal welfare monitoring can be combined with measurement of environmental conditions to inform science-based animal management decisions. Over the last several years, Disney's Animal Kingdom® has been undergoing significant construction and exhibit renovation, warranting institution-wide animal welfare monitoring. Animal care and science staff developed a model that tracked animal keepers' daily assessments of an animal's physical health, behavior, and responses to husbandry activity; these data were matched to different external stimuli and environmental conditions, including sound levels. A case study of a female giant anteater and her environment is presented to illustrate how this process worked. Associated with this case, several sound-reducing barriers were tested for efficacy in mitigating sound. Integrating daily animal welfare assessment with environmental monitoring can lead to a better understanding of animals and their sensory environment and positively impact animal welfare.

An Animal Welfare Risk Assessment Process for Zoos

“…The sensory environment was also identified as a significant welfare risk factor, suggesting that the keepers believed this to be an environmental feature that posed certain risks to animals. This is in line with the recent increase in published studies investigating the impacts of various sensory conditions on animals in zoo environments such as noise exposure [ 39 , 51 , 52 ], light conditions [ 53 ], and visual stimuli [ 24 , 54 ]. There also appears to be increasing awareness that we do not yet have a good understanding of the breadth of sensory perception across the multitude of species housed in zoos, and as a result the impact of the zoo environment on these animals [ 39 ].…”

“…Researchers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom have also designed an animal welfare monitoring program for individual animals that tracks animal-based measures including behavioural and endocrine data, keeper scores on parameters such as fur condition, diet consumption, exploration, and sleeping behaviour; they also track resource-based measures including husbandry events and environmental measures such as noise levels [ 39 ].…”

Evaluating mood changes in response to anthropogenic noise with a response-slowing task in three species of zoo-housed primates

“…In the zoo environment anthropogenic noise is common, as sound levels may increase due to visitors, construction, habitat design, and special events. Past studies have evaluated how various sources of noise in the zoo environment influence behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare in a variety of species (e.g., Birke, 2002;Chosy, Wilson, & Santymire, 2014;Davey, 2007;Kight & Swaddle, 2011;Orban, Soltis, Perkins, & Mellen, 2017;Quadros, Goulart, Passos, Vecci, & Young, 2014).…”

What Is the Future for Zoos and Aquariums?

“…Similarly, the effect of visitors has been examined in only a few species (e.g., penguins, Sherwen, Magrath, Butler, & Hemsworth, 2015;chimpanzees and lemurs, Hosey et al, 2016). Though some attention has been given to certain aspects, such as the impact of anthropogenic noise (e.g., Orban, Soltis, Perkins, & Mellen, 2017), little is known about others (e.g., the loud noises in holding buildings made by staff and hard, metallic surfaces), including the role of olfaction in welfare (Campbell-Palmer & Rosell, 2017). How is welfare impacted by noxious smells created by cleaning agents or stressful smells created by nearby prey or predators from which an animal cannot "escape"?…”