Elephants at zoos enjoy interacting with visitors, according to research by Nottingham Trent and Harper Adams universities.
The research – which was published in the journal Animals (via BBC) – was carried out by animal behaviour experts at both universities. It explored the impact of zoo visitors on more than 250 animal species.
The new study found that elephants’ positive behaviours such as social activity increased around visitors, and indicators of boredom decreased.
Other animal species to display positive responses to guests included grizzly bears, polar bears, penguins, cheetahs, servals, bantengs, black-tailed prairie dogs and cockatoos.
However, some animal species were found to display negative responses to guests. These included marsupials, flightless birds, tuatara, hedgehogs, and odd and even-toed ungulates.
“Zoo visitors are often aspects of a zoo animal‘s environment that animals cannot control and as such can be stressful, although some species appear to show good adaptability for the changing conditions of visitors,” said Dr Samantha Ward, from Nottingham Trent University.
“There can be a lot of variation in stimuli from visitors in terms of their behaviour, the noise they make and the way they interact with the animals.
“We have identified that species show varied responses to people in zoos – some cope well, others not so well.”
Some animals responded negatively to guests
“Animal responses are attributed to various factors and recognising what these may be is important to improve welfare,” said Dr Ellen Williams, a zoo animal welfare scientist at Harper Adams University.
She added: “In elephants and birds it was encouraging to see a reduction in those repetitive behaviours towards something more positive in the presence of people, although the absence of change in the majority of species was also really good, because it suggests enclosure design is changing to better support animals in responding to visitors.”
Born Free, a wildlife conservation charity, released a report earlier this year calling for a ban on keeping polar bears in captivity.
Last year, Born Free called for a ban on keeping elephants in captivity. Some zoos are already phasing the animals out.
Image: Belfast Zoo / Paignton Zoo
