Abstract
While interactive tours have been argued to hold great conservation potential for zoo visitors, the influence on the participating animal’s behavior is often ignored. To investigate this, we observed the behavior of one Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and three African lions (Panthera leo leo) involved in a protected contact tour, as well as that of three cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) involved in a hands-on tour, at Zoos South Australia. Instantaneous scan sampling (30-s intervals) was used to record animal behavior before, during, and after behind-the-scenes tours, as well as for equivalent times on non-tour days, over a three-month period. Estimated proximity (close, < 2 m; moderate, 2-5 m; and distant, > 5 m) to humans was also recorded as an indirect measure of interaction. The animals in the protected contact tour displayed decreased inactivity and increased feeding and pacing during the tours, compared to before and after. We suggest that the increased pacing is more associated with the animals being fed during the tours, rather than the tours being a stressful experience. Those in the hands-on tour showed variation in proportions of multiple behavior categories and primarily these were shifts in species-typical behaviors. In contrast to those in the protected contact tour, they showed decreased pacing during the tour sessions. No aggressive or otherwise antagonistic behaviors directed at humans were observed by animals in either tour, with these animals typically spending more than half of their tour times in distant proximity to keepers and visitors. Combined, these findings indicate that large felid behavior may be altered by participation in interactive tours, but that these changes are not necessarily indicative of compromised wellbeing. Additional research is needed to determine the impact that these experiences are having on the welfare of the animals. This study reinforces the potential for behavioral monitoring to be used as a method for assessing the influence of visitors on zoo animals.
Highlights
The subjects involved were three separate groups of adult big cats currently participating in interactive tours: one Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and three African lions (Panthera leo leo) involved in the protected contact tour at Adelaide Zoo, and three African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) involved in the hands-on tour at Monarto Zoo
To date, little research has been conducted to understand how big cats might respond to interactive zoo visitor tours
More research is needed to determine whether visitors benefit from interacting with big cats, the results of this study provide a starting point for understanding how participation in interactive zoo visitor tours might influence animal behavior
Summary
The subjects involved were three separate groups of adult big cats currently participating in interactive tours: one Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and three African lions (Panthera leo leo) involved in the protected contact tour at Adelaide Zoo, and three African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) involved in the hands-on tour at Monarto Zoo (see Table 1 for individual details). The tiger and lions have been involved in the protected contact tour for approximately the last four years, whilst the cheetah have been participating in hands-on visitor experiences since they were cubs (eight years). Individual subject details Species Names (Gender) D.O.B Place of birth Sumatran tiger Tuan (M)
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