Behavioural research in zoos: academic perspectives

Abstract

A survey of papers published in Zoo Biology between 1989 and 1994 showed that 40% of papers were behavioural studies, but only 35% of these reported basic research. Most papers were authored by zoo researchers (58%), either with or without an academic collaborator. A similar survey of Animal Behaviour in 1993–1994 revealed only three zoo-based studies, even though 160 of the 344 studies published used captive animals. Possible reasons why so few academic researchers study the behaviour of zoo animals are discussed, including the perception that zoo populations are abnormal, the current theoretical emphasis in behavioural biology on functional rather than causal explanations of behaviour, and the methodological difficulties of zoo work. Nevertheless, examples are given of published basic behavioural work undertaken in zoos, and the conclusion drawn that more structured collaboration between zoo and academic researchers is necessary to make full use of zoos' research potential.