Abstract
Macropods, particularly kangaroos and wallabies, are common species included in walk-through habitats that put them in close proximity to zoo visitors. However, there has been little research into how visitor presence and density impact the welfare of these individuals. We monitored the behavior and space use of fifteen red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) for a total of ten weeks during and after a nearly three-month zoo closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings revealed potential visitor effects, evidenced by more time spent in social proximity, greater inactivity, and more restricted space use after the zoo reopened. Although temperature and weather likely played a role in at least some of these behavioral changes, social proximity and space use changed with crowd size in a manner consistent with our zoo status (i.e., open or closed) results. Additionally, time spent feeding was significantly related to crowd size but not zoo status, such that the kangaroos spent more time feeding when there were no visitors in the habitat. These findings suggest that visitor effects explain these behavioral changes better than seasonal confounds. We also noted several individual differences in response to visitor presence and crowd size, highlighting the importance of evaluating behavioral responses to visitors on an individual basis.
Highlights
Macropods, kangaroos and wallabies, are common species included in walk-through habitats that put them in close proximity to zoo visitors
This study explored how visitor presence and crowd size potentially impacted the welfare of red kangaroos housed in a walk-through habitat by monitoring their behavior and use of space
When the zoo was open, individual inactivity ranged from 70.49 ± 0.47% (Boomer) to 90.91% ± 0.49% (Kelly)
Summary
Kangaroos and wallabies, are common species included in walk-through habitats that put them in close proximity to zoo visitors. Time spent feeding was significantly related to crowd size but not zoo status, such that the kangaroos spent more time feeding when there were no visitors in the habitat These findings suggest that visitor effects explain these behavioral changes better than seasonal confounds. Several species of birds and other mammals have been found to display visitor avoidance behavior (Blanchett et al, 2020; Chiew et al, 2020; Sherwen, Magrath, et al, 2015; Stevens et al, 2013) These results are not consistent across all studies, as some have reported no visitor impacts on behavior or space use (Bonnie et al, 2016; Margulis et al, 2003; O'Donovan et al, 1993). Diana monkeys have demonstrated positive welfare indicators with higher densities of visitors (Todd et al, 2007)
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