HUMAN-ANIMAL RELATIONSHIPS IN ZOOS: OPTIMISING ANIMAL AND VISITOR EXPERIENCES
Extensive research on human-animal relationships in agricultural and domestic settings shows that human-animal interaction affects animal behaviour and welfare, which in turn affect human attitudes to animals. As conservation and welfare organisations, zoos aim to provide visitors with opportunities to closely interact with animals to improve visitor experience and conservation outcomes, whilst maintaining good animal welfare. Some visitor interactions may be stressful for some animals creating conflict between animal welfare and visitor experience. By determining visitor effects, this project aims to provide zoos with practical animal management and educational strategies to optimise both animal welfare and visitor experience.
Working with collaborators from Deakin University (DU) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) together with industry partners Zoos Victoria (ZV), Taronga Conservation Society (TCS) and Detect Australia (DTA) this Australian Research Council Linkage Project concluded in late 2018 and the final report has been sent to the Australian Research Council. This project has supported several PhD students.
Investigators: Paul Hemsworth, Grahame Coleman, Roger Rassool, Kerry Fanson (DU), Kym Butler (DJPR), Michael Magrath (ZV), Vicky Melfi (TCS) and David Peake (DTA).
For further details, please contact Paul Hemsworth.
Extensive research on human-animal relationships in agricultural and domestic settings shows that human-animal interaction affects animal behaviour and welfare, which in turn affect human attitudes to animals. As conservation and welfare organisations, zoos aim to provide visitors with opportunities to closely interact with animals to improve visitor experience and conservation outcomes, whilst maintaining good animal welfare. Some visitor interactions may be stressful for some animals creating conflict between animal welfare and visitor experience. By determining visitor effects, this project aims to provide zoos with practical animal management and educational strategies to optimise both animal welfare and visitor experience.
Working with collaborators from Deakin University (DU) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) together with industry partners Zoos Victoria (ZV), Taronga Conservation Society (TCS) and Detect Australia (DTA) this Australian Research Council Linkage Project concluded in late 2018 and the final report has been sent to the Australian Research Council. This project has supported several PhD students.
Investigators: Paul Hemsworth, Grahame Coleman, Roger Rassool, Kerry Fanson (DU), Kym Butler (DJPR), Michael Magrath (ZV), Vicky Melfi (TCS) and David Peake (DTA).
For further details, please contact Paul Hemsworth.