Unravelling Zoo Visitor-Penguin Interactions: Effects on Little Penguin Welfare and Visitor Attitudes and Experience

Abstract

Modern zoos are heavily reliant on the maintenance of high standards of animal welfare and the provision of positive visitor experiences to operate successfully as zoo-based conservation organisations. Several factors, both animal and environment related, influence the welfare of zoo animals and visitor experience. However, one major influencing factor has been visitor-animal interactions. Understanding the effects of visitor-animal interactions in zoos is critical because zoo animals can encounter frequent, and sometimes intense, interactions with unfamiliar humans that may compromise both animal welfare and visitor experience. Extensive research over the last several decades has shown that..