Widespread Behavioral Responses by Mammals and Fish to Zoo Visitors Highlight Differences between Individual Animals

SIMPLE SUMMARY: It is important to understand the impacts that humans have on zoo animals to ensure that zoo animal welfare is not compromised. We conducted multiple short-term studies of the impact of zoo visitors on 16 animal species and found that 90.9% of the mammal species and 60.0% of the fish species studied exhibited some change in behavior related to zoo visitors. Animals with behavioral changes were housed in exhibits with no direct contact with humans and exhibits with direct contact. These changes in behaviors were not always consistent across species, and often individual animals of the same species and living within the same exhibit had varied behavioral responses. We recommend (1) using short-term assessments to identify behavioral responses that may be of concern; (2) monitoring individual responses of zoo animals to humans; and (3) creating refuges where animals may choose to retreat. ABSTRACT: The impact that humans have on zoo animals can vary based on the species of animal, exhibit design, and individual differences in behavioral responses. We independently analyzed data from 10 never-published studies that examined the impact of zoo visitors on zoo animal behavior. Of the 16 species studied, 90.9% of the mammal species and 60.0% of the fish species demonstrated a change in at least one behavior based on zoo visitor abundance or visitor behavior (e.g., noise, solicitation of interactions from zoo animals). In addition, behavioral changes associated with zoo visitors were present in animals housed in exhibits where there was direct contact with zoo visitors, as well as in exhibits where there was indirect contact and no direct contact. Individuals often varied in their behavioral responses, and some individuals appeared to seek out interactions with visitors. Our findings demonstrate that short-term research projects can provide valuable insight into individual animal-level and species-level responses to visitor abundance and visitor behavior in the zoo setting. We recommend that behavioral assessments focus on the analysis of behaviors of individual animals whenever possible, and we recommend that exhibits provide areas that allow for animals to retreat from the public view.