Brereton James E, Jones Edward M L, McMillan Connor, Perkins Kerry
University Centre Sparsholt, Westley Lane, Winchester, UK.
School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK.
Zoo Biol. 2023 Jul-Aug;42(4):509-521. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21755. Epub 2023 Jan 27.
The potential impact of human presence on captive animal behavior has recently been the focus of considerable research interest, especially following 2020 and 2021 periods of enforced closure as a result of COVID-19 opening restrictions. It is important to investigate whether human presence represents an enriching or stressful stimulus to a range of zoo-housed species. In 2020, during an easing of lockdown restrictions, investigations of the "visitor effect" and "observer effect" were carried out, using the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) as a model species. To investigate the impact of both visitor and observer presence, otter behavior and space use was recorded for a pair of on-show and a pair of off-show otters. Observations were conducted using either a human observer, or cameras, allowing the researchers to investigate otter behavior when no one was present at the exhibits. The Electivity Index was used to assess the otters' use of four enclosure zones. Overall, otter behavior was significantly impacted by observer presence, though the impact of an observer differed between individual otters. Visitors had a minimal effect on otter enclosure use, whereas observers had a greater impact, whereby otters used their pools less frequently and houses more frequently when observers were present. However, this change in zone use differed between individuals, with more dominant otters tending to make use of indoor zones more often when observers were present. Zoos should consider the potential impact of human presence on their animals and use both behavior and space use when conducting their investigations.
人类存在对圈养动物行为的潜在影响最近成为了大量研究关注的焦点，尤其是在2020年和2021年因新冠疫情防控限制而强制关闭动物园之后。调查人类存在对一系列圈养在动物园的物种而言是一种丰富性刺激还是压力性刺激非常重要。2020年，在放松封锁限制期间，以巨獭（Pteronura brasiliensis）作为模式物种，对“游客效应”和“观察者效应”展开了调查。为了研究游客和观察者在场的影响，记录了一对展出的巨獭和一对未展出的巨獭的行为及空间使用情况。观察通过人类观察者或摄像头进行，这使研究人员能够调查在展品处无人时巨獭的行为。选择指数被用来评估巨獭对四个围合区域的使用情况。总体而言，观察者在场对巨獭行为有显著影响，不过不同个体的巨獭受观察者的影响有所不同。游客对巨獭使用围合区域的影响极小，而观察者的影响更大，在观察者在场时，巨獭使用水池的频率降低，使用兽舍的频率增加。然而，不同个体在区域使用上的这种变化存在差异，在观察者在场时，更具主导性的巨獭往往更常使用室内区域。动物园应考虑人类存在对其动物的潜在影响，并在进行调查时兼顾行为和空间使用情况。
