Northern Kentucky University
Effects of Visitor Group Size on Sifaka Behaviors in the Zoo Environment
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Monica Wakefield
Abstract
The welfare of animals in the zoo environment is a leading area of research for animal behaviorists and zoologists. One area of study is the effect of constant interaction with humans on the zoo animals’ welfare. Being in a captive environment can be a stressful situation for any wild animal, but increased contact with humans can further stress the animal. Animals that are stressed may shift their behavior, becoming more active or inactive than usual. If an animal is stressed by an environmental factor such as an increased number of visitors, it is expected that they will take advantage of any hiding locations in the exhibit to lessen the effect of that factor. In this study, a group of 4 sifakas (Propithecus coquerelli) at The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, were studied using Ad libetum, focal scanning, and instantaneous scanning data collection techniques for approximately 20 hours of data to determine the effect of number of visitors on the number of active, inactive, and hiding behaviors observed. A chi-square test was used to determine that the number of active, inactive, and hiding behaviors were dependent on the number of visitors present at the exhibit (Χ2 36=253, n=1472). Linear regression of the behavior ratios showed a positive linear relationship (r2=0.3319) between the ratio of hiding behaviors observed and the number of visitors. This supported the hypothesis that hiding behaviors increase as the number of visitors increase. The relationship between active behaviors and number of visitors had mixed results in the linear regression and could not be determined based on the evidence collected. Further research in this area of study should be completed for a fuller understanding of the effect of visitors on the behavior and welfare of captive sifakas.
Effects of Visitor Group Size on Sifaka Behaviors in the Zoo Environment
The welfare of animals in the zoo environment is a leading area of research for animal behaviorists and zoologists. One area of study is the effect of constant interaction with humans on the zoo animals’ welfare. Being in a captive environment can be a stressful situation for any wild animal, but increased contact with humans can further stress the animal. Animals that are stressed may shift their behavior, becoming more active or inactive than usual. If an animal is stressed by an environmental factor such as an increased number of visitors, it is expected that they will take advantage of any hiding locations in the exhibit to lessen the effect of that factor. In this study, a group of 4 sifakas (Propithecus coquerelli) at The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, were studied using Ad libetum, focal scanning, and instantaneous scanning data collection techniques for approximately 20 hours of data to determine the effect of number of visitors on the number of active, inactive, and hiding behaviors observed. A chi-square test was used to determine that the number of active, inactive, and hiding behaviors were dependent on the number of visitors present at the exhibit (Χ2 36=253, n=1472). Linear regression of the behavior ratios showed a positive linear relationship (r2=0.3319) between the ratio of hiding behaviors observed and the number of visitors. This supported the hypothesis that hiding behaviors increase as the number of visitors increase. The relationship between active behaviors and number of visitors had mixed results in the linear regression and could not be determined based on the evidence collected. Further research in this area of study should be completed for a fuller understanding of the effect of visitors on the behavior and welfare of captive sifakas.