Do Larger Crowds At Exhibit Viewing Areas Affect Primate Bahavior in Exhibits?

[Zooplantman]

Very interesting study of 5 primate species in zoos. Apparently more visitors at viewing areas do not cause primates to move away.
"These data clearly demonstrate that the animals in the current study did not withdraw or retreat from visitor glass either when crowd sizes increased or when comparing between visitor presence and complete absence. We interpret this finding to suggest that visitors did not have a negative influence on the primates' affective state. We gain confidence in this interpretation when we consider that there was no change in the behavioral indicators of welfare while in the presence of visitors."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajp.23386

 

[Lafone]

Very interesting study of 5 primate species in zoos. Apparently more visitors at viewing areas do not cause primates to move away.
"These data clearly demonstrate that the animals in the current study did not withdraw or retreat from visitor glass either when crowd sizes increased or when comparing between visitor presence and complete absence. We interpret this finding to suggest that visitors did not have a negative influence on the primates' affective state. We gain confidence in this interpretation when we consider that there was no change in the behavioral indicators of welfare while in the presence of visitors."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajp.23386

Interesting reading! I’ve often wondered if density is a bit off putting or worrying for the animals - zoos can get so crowded at peak times. Great to see this sort of research showing the animals are not adversely impacted by us in this particular case.

 

[Zooplantman]

Interesting reading! I’ve often wondered if density is a bit off putting or worrying for the animals - zoos can get so crowded at peak times. Great to see this sort of research showing the animals are not adversely impacted by us in this particular case.

Yes! It needs to be repeated and other species examined but the paper says they were interested in developing this tool for use in animal enclosure design and it looks promising

 

[Lafone]

Yes! It needs to be repeated and other species examined but the paper says they were interested in developing this tool for use in animal enclosure design and it looks promising

Excellent stuff - could lead to some really interesting designs - so important to benefit the animals as well as letting us have the privilege of seeing them!

 

[Coelacanth18]

It needs to be repeated and other species examined but the paper says they were interested in developing this tool for use in animal enclosure design and it looks promising

I was thinking the same thing when I read the abstract. It would be great to see this applied to species like carnivores or some birds for which stress from crowds and noise would be more intuitive or suspected. Anecdotally the primate findings make sense; most primates are loud, social, and curious animals - not characteristics of animals I'd expect to be negatively impacted by crowds. There are countless examples of primates readily engaging with crowds and even being performative for them.

 

[PossumRoach]

I am happy that they studied the reactions of species from multiple families, yet I feel like this study could be done again with other species the study did not focus on such as spider monkeys, capuchins, or sifakas.

 

[Zooplantman]

I am happy that they studied the reactions of species from multiple families, yet I feel like this study could be done again with other species the study did not focus on such as spider monkeys, capuchins, or sifakas.

It doesn't appear to me intended to be a comprehensive study as much as a demonstration of the value of this approach using ZooMonitor app.. As the authors state:
"These results suggest that, with additional validation, distance from visitors may be one promising, simple way to evaluate the influence of visitors on primate welfare."
There is another study using this approach to determine how animals use their exhibit at different times of day to learn where more shade is needed.
It is the methodology they are examining. As it is validated, it should open up the opportunity to study much more
Monitoring the Behavior and Habitat Use of Animals to Enhance Welfare using the ZooMonitor App — Animal Behavior and Cognition

 

[Jurek7]

Quite the opposite to what was expected, several primates actually spent MORE time in front of the exhibits when visitors were there, so apparently find people enriching or interesting.