The zoo visitor experience and its connection to behavior in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Document Type
Poster
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
15-5-2019
End Date
15-5-2019
Abstract
Most zoos have missions to provide high-quality care for their animals and an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between visitors and gorillas in a zoo environment. The effect of gorilla proximity to the visitor viewing areas on visitor attentiveness was examined in an indoor and outdoor gorilla exhibit. Visitor experience surveys were conducted for visitors exiting the outdoor exhibit. Stepwise multiple regressions revealed group and individual gorilla proximity effects on visitor attentiveness. For the majority of analyses, visitor attentiveness increased as the gorillas got closer to the viewing area, but proximity of two individual gorillas caused decreased attentiveness. Only one individual gorilla, a silverback in a family group, consistently changed positions in response to increases in visitor attentiveness, positioning himself farther away from the viewing area. Visitors answered more positively to survey items concerning their perception of the zoo’s gorillas when they also reported witnessing more active gorilla behaviors, and also showed increased concern about gorilla conservation efforts when they spoke to an employee or volunteer about gorillas. Zoos can use this information to design enclosures that promote more active behaviors in their gorillas and to provide volunteers or employees that can discuss gorillas and conservation issues. This can allow visitors to have more enriching experiences while still limiting any negative effects on the gorillas.
Winner, Outstanding Poster Presentation, School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Recommended Citation
Bergman, Alan, "The zoo visitor experience and its connection to behavior in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)" (2019). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 100.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Posters/100
Department/Program
Psychology
The zoo visitor experience and its connection to behavior in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Ellensburg
Most zoos have missions to provide high-quality care for their animals and an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between visitors and gorillas in a zoo environment. The effect of gorilla proximity to the visitor viewing areas on visitor attentiveness was examined in an indoor and outdoor gorilla exhibit. Visitor experience surveys were conducted for visitors exiting the outdoor exhibit. Stepwise multiple regressions revealed group and individual gorilla proximity effects on visitor attentiveness. For the majority of analyses, visitor attentiveness increased as the gorillas got closer to the viewing area, but proximity of two individual gorillas caused decreased attentiveness. Only one individual gorilla, a silverback in a family group, consistently changed positions in response to increases in visitor attentiveness, positioning himself farther away from the viewing area. Visitors answered more positively to survey items concerning their perception of the zoo’s gorillas when they also reported witnessing more active gorilla behaviors, and also showed increased concern about gorilla conservation efforts when they spoke to an employee or volunteer about gorillas. Zoos can use this information to design enclosures that promote more active behaviors in their gorillas and to provide volunteers or employees that can discuss gorillas and conservation issues. This can allow visitors to have more enriching experiences while still limiting any negative effects on the gorillas.
Winner, Outstanding Poster Presentation, School of Graduate Studies and Research.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Posters/100
Faculty Mentor(s)
Kara Gabriel