The COVID-19 pandemic brought about major changes in the way we interact with each other and the world around us. Similarly, zoo animals also had to make adjustments as the usual crowds of visitors suddenly disappeared. A study conducted by researchers in 2022 focused on the behavior of various primates in response to the absence and return of visitors. The study looked at bonobos, chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, and olive baboons, and found that these animals changed their habits in different ways, particularly in the amount of time they spent resting and eating.
Visitor interactions play a significant role in the welfare of zoo animals. These interactions can have both positive and negative effects on the animals. The absence of visitors during the pandemic provided researchers with a unique opportunity to observe how zoo animals responded to changes in their environment. According to zoo animal welfare scientist Samantha Ward from Nottingham Trent University, primates are some of the most cognitively advanced species in zoos, making their interactions with visitors particularly complex.
Observations were conducted at Twycross Zoo and Knowsley Safari in the UK before and after visitors returned. The researchers noted significant changes in primate behavior, which varied among the different species. For example, bonobos and gorillas spent less time alone when visitors returned, while chimpanzees were observed to eat more and engage with their enclosures. Olive baboons in the safari park engaged in less sexual and dominance behavior in the presence of visitors and tended to approach visitor cars more often.
The researchers found that zoo animals demonstrated adaptability in response to changes in their environment, such as the presence or absence of visitors. Gorillas, in particular, changed the parts of their enclosures they frequented when visitors returned, indicating that they were able to manage disruptions to some extent. According to zoo animal welfare researcher Ellen Williams from Harper Adams University, providing environments that allow animals to actively adapt is essential for their welfare.
The study also highlighted the importance of understanding how visitor numbers can affect animal behavior in zoos and safari parks. The researchers identified a visitor number threshold for olive baboons, beyond which the animals stopped becoming increasingly active and stimulated by passing cars. This data is valuable for animal welfare researchers in designing and managing zoos and parks to ensure the well-being of the animals. Moving forward, the research team plans to continue studying the impact of visitor numbers on a wider range of species and individuals to gather more comprehensive data on animal behavior in response to visitors.