Public Perceptions of Behavioral Enrichment: Assumptions Gone Awry

摘要: 4Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois More and more, zoos are integrating behavioral enrichment programs into their management routines. Given the newness of such on an official level, however, there increasing number decisions based assumption. Enrichment is typically not provided exhibit, especially for exhibits considered to be more naturalistic, because it assumed affect visitors’ experience negatively. To test that assumption, visitors were interviewed in front four exhibits—an outdoor barren grotto, vegetated indoor immersion traditional cage—each with either natural, nonnatural or no objects present. Specifically, we wanted know whether 1) exhibit’s perceived educational message, 2) animal’s “happiness,” 3) visitor perceptions enrichment, naturalism behavior, zoo animal well-being changed as a function object type. Overall, type had little impact perceptions. In only exhibit affected by influenced naturalism. For general behavior affected. Finally, cage, message Zoo Biol 17:525‐534, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.