Ambassador Animals Do Not Have a Clear Effect on Visitor Conservation Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Exotic Pets at a Zoo Exhibit.

IF 1.2 4区 生物学 Q3 VETERINARY SCIENCES Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2024-10-28 DOI:10.1002/zoo.21872
Daniel G Kirsch, Anna C MacPherson, Caterina N Meyers, Sarah L Bowser, Sara M Kross
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Abstract

There is relatively little work examining visitor outcomes of ambassador animal programs, such as whether these programs are educationally effective or unintentionally promote exotic pet ownership. We designed a two-way factorial experiment to test whether ambassador animals enhanced or detracted from the educational outcomes of a zoo exhibit. We surveyed 312 visitors at the Oakland Zoo at a static exhibit focused on the illegal wildlife trade. Participants were surveyed either before or after visiting the exhibit, with or without a trainer presenting either an ambassador ball python (Python regius) or yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata). The survey assessed attitudes toward conservation, knowledge of conservation behavior, and the suitability of various species, including the ambassador species, as pets. We used an ANOVA to examine 299 complete surveys for differences between experimental groups' mean responses. There were no significant differences in conservation attitudes. Subjects demonstrated more knowledge of conservation behavior after leaving the exhibit, regardless of whether or not an animal was present. While the exhibit reduced favorable attitudes toward parrots as pets, ambassador animal presence neither positively nor negatively impacted on this effect. Participants who viewed a python were more likely to indicate that they viewed a python as a good pet. However, the sample expressed overall negative attitudes toward exotic pet ownership. This study suggests that ambassadors neither enhanced learning nor unintentionally promoted exotic pets. Further research is needed to understand the role of interpretive messaging when using ambassadors in an educational context.

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在动物园展览中,"动物大使 "不会对游客的保护知识和对外来宠物的态度产生明显影响。
目前研究动物大使项目对游客影响的工作相对较少,例如这些项目是否具有教育效果,还是无意中促进了外来宠物的拥有。我们设计了一个双向因子实验,以检验动物大使是否增强或减弱了动物园展览的教育效果。我们在奥克兰动物园的一个以非法野生动物贸易为主题的静态展览中对 312 名参观者进行了调查。我们在参观展览之前或之后对参与者进行了调查,无论是否有驯兽师展示球蟒(Python regius)或黄颈亚马逊鹦鹉(Amazona auropalliata)。调查内容包括对保护的态度、对保护行为的了解以及各种物种(包括大使物种)作为宠物的适宜性。我们使用方差分析对 299 份完整的调查问卷进行了检验,以了解实验组平均答卷之间的差异。实验组在保护态度方面没有明显差异。受试者在离开展览后,无论是否有动物在场,都对保护行为有了更多的了解。虽然展览降低了人们对鹦鹉作为宠物的好感度,但动物大使的出现对这一效果既没有积极影响,也没有消极影响。观看过蟒蛇的参与者更有可能表示他们认为蟒蛇是一种好宠物。然而,样本总体上对饲养外来宠物持负面态度。这项研究表明,宣传大使既没有加强学习,也没有无意中宣传外来宠物。还需要进一步研究,以了解在教育环境中使用形象大使时解释性信息的作用。
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来源期刊
Zoo Biology
Zoo Biology 生物-动物学
CiteScore
2.50
自引率
15.40%
发文量
85
审稿时长
6-12 weeks
期刊介绍: Zoo Biology is concerned with reproduction, demographics, genetics, behavior, medicine, husbandry, nutrition, conservation and all empirical aspects of the exhibition and maintenance of wild animals in wildlife parks, zoos, and aquariums. This diverse journal offers a forum for effectively communicating scientific findings, original ideas, and critical thinking related to the role of wildlife collections and their unique contribution to conservation.
期刊最新文献
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