Abstract
There are few quantitative studies on visitor's behaviour towards animal exhibits in zoos. We evaluated the popularity of mammal exhibits of a small tropical zoo at Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, and correlated it with some characteristics of the exhibits (number of individuals within the exhibit, species body mass, annual maintenance costs, exhibit frontage, and distance between the exhibit and the zoo entrance). We also compared popularity, body mass and annual maintenance costs between native and non-native species. A total of 27 exhibits were studied from December 2000 to May 2001. There was not any correlation between popularity and exhibit features. Although exotic species are heavier and have higher annual maintenance costs than native species, no difference in popularity between exotic and native species was found. Small zoos in tropical countries may redirect at least part of their exhibits from larger-bodied, exotic and more expensive towards smaller, native and cheaper mammal species without compromise to visitor's interest.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 223-226 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Biodiversity
- Exhibits
- Mammals
- Tropical
- Visitor interest
- Zoo
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
A note on the relationships between visitor interest and characteristics of the mammal exhibits in Recife Zoo, Brazil. / da Silva, M. A M; Cardoso da Silva, Jose Maria.
In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Vol. 105, No. 1-3, 06.2007, p. 223-226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A note on the relationships between visitor interest and characteristics of the mammal exhibits in Recife Zoo, Brazil
AU - da Silva, M. A M
AU - Cardoso da Silva, Jose Maria
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - There are few quantitative studies on visitor's behaviour towards animal exhibits in zoos. We evaluated the popularity of mammal exhibits of a small tropical zoo at Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, and correlated it with some characteristics of the exhibits (number of individuals within the exhibit, species body mass, annual maintenance costs, exhibit frontage, and distance between the exhibit and the zoo entrance). We also compared popularity, body mass and annual maintenance costs between native and non-native species. A total of 27 exhibits were studied from December 2000 to May 2001. There was not any correlation between popularity and exhibit features. Although exotic species are heavier and have higher annual maintenance costs than native species, no difference in popularity between exotic and native species was found. Small zoos in tropical countries may redirect at least part of their exhibits from larger-bodied, exotic and more expensive towards smaller, native and cheaper mammal species without compromise to visitor's interest.
AB - There are few quantitative studies on visitor's behaviour towards animal exhibits in zoos. We evaluated the popularity of mammal exhibits of a small tropical zoo at Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, and correlated it with some characteristics of the exhibits (number of individuals within the exhibit, species body mass, annual maintenance costs, exhibit frontage, and distance between the exhibit and the zoo entrance). We also compared popularity, body mass and annual maintenance costs between native and non-native species. A total of 27 exhibits were studied from December 2000 to May 2001. There was not any correlation between popularity and exhibit features. Although exotic species are heavier and have higher annual maintenance costs than native species, no difference in popularity between exotic and native species was found. Small zoos in tropical countries may redirect at least part of their exhibits from larger-bodied, exotic and more expensive towards smaller, native and cheaper mammal species without compromise to visitor's interest.
KW - Biodiversity
KW - Exhibits
KW - Mammals
KW - Tropical
KW - Visitor interest
KW - Zoo
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247596055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247596055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.06.007
DO - 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.06.007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34247596055
VL - 105
SP - 223
EP - 226
JO - Applied Animal Behaviour Science
JF - Applied Animal Behaviour Science
SN - 0168-1591
IS - 1-3
ER -