Tools
Tools
Melfi, V., Skyner, L., Birke, L., Ward, S.J. 
ORCID: 0000-0002-5857-1071, Shaw, W.S. and Hosey, G.,
2021.
Furred and feathered friends: how attached are zookeepers to the animals in their care?
Zoo Biology.
ISSN 0733-3188
|
Text
1481171_Ward.pdf - Post-print Download (206kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Keeper-animal relationships (KARs) appear to be important in zoos, since they can enhance the well-being of both the animals and the keepers, can make animal husbandry easier, but conversely might risk inappropriate habituation of animals and possible risks to the safety of keepers. It is, therefore, important to know more about the variables involved in relationship formation. Here we use a modified version of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) to measure the strength of KARs between keepers and animals in their care, both in the zoo and in the home. LAPS questionnaires were completed by 187 keepers in 19 different collections across three countries. LAPS scores for attachment to zoo animals (ZA) were significantly lower than for pet animals (PA). There was no significant difference in ZA scores between different taxa, but there were significant taxon differences between PA scores. There were significant differences in both ZA and PA scores between different collections. Female respondents scored more highly than males for both ZA and PA. Multiple regression revealed that location, gender, and time spent with animals were significant predictors for ZA, while only gender and taxon were significant predictors for PA. It was concluded that PA scores were comparable with those for the general public, and reflected strong attachment of keepers to their pets, while ZA scores, although also reflecting attachment, were influenced by differences in institutional culture.
| Item Type: | Journal article | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publication Title: | Zoo Biology | ||||||
| Creators: | Melfi, V., Skyner, L., Birke, L., Ward, S.J., Shaw, W.S. and Hosey, G. | ||||||
| Publisher: | Wiley | ||||||
| Date: | 18 October 2021 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 0733-3188 | ||||||
| Identifiers: |
|
||||||
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences | ||||||
| Record created by: | Jonathan Gallacher | ||||||
| Date Added: | 25 Oct 2021 15:25 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 18 Oct 2022 03:00 | ||||||
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/44507 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit View |
Views
Views per month over past year
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
