anthrozoology.org

Florian Mormann, Julien Dubois,Simon Kornblith,Milica Milosavljevic, Moran Cerf,  Matias Ison,  Naotsugu Tsuchiya,  Alexander Kraskov,  Rodrigo Quian Quiroga,  Ralph Adolphs,   Itzhak Fried, Christof Koch

  Kirkwood, J. K.; Weddell, S.; Hubrecht, R. C.; Wickens, S. M.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo
Grinde, B.; Patil, G. G.
Norway.bjgr@fhi.nogrete.patil@umb.no
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2009. 6: 9, 2332-2343.

It is concluded that an environment devoid of Nature may act as a "discord", i.e., have a negative effect. While the term mismatch is used for any difference between present living conditions and the environment of evolutionary adaptation, discords are mismatches with a potentially undesirable impact on health or quality of life. The problem is partly due to the visual absence of plants, and may be ameliorated by adding elements of Nature, e.g., by creating parks, by offering a view through windows, and by potted plants. The conclusion is based on an evaluation of some fifty relevant empirical studies.

Carlstead, Kathy.

Zoo Biology.28(6):589-608, 2009 Nov.

Research on intensively farmed animals over the past 25 years has shown that human-animal interactions, by affecting the animal's fear of humans, can markedly limit the productivity and welfare of farm animals. This article begins to explore some of the factors that need to be considered to investigate Keeper-Animal Relationships (KARs) in the zoo. In the mid-1990s, a large body of multi-institutional data on zookeepers and animals was collected from 46 Zoos. Using standardized questionnaires, 82 keepers rated how they behaved towards animals, their husbandry routine, how the animal responds to them and to other people, and provided information about themselves. These data include 219 individuals of four endangered species: black rhinoceros, cheetah, maned wolf, and great hornbill. At each zoo, keepers were also videotaped calling to their animals in order to directly observe animal responses to keeper behaviors. Principle Components Analysis reduced eight animal variables to three components and ten keeper variables to five components. Scores for animals and for keepers were calculated on these components and compared, according to five predictions based on models of human-animal interactions in the literature. Animal responses to keepers varied along three dimensions: Affinity to Keeper, Fear of People, and Sociable/Curious. Animal scores of Fear of People were significantly and positively correlated with independent measures of poor welfare from two later studies: fecal corticoid concentrations for 12 black rhinos and "tense-fearful" scores for 12 cheetahs.

Stewardson, A. J.; Grayson, M. L.;

Carlstead, Kathy.  Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. kcarlstead@honzoosoc.org

Breitenbach, E.; Stumpf, E.; Fersen, L. v.; Ebert, H.;

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Manciocco, A.; Chiarotti, F.; Vitale, A.;

Applied Animal Behaviour Science