anthrozoology.org

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

Akiyama, J.; Sugimoto, K.; Ohta, M.;

Journal of Azabu University. 2004. 9/10: 11-16.

The effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the physical and physiological health of old people have been well known. In general, dogs, cats and small animals have been used at the AAT for seniors. In this study we tried to clarify physical and mental effects of the interactions of old people and dolphins, with ten people aged from 50 to 60. The blood pressure and the heart rate were measured with a hemodynamometer before and after the activity with the dolphins. The psychological test was performed at the same time, using the Multiple Mood Scale. The results show that the positive emotions of the subjects were increased significantly, with concomitant decreases in the negative emotions. The means of the blood pressures were increased before approaching to dolphins and decreased gradually after the interaction with dolphins. These findings indicate that interactions with dolphins have a relaxed effect upon both mental and physical states of the participants in a short time.

Bjerke, T., T. S. Odegardstuen, and B. P. Kaltenborn.

Anthrozoos, v. 11, p. 227-235, 1998.

562 children and adolescents (9 and 15 years), from one urban and 3 rural areas in southern Norway, completed a questionnaire on their degree of preference for various animal species. The dog, cat, horse, and rabbit were the favourite species, while the crow, worm, bee, and spider were the least liked. Girls were more positive toward horses, and were more pet-orientated than boys, while more boys than girls preferred wild animals. Younger respondents liked animals more than did 15-year-olds, with a few exceptions: the wolf, bear, and whale. Urban respondents liked animals more than rural respondents, a finding which applied to the large carnivores in particular. Interests in wildlife decreased with age, and few respondents wished to save ecologically-significant species (ants, bees, ladybirds) from extinction

Zasloff, R. L., and L. A. Hart.

Anthrozoos, v. 11, p. 242-248, 1998. 

Persons maintaining colonies of homeless, stray cats on the island of Oahu were surveyed for attitudes and care practices associated with colony maintenance. The 75 respondents were primarily female pet owners, middle-aged, living with spouses, well-educated, and employed full time, dispelling the image of caretakers as elderly, socially-isolated individuals. Most believed that outdoor cat colonies should continue and that colony maintenance is a way of curbing pet overpopulation so long as the cats are sterilized. Most respondents had been maintaining cat colonies for 2 to 4 years. All caretakers reported having attempted to socialize the cats and nearly half had been successful in homing cats. Most were caring for one colony of fewer than 10 animals which were fed once or twice daily. All caretakers tried to trap the cats and take them for sterilization and veterinary care. Although many took advantage of the Hawaiian Humane Society's free sterilization programme for colony cats, some caretakers paid for sterilization and more than half reported paying for all veterinary care. Love of cats, opportunity for nurturing, and improved feelings of self-esteem appear to be some of the factors underlying the remarkable commitment of the caretakers. Colony management may not be practical in some areas due to risks to wildlife and human health. However, where feasible, the availability of individuals willing to provide responsible care to these animals may be a significant resource for animal welfare and control organizations