How can elephant-caregiver interactions in zoos influence perceptions of elephant welfare states and emotions?

Though elephants are iconic zoo residents and among the most researched of all wild animals, studies that focus on aspects of daily management, such as zoo caregivers' interactions with and teaching of elephants are largely absent. The aim of this research was to qualitatively explore how elephant-caregiver interactions (ECIs) that take place in zoos influence zoo visitors' perceptions of elephants' welfare states and emotions. This thesis employed purposive sampling to obtain participants and a pragmatic framework through which the research findings are engaged and explored. Multiple strands of data collection were incorporated, including surveys, focus groups, participant observation, autoethnography, interviews, and welfare assessments. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. This thesis is a first to identify that ECIs in zoos under conditions of positive reinforcement training (PRT) contexts are associated with visitors' perceptions of positive welfare states and emotions. Individual parameters explored included learning sessions conducted during backstage encounters at a zoo, specific behaviors, rewards, and messages. This thesis additionally provided unique exploration of the use of ankuses in zoos, a topic rare in academic literature and absent in relation to zoo visitors' perceptions. Further, this thesis established that visitors form perceptions of welfare and affective states homogenously despite the species under examination. As such, findings from this thesis have potential to be extrapolated to a wider range of zoo residents, increasing the pragmatic and academic relevance of the research. The findings of this thesis indicate that ECIs in zoos provide a profound opportunity for facilities to showcase excellent elephant welfare and related emotional states, such as happiness. However, these perceptions are dependent on context. This research indicated that positive perceptions are formed by zoo visitors under conditions of positive affiliative interactions that afford the elephants some autonomy, that demonstrate good relationships between the elephants and their caregivers, and where the elephants' actions infer that there is a level of enjoyment of the activities. Furthermore, welfare assessments of the animals under examination indicate that visitors' perceptions largely align with those of professional animal caregivers, a novel opportunity for visitor involvement in zoo animal welfare and the zoo community.<p></p>

Author dc:creator

• Angi Millwood Lacinak (21037781)

• Elephants
• Perceptions
• Emotions
• Elephant-Caregiver Relationships (ECRs)
• Welfare
• Anthrozoology

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved
• Open Access after 2027-03-02

Identifier

10779/exe.31438033.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31438033