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Article

Zookeeper–Animal Bonds and Their Relationship with Conservation Action

1
Wildlife Conservation Society, Prospect Park Zoo, New York, NY 11225, USA
2
Department of Biology, Project Dragonfly, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
3
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 699-713; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040052
Submission received: 19 September 2022 / Revised: 4 December 2022 / Accepted: 7 December 2022 / Published: 13 December 2022

Abstract

Human–animal relationships have been demonstrated to have impacts on animal and keeper welfare, although their impacts on zookeepers have been less studied outside of evaluating job satisfaction. Many zoological facilities are active in supporting conservation initiatives among staff, but current levels of zookeeper engagement in pro-conservation behavior and the motivations behind it are less studied. Some research indicates motivations for pro-environmental action, in general, may include empathetic connections with animals. To investigate connections between zookeeper–animal relationships and conservation participation, 144 zookeepers from various locations participated in an online survey responding to questions about their perception of their relationships with the animals in their care and current conservation participation levels. This study found zookeepers who report bonds with the animals in their care are more likely to participate in select conservation behaviors, such as reducing personal waste, than those who do not claim a bond with animals. Bonds did not predict involvement in larger conservation actions such as habitat restoration or citizen science participation. These findings have implications for how zoos might encourage engagement in pro-conservation behaviors and participation among their staff.
Keywords: human–animal relationships; human–animal bonds; conservation behavior; conservation culture human–animal relationships; human–animal bonds; conservation behavior; conservation culture

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MDPI and ACS Style

Thomas, V.; Orwig, J.; Shelmidine, N.; York, J. Zookeeper–Animal Bonds and Their Relationship with Conservation Action. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3, 699-713. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040052

AMA Style

Thomas V, Orwig J, Shelmidine N, York J. Zookeeper–Animal Bonds and Their Relationship with Conservation Action. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2022; 3(4):699-713. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040052

Chicago/Turabian Style

Thomas, Veronica, Jerran Orwig, Nichole Shelmidine, and Joshua York. 2022. "Zookeeper–Animal Bonds and Their Relationship with Conservation Action" Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3, no. 4: 699-713. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040052

APA Style

Thomas, V., Orwig, J., Shelmidine, N., & York, J. (2022). Zookeeper–Animal Bonds and Their Relationship with Conservation Action. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 3(4), 699-713. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040052

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