Zoo Visitors' Most-Liked Aspects of Elephant Encounters and Related Perceptions of Animals' Emotions and Welfare States: A Pragmatic Approach.

Simple Summary: Zoos are home to a diverse range of species, including those in need of conservation. Given the high costs involved in caring for their residents and satisfying their commitments to educating the public, zoos rely on patronage from visitors. Zoos, therefore, need to understand how visitors think and feel about the well-being of the animals in their collections. If visitors perceive zoos as spaces where animals are unhappy, they will be less likely to visit. This qualitative study documented and assessed visitor experiences of and responses to training activities provided for the resident herd of African elephants at Zoo Tampa, Florida, USA. Surveys were conducted with visitors following their attendance at elephant training and enrichment sessions, and they focused on ascertaining visitor perceptions of elephant emotions, care, and welfare. These surveys revealed that visitors perceived that the elephants involved in the encounters were happy, content, calm, comfortable, engaged, excited, good, playful, and safe (among other emotional descriptors) and that they experienced good welfare. Responses also gave insight into why visitors felt this was the case and identified aspects that visitors did not like or that they felt could be improved. The research provides zoos with insight into the impact that animal–caregiver interactions can have on visitors' perceptions, and it offers a model that could be applied across the sector. Zoos strive to provide excellent welfare for resident animals, including those belonging to endangered species involved in captive breeding programs while addressing visitors' concerns regarding the ethics of captivity. Zoos also rely on income and support from visitors to provide exceptional care for their animal residents. It is essential, therefore, that zoos consider how visitors perceive their animals' well-being, including physical and psychological welfare. This pragmatic, qualitative research explores the aspects of training-focused enrichment activities provided for a resident herd of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that visitors liked/disliked, and it assesses perceptions of the animals' emotions and welfare. Data were collected via surveys following live encounters at Zoo Tampa, Florida (USA). Reflexive Thematic Analysis generated key themes related to visitors' most/least-liked aspects of the encounters, including proximity, elephant–caregiver relationships (ECRs), educational content, and teaching/learning opportunities for the elephants themselves. Participants in the research perceived the elephants as happy, content, calm, comfortable, engaged, excited, good, playful, and safe (among other emotional descriptors) and as having excellent welfare. Expressions of dislike referred to visitors' inability to have contact with the elephants, such as via touching or feeding. While focused on one case-study zoo and a charismatic species, this study nonetheless provides zoos with insight into the impact that animal–caregiver interactions can have on visitors' perceptions, and it offers a model that could be applied to other species and at other zoological institutions. These visitor experiences and visitor perceptions of animal welfare drive future visitor actions, including support for zoos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]