Beauty and the Beast: Preferences for animals in Australia

It is clear, both intuitively and from research findings, that humans have definite preferences regarding different animal species. These preferences have implications for the management of wildlife tourism in terms of selecting animals that people want to see, understanding the features of the animals that are appealing to visitors, and developing education and interpretation programs. This study reports on findings from 790 respondents who were asked to list their favourite animals, and the reasons why they are favourites. The results confirm that favourite animals are often companion animals and those animals with which people are familiar. The reasons for liking animals centre around perceptions of their attractiveness, intelligence and character. Reasons for disliking animals often focus on the threat or potential harm to humans. Results highlight the importance of perceptions rather than actual characteristics in influencing preference and provide a basis for wildlife tourism planning.