We go to the zoo because we like being in the presence of wild animals. But do they like to be around us? A study from researchers at Nottingham Trent University, Bolton University and Harper Adams University in the U.K. has sought to find out the answer.
For most of the animals studied, the response to people was more or less neutral. However, in 17%-38% of the cases observed, the researchers recorded reactions that were either positive or negative. But Leith Meyer, director of the Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies and associate professor in veterinary and pharmacology at the University of Pretoria, told Africa Check that elephants’ reactions to humans in zoos may simply be a matter of conditioning. Elephants are among the smartest animals, and those in zoos have become used to people and rely on them for food.
Rounding out the list of animals that responded positively to humans were cheetahs, jaguars, penguins, grizzly bears, polar bears, servals , banteng and black-tailed prairie dogs. However, study authors noted that the results from animals other than elephants and parrots must be interpreted with caution, since there were smaller numbers of them to study and extrapolate from and differences in individuals, care, or enclosure design might affect the results.
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