Past Projects

This study evaluated the impact of supervised visitor-animal interactions with three hand-raised cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) at Monarto Zoo, on cheetah behavior, as well as upon human conservation knowledge and attitudes. The welfare of cheetahs during the interaction was not found to be compromised, while visitors showed an increased knowledge of cheetah conservation.

Instantaneous time sampling was used to record the cheetahs’ behaviour, location and proximity to humans; as well as the behaviour and location of the human participants. 41 visitors were involved in the study across twelve, one-hour interactions. Immediately prior to, and after the interaction, visitors completed questionnaires measuring their knowledge about cheetah conservation, general environmental attitudes, conservation behavior, and their satisfaction with the experience.

Results showed an increase in cheetah conservation knowledge after the interaction. Conservation attitudes did not change but a high level of environmental concern was observed both before and after the interaction. Although participants reported involvement in a variety of conservation behaviours in their everyday lives, after the experience, 60% of participants indicated a desire to undertake further conservation behaviors.

The behavioural analysis of the cheetahs during the interaction showed no obvious behavioural indicators of stress. The three cheetahs differed in their level of interaction with humans, as measured by proximity to them. One cheetah, was within 1m of participants for 70% of observations, while another only for ~25% of observations were within 1m of participants. Nevertheless, for all three cheetahs, most of the total scans were spent within 3m of human participants.