Ethics and Approval
I will maintain confidentiality by keeping interviews and observations private. They will be kept in a notebook and on my laptop, both of which will be kept in secure locations. The data that I use in my paper will not use keeper's names. I have prepared a consent form for keepers. They will have to read and sign it before I work with them - before I interview them or do participate observation with them. I will make sure that keepers know they are in no way obligated to help me and it is not a requirement of their job. I only want to work with willing volunteers. I will minimize risk by being respectful to the keepers and honest with them. My questions are not of a particularly personal nature, so I do not think I need to worry too much about offending or hurting. I will maximize benefit by volunteering to help in any way that I can - I am willing to help with the animals, cleaning, picking up trash - anything. I am also hoping that this project can really benefit the zoo overall and give them some ideas for using relationships to improve animal welfare and keeper job satisfaction. IRB approval is a work in progress.
First Draft Section E
Post-field Application
This whole experience works really well for my career and education goals. I am a wildlife conservation major and would like to be a wildlife biologist. This field study gives me experience in a country reknowned for its wildlife and its conservation work. My project will help me learn about animal behavior, the aspect of wildlife biology that I am most interested in. I am planning on writing a scientific paper using some aspect of my project. I plan on presenting and publishing - at least in the Inquiry Conference.
First Draft Section F
Qualifications
- IAS prep class - cultural knowledge, learned about methods, interviewing, observation
- I have worked with animals. I spent last summer as a Field Technician in Southern Utah. I caught and handled quail and various small mammals.
- I have read many articles about the research I am proposing to do and used them to design my project
First Draft Section G
Faculty Mentors and Coursework
Randy Larsen is my faculty mentor. He is an assistant professor in the Plant and Wildlife Sciences. He teaches many different courses like ornithology and mentored research sections. He has a Masters and a PhD in Wildlife Biology and his published many articles in peer reviewed scientific journals. Dr. Larsen is my faculty advisor. I have worked in his lab for the past two years, so he was someone I knew and felt comfortable working with.
I will also be working with Dr. Tom Smith. He is an associate professor in the Plant and Wildlife Sciences as well. Dr. Smith has done a lot of behavioral research with bears and teaches the wildlife behavior classes at BYU. A huge component of my project deals with wildlife behavior, so he was the ideal professor to work with. Dr. Smith has a Masters and a PhD in Wildlife Ecology. He has many publications in journals and books.
My course contracts work very well with my field study project. My project deals with the relationship between zoo keepers and animals. I am doing a course contract with Dr. Smith that fulfils credit for the Wildlife Behavioral Ecology class. This will be a big part of my project - how does behavior affect relationships and how does behavior help demonstrate what kind of relationship keepers and animals have? This course will help me learn the principles of wildlife behavior that I can then directly apply to my project. My course contract with Dr. Larson is for mentored research credit. He is going to give me credit for just doing my project. My third course is the one that will influence my field study experience the most - at least culturally. This course will help get me out into the community to learn more about the culture, lifestyles, and values of South Africans. The other courses will require me to get very involved in the zoo community, if not the wider East London community. My mentored research and wildlife behavior courses will go directly towards my major and give me credit towards graduation. These courses give me great practice in conducting research and writing scientific research papers, something I would have to do a lot of as a wildlife biologist.
Latest Draft of A,B, and C
The benefits of human-animal relationships in zoo environments
A Field Studies Proposal
Statement of Intent
How does the relationship between zoo animals and their keepers affect animal well-being and job satisfaction for the zoo keepers? I would like to do a project at the East London Zoo and at the East London Lion Park. I would like to learn more about the relationship between the people who run and work in the zoo and the animals that they care for. This project will look at both the behavior of people and of animals and how they react to each other. I will conduct this research through interviews and observations. There are many different models available to look at animal behavior and personality and I will use one or a combination of these models in my project. Hopefully I will be allowed to observe more private moments of animal/zoo keeper interaction - feeding, cleaning, health inspections etc. As a wildlife conservation student who is seriously interested in wildlife behavior, this project will allow me to learn more about the nature of animals and the nature of zoos. Since it is logistically difficult to go and live in the wild with a group of animals, this project will allow me to do the next best thing. It will give me a better chance to interact with and study animals, which is what motivated me to study wildlife conservation in the first place. As a wildlife biologist, it is likely that I would do studies in many parts of the world and with many different people. A field study experience in South Africa will help prepare me for future cultural interactions. It will also be a very valuable experience in ways that cannot be quantified
Literature Review
Startling fact/story! Biologists have just begun to research the relationship between zoo animals and their keepers. Previous research has been done on the relationships between humans and other kinds of animals, like domesticated livestock and laboratory animals, and this research is the starting point for zoo studies. Studies show that zoo keepers usually acknowledge they have formed some kind of relationship with the animals in their care (Citation), but the effects of that relationship are not entirely understood. There are many gaps in the literature on this topic. How can the human-animal relationship be modeled? How does animal and keeper personality affect relationships? A big issue is that relationships can differ depending on the species of the animal or whether it was raised in captivity. While a lot of research has been done looking at the human-animal relationship with domesticated and lab animals, there is a lack of research on the human-animal relationship in zoos and how that relationship can benefit both human and animal.
Research done with domesticated and laboratory animals has looked at how human interactions affect those animals, in negative and positive ways. There have been many studies on pigs and dairy cows and how the people who care for these animals can cause stress. It all begins with the attitude that the humans have towards that animal. For example, if a stockperson believes that cows are fun to work with, they are going to behave more positively towards that animal. Likewise if someone thinks that pigs cannot be moved without a lot of force, pigs are going to be handled in a negative way the majority of the time. Research shows that having positive attitudes and behaviors towards animals can positively benefit those animals. They experience less fear and subsequently less stress. This means animals will be healthier and have great reproductive success. In the case of dairy cows, they had a higher milk yield (citation). MORE WITH LAB ANIMALS
Because this is a newer topic, researchers have had to agree on what certain terms mean – for example, what is a relationship in this context? Relationships are defined as “the history of interactions between animals and humans that allows each to make predictions about the behavior of others. Quantity and quality of interactions determines what kind of relationship exists. "True relationships" are where interactions have a reciprocal effect on both parties” (Carlstead). It could be argued that zoo keepers and animals do have a true relationship; zoo keepers have stated that the relationships they have with animals can be the most rewarding aspect of their job (“Frequently asked questions about zookeeping”), so clearly they are being affected in some way by the animals in their care. A deeper kind of relationship is called a bond. A human-animal bond (HAB) is ‘‘a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both’’ (Hosey). This definition is very similar to the definition of a true relationship, although it looks only at the positive and beneficial aspect of that relationship.
Relationships are essentially the sum of interactions. Animals have many interactions with keepers throughout the day. There are three different measures of quality for interactions: positive, neutral, or negative. An example of a positive reaction would be a zoo keeper rewarding an animal with food or verbal praise after the animal exhibited a preferred behavior. A negative interaction would be the opposite of that, perhaps being hit or shouted at. If there are more positive interactions, the relationship is going to be more positive. Likewise if there are more negative interactions the relationship will be more negative. So to determine a relationship one can observe how a zoo keeper treats the animals in their care and if the majority of interactions are positive – feeding, petting, positive language; or if they are negative – hitting, slapping, yelling, and being unpredictable. Some other interactions that might affect the overall relationship include how close an animal gets to a keeper or avoids that keeper; how animals respond to being handled; and the subjective ratings of animal temperament around keepers – calm, fearful, docile etc. (Carlstead).
There are many things that could affect the relationship that are not fully understood yet. Relationships are going to develop differently depending on what species is being studied. Monkeys and felids have been studied the most, because it is easier to form a relationship with these species. Other species, like those in the reptile family, have received little notice. Another issue is that within species, individual personalities will affect relationships. Preliminary research has been done on ascertaining animals’ personalities, but there is definitely room for more research in this area. Keeper personalities and husbandry styles will also affect the relationship, although to what extent is unclear.
The current research does show some possible ways that relationships can affect animals and humans. These benefits are also affected by whether an animal has received positive-reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement training is another new idea; animals are rewarded for desired behaviors, thus training or encouraging them to exhibit those behaviors. Positive benefits for animals include: less stress, greater happiness, trust for keepers, the ability to have some control over their environment, more confidence, more freedom, a way to communicate, pleasure at contact and interaction, better reproductive success and better management. Obviously, if the relationship is a negative one, the animals will have more fear and thus more stress, which will not increase their welfare or their reproductive success. Possible benefits for humans are largely operational. Animals will be easier to handle in husbandry and veterinary situations. Keepers will have an increased knowledge and awareness of the animal’s needs and be able to spot illness and discomfort more readily. Having a positive relationship with the animals they care for can be emotionally rewarding and give keepers a greater sense of satisfaction with their job. They will also feel an increased sense of responsibility towards animals, which will lead to the further development of positive relationships.
Methodology and Practices
My subjects are going to be zoo keepers or park workers – anyone who has regular interactions with animals. And of course the animals themselves will be part of my study. My plan for sampling and recruitment is straightforward: I will ask the keepers to volunteer - anyone who is willing to answer questions and have me follow them around. I would prefer keepers who have been working with animals at the East London Zoo for a few years and have had time to establish relationships with animals. It would be interesting to look at newer keepers versus more established keepers and how their relationships differ. I would like to have a range of keepers that work with many different species to see how relationships differ from animal to animal.
My methods are going to be interviews and participant observation. I might have an initial, more formal interview, in which I ask keepers for their background working with animals, whether they think they have a relationship or bond with animals in their care, do they feel enriched by their interactions, typical interactions, husbandry style, training etc. Then after I have done some participant observation I will probably develop more specific questions about their interactions and animal behavior. My observations will focus on how animals behave and how that compares with how they might be expected to behave in the wild, or stressed behaviors versus normal behaviors. I will observe keeper-animal interactions and animal interactions with the zoo-going public.
In order to collect and analyze data, I will develop a model based off of models that already exist in the literature.
Develop a model for using gathered data...not sure what to do here yet, I have read about
several different models....use them/combine them....I want to talk to behavioral ecology prof
here at BYU
1st Draft - Methods
Methodology and Practices
A. Plan for entry and building rapport
a. Write letter of introduction to zoo and lion park (how would I get to lion park?)
b. Establish contact with administrators of those locations and start talking to them now about my project goals, before entering the field
c. Once in the field, visit these locations, meet administrators, establish what role I could have in the parks
d. Volunteer to help out? Get to know keepers and animals – routines, interactions, ec.
B. Description of Informants
a. Zoo keepers/park workers – the people who have regular interactions with animals
b. Animals themselves
C. Plan for Sampling and Recruitment
a. Whoever is willing to help me…I will already be working in a smaller population, my project is pretty specific
b. I guess I want keepers who have been around for a while and had time to establish relationships, although I could look at new and old keepers and compare strength of relationships…
c. Animals that are easier to work with i.e. monkeys over lions
D. Description of Method
a. Learn - normal behaviors vs stressed behaviors
b. Talk to zoo keepers a lot - interviews or maybe questionnaires...
expected, as I have learned from previous research and from what zoo keepers say; how do
animals and keepers interact; how do animals and general public interact
d. Develop a model for using gathered data...not sure what to do here yet, I have read about
several different models....use them/combine them....I want to talk to behavioral ecology prof
here at BYU
a. Learn - normal behaviors vs stressed behaviors
b. Talk to zoo keepers a lot - interviews or maybe questionnaires...
i. Possible questions - their background working with animals; do they think they have
bonds/relationships with animals; typical interactions with animals; what kinds of
behaviors have they noticed; do they feel enriched by relationships with animals;
husbandry style; have they had positive reinforcement training, do they do that kind of
stuff regardless of training;
c. Participant Observation - Observe how animals behave and compare that with what would beexpected, as I have learned from previous research and from what zoo keepers say; how do
animals and keepers interact; how do animals and general public interact
d. Develop a model for using gathered data...not sure what to do here yet, I have read about
several different models....use them/combine them....I want to talk to behavioral ecology prof
here at BYU
Introduction
How does the relationship between zoo animals and their keepers affect animal well-being and job satisfaction for the zoo keepers? Positive relationships between keepers and captive animals are beneficial for both parties. The animal will be healthier; there is research done showing that animals that had positive relationships with keepers had greater reproductive success. And positive relationships help keepers feel that their job has more meaning and is more satisfactory. There are many components to this question. Zoo keepers perform many tasks that put them in close proximity, if not contact, with the animals they care for. This is where the relationships begin to develop. Animals and people have different personalities. Those personalities are going to affect how the relationship develops and how strong it is. There are different kinds of relationships - there have been many studies done on Human-Animal Relationships (HARs) and Human-Animal Bonds (HABs). A bond is stronger than a relationship, to name one difference. It is easy to determine if a keeper feels they have a relationship or bond with the animals they care for – one just has to ask. But how do we determine if an animal has some idea of a relationship or understanding with a keeper?
As wildlife conservation major, I have good reason to look into these questions. I have been thinking about working in a zoo and would like to learn more about what goes on there. I am an animal lover and would love to know more about the bonds that animals and humans form and whether those bonds are worthwhile. My project obviously requires a zoo or other wildlife park in which animals interact enough with humans to develop relationships with them. While there are zoos all over the world, South Africa is a good fit for this project because it has a unique selection of wildlife and a history of wildlife conservation. For this literature review I will be looking at the tasks that zoo keepers perform that facilitates the creation of a relationship; how personalities can affect relationships; how researchers can determine relationships; and finally how those relationships affect the humans and animals that have made them.
Zoo keepers perform many tasks that put them in daily contact with animals. They feed the animals, clean cages, and move animals between enclosures. Zoo keepers might be in charge of providing daily enrichment for animals. This involves hiding toys and food for animals to find or introducing new scents or objects to the enclosure to stimulate curiosity. They might be involved in some animal training, for example, training elephants to lift their feet so keepers can clean them more easily. Zoo keepers are in charge of observing animals for abnormal behaviors that could indicate injury or sickness. They keep detailed reports of animal activity and diet. Clearly, zoo keepers are very aware of the animals in their care. And the animals grow to be very familiar of their keepers. The setting is right for relationships and bonds to form. But there are many factors that will influence what kinds of relationships form.
Personalities
Types for animals – shyness/boldness; exploration-avoidance; activity; sociability;
aggressiveness
Types for humans
How determined – coding versus rating
A lot of observation
What affect personalities have on relationships
Determining relationships
Relationships are defined as “the history of interactions between animals and humans that allows each to make predictions about the behavior of others. Quantity and quality of interactions determines what kind of relationship exists. "True relationships" are where interactions have a reciprocal effect on both parties” (Carlstead). I would argue that zoo keepers and animals do have a true relationship; zoo keepers have stated that the relationships they have with animals can be the most rewarding aspect of their job (“Frequently asked questions about zookeeping”), so clearly they are being affected in some way by the animals in their care. A deeper kind of relationship is called a bond. A human-animal bond (HAB) is ‘‘a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both’’ (Hosey). This definition is very similar to the definition of a true relationship, although it looks only at the positive and beneficial aspect of that relationship. I am interested to see how many zoo keepers feel that they have a bond and how many feel they just have a relationship.
We already know that animals have many interactions with keepers throughout the day. There are three different measures of quality for interactions: positive, neutral, or negative. An example of a positive reaction would be a zoo keeper rewarding an animal with food or verbal praise after the animal exhibited a preferred behavior. A negative interaction would be the opposite of that, perhaps being hit or shouted at. If there are more positive interactions, the relationship is going to be more positive. Likewise if there are more negative interactions the relationship will be more negative.
So to determine a relationship one can observe how a zoo keeper treats the animals in their care and if the majority of interactions are positive – feeding, petting, positive language; or if they are negative – hitting, slapping, yelling, being unpredictable. Besides looking at the history of interactions, there are some other methods to determine what kind of relationship the animals might have with zoo keepers. These include how close an animal gets to a keeper or avoids that keeper; how animals respond to being handled; and the subjective ratings of animal temperament around keepers – calm, fearful, docile etc. (Carlstead). Methods to determine
Effects of relationships
Animals – positive and negative
Positive - Animal more relaxed, less stressed, happier
Animal receives medical attention earlier, is less stressed by it
Animal shows pleasure with the contact and interaction
Animal gets better husbandry, is easier to manage
Enrichment
Animal knows respondent and is not afraid; has trust
Animal can communicate something to (or manipulate!) respondent
Animal has more confidence
Generally positive
Animal has better welfare
Companionship
Can give animal more freedom
Animal shows better behavior with other animals and people
Humans – positive and negative
Positive - Operational benefits
Easier husbandry, training, veterinary treatment, etc.
Increased knowledge and awareness of the animal’s needs
Increased easiness with animal (e.g. better communication,
ability to read animal’s moods)
Can spot illness or discomfort earlier or more easily
Can give animal a better life
Affective benefits
Emotionally rewarding
Greater enjoyment
Increased trust from animal
Companionship
Generally positive
Increased sense of responsibility
How humans view animals they care for…expression of relationships?
3rd Draft - Statement of Intent
I would like to do a project at the East London Zoo and at the East London Lion Park. I would like to learn more about the relationship between the people who run and work in the zoo and the animals that they care for. Does a relationship exist between zoo keepers and animals? How does this relationship affect animal well-fare and behavior and how does it impact the keepers themselves. This project will look at both the behavior of people and of animals and how they react to each other. I will conduct this research through interviews and observations. There are many different models available to look at animal behavior and personality and I will use one or a combination of these models in my project. Hopefully I will be allowed to observe more private moments of animal/zoo keeper interaction - feeding, cleaning, health inspections etc. As a wildlife conservation student who is seriously interested in wildlife behavior, this project will allow me to learn more about the nature of animals and the nature of zoos. Since it is logistically difficult to go and live in the wild with a group of animals, this project will allow me to do the next best thing. It will give me a better chance to interact with and study animals, which is what motivated me to study wildlife conservation in the first place. As a wildlife biologist, it is likely that I would do studies in many parts of the world and with many different people. A field study experience in South Africa will help prepare me for future cultural interactions.
1st Draft - Literature Review
Things in red - I need more sources
Introduction
How does the relationship between zoo animals and their keepers affect animal well-being and job satisfaction for the zoo keepers? Positive relationships between keepers and captive animals are beneficial for both parties. The animal will be healthier; there is research done showing that animals that had positive relationships with keepers had greater reproductive success. And positive relationships help keepers feel that their job has more meaning and is more satisfactory. There are many components to this question. Zoo keepers perform many tasks that put them in close proximity, if not contact, with the animals they care for. This is where the relationships begin to develop. Animals and people have different personalities. Those personalities are going to affect how the relationship develops and how strong it is. There are different kinds of relationships - there have been many studies done on Human-Animal Relationships (HARs) and Human-Animal Bonds (HABs). A bond is stronger than a relationship, to name one difference. It is easy to determine if a keeper feels they have a relationship or bond with the animals they care for – one just has to ask. But how do we determine if an animal has some idea of a relationship or understanding with a keeper?
As wildlife conservation major, I have good reason to look into these questions. I have been thinking about working in a zoo and would like to learn more about what goes on there. I am an animal lover and would love to know more about the bonds that animals and humans form and whether those bonds are worthwhile. For this literature review I will be looking at the tasks that zoo keepers perform that facilitates the creation of a relationship; how personalities can affect relationships; how researchers can determine relationships; and finally how those relationships affect the humans and animals that have made them. Body
Zoo keeper tasks - Daily enrichment for animals - hiding toys/food, introducing new scents or things to the habitat; animal training - elephants to lift feet so they can be cleaned more easily; help educate the zoo goers; feed animals; clean cages; observe animals for abnormal behavior or injury; keep detailed reports of animal activity and diet; and keep themselves and zoo goers safe.Personalities
Types for animals – shyness/boldness; exploration-avoidance; activity; sociability; aggressiveness
Types for humans
How determined – coding versus rating
A lot of observation
What affect personalities have on relationships
Determining relationships
HAR vs HAB
HAB - ‘‘a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both’’
HAR – “history of interactions between animals and humans that allows each to make predictions about the behavior of others”
Quantity and quality of interactions determines what kind of relationship exists. "True relationships" are where interactions have a reciprocal effect on both parties.
Methods to determine
measures of how close an animal gets to a keeper or avoids that keeper; how animals respond to being handled; and subjective ratings of animal temperament around keepers - calm, fearful, docile etc
Effects of relationships
Animals – positive and negative
Positive - Animal more relaxed, less stressed, happier
Animal receives medical attention earlier, is less stressed by it
Animal shows pleasure with the contact and interaction
Animal gets better husbandry, is easier to manage
Enrichment
Animal knows respondent and is not afraid; has trust
Animal can communicate something to (or manipulate!) respondent
Animal has more confidence
Generally positive
Animal has better welfare
Companionship
Can give animal more freedom
Animal shows better behavior with other animals and people
Animal receives medical attention earlier, is less stressed by it
Animal shows pleasure with the contact and interaction
Animal gets better husbandry, is easier to manage
Enrichment
Animal knows respondent and is not afraid; has trust
Animal can communicate something to (or manipulate!) respondent
Animal has more confidence
Generally positive
Animal has better welfare
Companionship
Can give animal more freedom
Animal shows better behavior with other animals and people
Humans – positive and negative
Positive - Operational benefits
Easier husbandry, training, veterinary treatment, etc.
Increased knowledge and awareness of the animal’s needs
Increased easiness with animal (e.g. better communication,
ability to read animal’s moods)
Can spot illness or discomfort earlier or more easily
Can give animal a better life
Affective benefits
Emotionally rewarding
Greater enjoyment
Increased trust from animal
Companionship
Generally positive
Increased sense of responsibility
Easier husbandry, training, veterinary treatment, etc.
Increased knowledge and awareness of the animal’s needs
Increased easiness with animal (e.g. better communication,
ability to read animal’s moods)
Can spot illness or discomfort earlier or more easily
Can give animal a better life
Affective benefits
Emotionally rewarding
Greater enjoyment
Increased trust from animal
Companionship
Generally positive
Increased sense of responsibility
How humans view animals they care for…expression of relationships?
2nd Draft - New Statement of Intent
I would still like to do a project at the East London Zoo and at the Lion Park. I would like to learn more about the relationship between the people who run and work in the zoo and the animals that they care for. Do the zoo keepers idealize the animals? Do they have favorites and does this affect the behavior of the animals towards them? How do the zoo keepers refer to the animals - names, nick-names, number? This project will look at both the behavior of people and of animals and how they react to each other. I will conduct this research mostly through interviews and observations. Hopefully I will be allowed to observe more private moments of animal/zoo keeper interaction - feeding, cleaning, health inspections etc. As a wildlife conservation student who is seriously interested in wildlife behavior, this project will allow me to learn more about the nature of animals and the nature of zoos. Since it is logistically difficult to go and live in the wild with a group of animals, this project will allow me to do the next best thing. It will give me a better chance to interact with and study animals, which is what motivated me to study wildlife conservation in the first place. As a wildlife biologist, it is likely that I would do studies in many parts of the world and with many different people. Doing a project in South Africa will help prepare me for cultural interaction in the future.
1st Draft - Statement of Intent
I would like to do a project at the East London Zoo and at the Lion Park located just outside of East London. I would like to learn more about zoo designs and logistics. I will research some captive animal behavior, or ethology, and compare that with wild animal behavior. I will research how zoos accomodate their animals and create as natural a lifestyle for them as possible. I will research how the East London zoo accomplishes some of the main goals of zoos: education, entertainment, and education. I will also look at the history of conservation in South Africa as a whole. As a wildlife conservation student, all of the information learned through this project will be useful to me in future careers. It will give me a more hands-on approach to something I have so far studied only in classrooms. As a wildlife biologist, it is likely that I would do studies in many parts of the world and with many different people. Doing a project in South Africa will help prepare me for cultural interaction in the future. South Africa also has wonderful wildlife and a history of conservation work, so what better place to do this project? In fact, this summer in Durban there is going to be a huge wildlife meeting, with wildlife professionals from around the world coming to share their projects and research. I might be able to attend that meeting and learn even more about the realm of wildlife biology.
