Assessing the immediate and longitudinal effects on conservation caring and behaviour intent of a human-dolphin interactive programme

Authors

  • Joao Neves Zoomarine Algarve
  • Roberto Teixeira Zoomarine Algarve
  • Rita Guerreiro Zoomarine Algarve
  • Filipa Nascimento Zoomarine Algarve
  • Tânia Araújo Zoomarine Algarve
  • André Pontes Zoomarine Algarve
  • Beatriz Leandro Zoomarine Algarve
  • Marcos Conceição Zoomarine Algarve
  • Filipa Santos Zoomarine Algarve

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v11i2.727

Keywords:

conservation caring, dolphins, existing connection to wildlife, human-animal interaction, pro-conservation behaviours, zoo

Abstract

Conservation awareness and behaviour change are some of the main objectives of progressive zoos and aquariums. Among the wide range of visitor experiences these places offer, many also promote animal-visitor interactions as emotional experiences that allegedly promote increased knowledge and attitudes towards conservation. The present study aimed to measure immediate and longitudinal effects on conservation caring and behaviour change of a human-dolphin intervention using the Conservation Caring scale (Skibins and Powell 2013). This scale was originally designed to measure the zoo-goer’s connection to a specific species and to relate this to pro-conservation behavioural intentions following the zoo visit. A total of 291 adult zoo visitors participated in this study. Participants were randomly selected and 124 interventions were assessed. Participants were asked to answer the survey before (pre-intervention) or after (post-intervention) the programme. Twelve weeks after the intervention, a follow-up survey was emailed to all participants who stated willingness to participate in the follow-up assessment. A total of 148 pre-intervention, 143 post-intervention and 32 follow-up surveys were collected. Results show a post-intervention increase in some of the variables under study, notably ‘existing connection to wildlife’ and both ‘species-’ and ‘biodiversity-oriented behaviours’. A longitudinal analysis showed a significant return to baseline values for the ‘existing connection to wildlife’ and ‘conservation caring’ variables. Both ‘species-’ and ‘biodiversity-oriented behaviours’ remained stable three months after the intervention although with a decreasing trend. Future considerations on improving the acceptance of conservation-focused behaviour changes are suggested.

Author Biographies

Roberto Teixeira, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Rita Guerreiro, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Filipa Nascimento, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Tânia Araújo, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

André Pontes, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Beatriz Leandro, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Marcos Conceição, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

Filipa Santos, Zoomarine Algarve

Department of Science and Education

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Published

30-04-2023

How to Cite

Neves, J., Teixeira, R., Guerreiro, R., Nascimento, F., Araújo, T., Pontes, A., … Santos, F. (2023). Assessing the immediate and longitudinal effects on conservation caring and behaviour intent of a human-dolphin interactive programme. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 11(2), 289–297. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v11i2.727

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

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