Abstract
Spearman’s rank correlations. Two main QBA dimensions were identified explaining 59% of the variation between clips. There were significant eects of girae and KAI type on QBA dimension 2 (inquisitive/impatient—calm/distracted), and significant positive associations between keeper action quality rating and QBA dimensions 1 and 2, indicating that positive keeper actions resulted in calm and confident giraes with a willingness to interact. This is the first successful application of QBA for
empirically addressing HARs in zoos, however given the small sample size of giraes in this study, it can be regarded as a pilot study only, and further research is needed to validate the use of QBA in this context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 381 |
| Journal | Animals |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 21 Jun 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | First published - 21 Jun 2019 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Animal welfare
- Human-animal interaction
- HAR
- Keeper-animal interactions
- QBA
- Free Choice Profiling
Cite this
}
Using Qualitative Behaviour Assessment to investigate human-animal relationships in zoo-housed giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis). / Patel, Freisha; Wemelsfelder, F; Ward, Samantha.
In: Animals, Vol. 9, No. 6, 381, 21.06.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Using Qualitative Behaviour Assessment to investigate human-animal relationships in zoo-housed giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)
AU - Patel, Freisha
AU - Wemelsfelder, F
AU - Ward, Samantha
PY - 2019/6/21
Y1 - 2019/6/21
N2 - Human-Animal Relationships (HAR) in zoos develop from repeated interactions between animals and their caretakers. HAR have been shown to aect health and welfare in farm animals, but limited zoo-based studies exist. This study investigates the association between the qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) of emotional expression in giraes and keeper action score in four types of keeper-animal interaction (KAI). Three giraes generating 38 clips. QBA, using a free-choice profiling methodology, was applied instructing 18 observers to assess girae expressions shown in these clips. QBA scores were analysed using Generalized Procrustes Analysis. Keeper actions during each KAI event were rated by an independent marker, resulting in cumulative scores for keeper action quality. The association between QBA and the keeper action was analyzed usingSpearman’s rank correlations. Two main QBA dimensions were identified explaining 59% of the variation between clips. There were significant eects of girae and KAI type on QBA dimension 2 (inquisitive/impatient—calm/distracted), and significant positive associations between keeper action quality rating and QBA dimensions 1 and 2, indicating that positive keeper actions resulted in calm and confident giraes with a willingness to interact. This is the first successful application of QBA forempirically addressing HARs in zoos, however given the small sample size of giraes in this study, it can be regarded as a pilot study only, and further research is needed to validate the use of QBA in this context.
AB - Human-Animal Relationships (HAR) in zoos develop from repeated interactions between animals and their caretakers. HAR have been shown to aect health and welfare in farm animals, but limited zoo-based studies exist. This study investigates the association between the qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) of emotional expression in giraes and keeper action score in four types of keeper-animal interaction (KAI). Three giraes generating 38 clips. QBA, using a free-choice profiling methodology, was applied instructing 18 observers to assess girae expressions shown in these clips. QBA scores were analysed using Generalized Procrustes Analysis. Keeper actions during each KAI event were rated by an independent marker, resulting in cumulative scores for keeper action quality. The association between QBA and the keeper action was analyzed usingSpearman’s rank correlations. Two main QBA dimensions were identified explaining 59% of the variation between clips. There were significant eects of girae and KAI type on QBA dimension 2 (inquisitive/impatient—calm/distracted), and significant positive associations between keeper action quality rating and QBA dimensions 1 and 2, indicating that positive keeper actions resulted in calm and confident giraes with a willingness to interact. This is the first successful application of QBA forempirically addressing HARs in zoos, however given the small sample size of giraes in this study, it can be regarded as a pilot study only, and further research is needed to validate the use of QBA in this context.
KW - Animal welfare
KW - Human-animal interaction
KW - HAR
KW - Keeper-animal interactions
KW - QBA
KW - Free Choice Profiling
U2 - 10.3390/ani9060381
DO - 10.3390/ani9060381
M3 - Article
C2 - 31234320
VL - 9
JO - Animals
JF - Animals
SN - 2076-2615
IS - 6
M1 - 381
ER -