Factors Influencing the Development of Human–Animal Relationships at SeaWorld Entertainment Parks

Abstract

While the existence of human–animal relation-ships dates back thousands of years, the effects of these bonds on animal well-being have only recently been examined in detail. The existing lit-erature demonstrates that factors such as familiar human caregivers and persistent, predictable care may, for example, lower an animal’s fear response and improve overall welfare. The goal of the pres-ent study was to analyse how a range of variables, including age, sex, animal species, and previous bonds with a pet could influence the develop-ment of human–animal bonds between caregivers and animals at six affiliated zoological facilities. The present study is a survey of 201 animal care-givers focusing on their perception of the bonds shared between themselves and an animal with which they work and any experience with bonds they have with a companion animal at home. All respondents, regardless of the existence of a human–animal bond, also indicated their level of agreement with a series of general statements about human–animal relationships and their effects on animal management and welfare. The present study demonstrates that the type of animal species has a significant effect on the develop-ment of bonds between animals and their human caregivers, with a greater percentage of bonds developed between people and other mamma-lian species, and the smaller percentage of bonds between people and fish or reptiles. Personal iden-tifiers, such as age, sex, or the number of years in the profession, did not have any significant cor-relation to bond development. In addition, having pets was also not a predictor of caregiver–animal bonds, though previous experiences with animal bonds did indicate a tendency to develop a bond. Overall, surveyed caregivers agreed with positive statements about human–animal relationships and their role in promoting better welfare for animals.Understanding the bonds shared by animal care-givers and the animals for which they are respon-sible is essential to fostering workplaces that con-sider the importance of the relationship between humans and animals, and the tangible benefits a positively perceived bond can have for both