Date: March 20, 2019
Source: Wiley
Increasing
numbers of tourists are interested in observing wildlife such as African
elephants, and income generated from tourism potentially aids in the protection
of animals and their habitats. However, a new Journal of
Zoology study reveals that wildlife tourism may be a stressor for
free-ranging elephants.
Over the
course of 15 months, researchers recorded the behaviour of elephants in
relation to the overall number of tourists in an African reserve. Elephants
were more likely to perform aggressive behaviour towards other elephants when
the number of tourists in the reserve was high. Also, elephant herds were more
likely to move away from tourists when multiple vehicles were present.
"Tourists
who wish to observe animals in their natural habitat should be aware of their
potential negative effects on animal welfare and research should investigate
best practise standards to minimise such negative effects," said lead
author Isabelle Szott, of Liverpool John Moores University, in the UK.
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