Chester Zoo wants to know if a trip to the zoo is good for you — and visitors can help find out now
Chester Zoo is running a global study into how zoo visits affect people’s mood, wellbeing and connection to nature, and is inviting visitors to take part.
The research is a partnership between Chester Zoo’s conservation science team and Nottingham Trent University.
Visitors who bought tickets in advance will receive an email invitation to participate over the coming weeks.
Members and on-day visitors can already take part by scanning a QR code at the zoo.
Everyone who participates is entered into a prize draw to win an animal adoption.
The study compares how people feel before and after their visit, giving researchers a direct measure of what the zoo experience does for mood and connection to nature.
Bridget Johnson, a Conservation Scientist at Chester Zoo and PhD candidate at Nottingham Trent University who designed the study, said: “There is clear evidence that spending time in green and blue spaces like gardens and waterscapes, and social inclusion and engagement with nature, is beneficial to human wellbeing.”
“But there is very little research specifically into zoos, where these factors come together in a unique way.”
She added: “Zoos really struggled during lockdowns and are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.”
“Ordinary people who feel passionately about their goals support them – the Save Our Zoo campaign was an amazing example of that – but that same support is often not there at the policy level.”
“It’s clear that if zoos are to survive, their value needs to be evidenced at every level, and this survey will give us hard data underpinned by a scientific foundation.”
Samantha Ward, Professor of Zoo Animal Welfare and Legislation at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Zoo animal welfare science has shone a light on how we can improve the lives of animals in zoos.”
“Now we really need the human data to show how zoos can also benefit society for human health and wellbeing and can offer more than just a good day out with family and friends.”
The survey is currently running in the UK, Denmark, Finland and Holland.
By the end of the study, the research team aims to have gathered responses from every continent where zoos exist.
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