Charisma and conservation: charismatic megafauna’s influence on safari and zoo tourists’ pro-conservation behaviors
Charisma and conservation: charismatic megafauna’s influence on safari and zoo tourists’ pro-conservation behaviors
复制标题
魅力与保护：魅力巨型动物对野生动物和动物园游客支持保护行为的影响
DOI：
10.1007/s10531-013-0462-z
复制
发表时间：
2013
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Jeffrey C. Hallo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jeffrey C. Skibins;R. Powell;Jeffrey C. Hallo
Annually, millions of tourists go on safari and visit zoos primarily to view large charismatic wildlife. These venues rely on the inherent appeal of these animals to increase visitation and anchor conservation efforts. In conservation campaigns, flagship species are used to stimulate a connection to a species and promote pro-conservation behaviors. However, empirical support for behavioral outcomes associated with flagships is lacking. Nor is it known how a connection to a species influences behaviors. This study explored (a) how tourists connect to wildlife, how this relationship is influenced by the on-site experience, and how these factors interact to influence behavior, and (b) how the experiences between safari and zoo venues differed. A model was developed using interactional theory and analyzed with structural equation modeling. Data were obtained from 416 tourists to Tanzanian parks and protected areas and 452 tourists to two U.S. zoos and one aquarium. An existing connection to wildlife and experiential factors directly influenced tourists’ connection to a species, but not behaviors. Tourists’ connection to a species had a significant positive influence on pro-conservation behaviors for individual species and general biodiversity. The influence of the experience was equivalent across safari and zoo venues. Results support the ability of safari and zoo wildlife tourism to produce conservation outcomes.
