Changes in human health parameters associated with a touch tank experience at a zoological institution

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) institutions provide a variety of benefits to visitors. However, one area that has received little study is the direct human health benefits from zoo and aquarium visits. With the increase in stress related non-infectious diseases in industrialized countries, understanding the extent of these benefits is important. We studied the effects on visitor stress of an experience at a touch tank exhibit featuring stingrays, sharks, and horseshoe crabs. Stress was measured by physiological and psychological parameters. Heart rate was recorded before, during, and after interacting with the animals, and mood was assessed before and after the experience using a psychological instrument. Multilevel models of heart rate show a quadratic trend, with heart rate elevated (b=-3.01, t=26.4, P<0.001) and less variable (b=3.60, t=15.9, P<0.001) while touching the animals compared to before or after. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests on mood data suggest that most visitors felt happier (V=174.5, P<0.001), more energized (V=743.5, P<0.001), and less tense (V=5618, P<0.001) after the experience. This suggests that interacting with animals led to a physiological response during interactions reminiscent of a theme park experience along with a decrease in mental stress. The effects of confounding variables such as crowd size are also discussed. Further studies should be conducted to help deepen our understanding of the health benefits of experiences at AZA institutions. Zoo Biol. 35:4-13, 2016. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.