VISITOR ANIMAL INTERACTIONS AT THE ZOO

Throughout the twentieth century, one of the many reasons people have been drawn to toes is for the opportunity to interact with less famili ar animal species. Major venues of direct human-animal interaction in toes are animal rides, demonstrations, children's toes, and public fee dings. Visitor interest is so strong in these programs that people are willing to pay additional fees in order to participate in them. In th is paper we discuss hour these activities might enhance or detract fro m the education and conservation missions of toes, and describe the po tential effect of human-animal interactions on zoo animal welfare.