VISITOR VIEWING BEHAVIOR IN THE GAHERTY-REPTILE-BREEDING-CENTER, JERSEY-WILDLIFE-PRESERVATION-TRUST - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

A total of 231 visitors to the Gaherty Reptile Breeding Centre (RC) we re tracked to discover the median time spent in the centre and viewing preferences at exhibits, during the period 29 April to 30 May 1996. T he median time spent in the RC was 9.3 min, of which 6.83 min was spen t looking at exhibits. Gender and visitor density had no effect on vie wing times. Couples viewed Longer than other group types and 6-12 year olds viewed significantly less than 40-65 year olds. A decrease in th e number of visitors entering the RC was associated with very fine wea ther. The Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus was the single most popular species, whereas the Coahuila box terrapin Terrapene coahuila was viewed the least. The Nursery was popular as a unit, but each sep arate species was only viewed briefly. Visitors spent less time viewin g the right side of the centre than the left. Differing viewing times can be attributed to species size, species repetition and 'visitor fat igue'. Re-visits occurred due to interest and the central positioning of enclosures. Interactions with keepers lengthened visitor stay.