Animal-Assisted Interventions: Factors Affecting Donkey Behaviours and Attitude Toward Humans

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Human-animal interaction
• Animal-assisted interventions

Background:

• The historical human-donkey relationship is long-standing.
• Donkey involvement in Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) is increasing.
• Concerns exist regarding donkey welfare during AAI activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing donkey behavior in an AAI program for migrants.
• To assess the impact of AAI on migrant welfare and prosocial behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of donkeys during an AAI program.
• Analysis of factors such as human distance, interaction mode, and food presence.
• Preliminary assessment of migrant welfare and prosocial behaviors.

Main Results:

• Human distance, interaction mode, and food availability significantly affected donkey behavior and attitudes towards humans.
• Preliminary evidence suggests AAI positively impacts migrant welfare and prosocial behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Understanding environmental and interactional factors is key to ensuring donkey welfare in AAI.
• AAI shows promise for enhancing migrant welfare and social behaviors.
• Further research is needed to optimize AAI programs for both animal and human participants.