Understanding Tourists' Perceptions of Animal Welfare, Governance, and Conservation: Evidence from the Panda Base

Area of Science:

• Ecotourism
• Animal Welfare Science
• Conservation Behavior

Background:

• Wildlife viewing is a key tourism component, but animal welfare concerns are rising.
• Ethical frameworks are needed to guide wildlife attractions and management.
• Assessing visitor perceptions is crucial for improving animal welfare practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply an animal welfare assessment framework to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
• To empirically examine visitor perceptions of animal welfare management at the panda base.
• To identify factors influencing visitor judgments on animal welfare.

Main Methods:

• Utilized survey data from over 1000 visitors to the Chengdu Research Base.
• Applied a scholarly framework to assess governance, welfare, and conservation practices.
• Analyzed the influence of social media exposure and prior knowledge on visitor perceptions.

Main Results:

• Overall positive visitor evaluations of the Base's governance, welfare, and conservation.
• Visitor perceptions are significantly influenced by prior social media exposure to pandas.
• Individual knowledge of animal welfare impacts how visitors perceive management practices.

Conclusions:

• Ethical wildlife tourism requires ongoing research and evaluation.
• Visitor engagement through education and digital platforms can enhance conservation awareness.
• Empowering tourists can improve the effectiveness of animal welfare initiatives at wildlife attractions.