ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the extent to which visitors to zoos still attempt to interact with animals outside of structured and controlled opportunities provided by zoos. It looks at potential explanations for why visitors to zoos ignore the type of signs highlighted and attempts to interact with zoo animals. However, the potential exists for controlled animal encounters to be non-stressful to animals and potentially even enriching to some. An additional potential problem with behind the scenes experiences and animal encounters overseen by zoo staff is that they may place in the minds of visitors an image of the zoo that contradicts the message about not touching or interacting with the animals. In relation to touching animals and interacting with them, zoos have arguably aimed to strike the balance between entertainment and education by offering animal interaction and touching experiences within controlled environments and under the guidance and observance of educational and zoological experts.
