{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T11:00:04Z","timestamp":1790593204900,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":91,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790380800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Animal\u2013visitor interactions (AVIs) involve the study of both the impacts of zoo visitors on animals (visitor effects) and those of animals on zoo visitors (visitor experiences). In the last century, particularly in the last few years, AVIs have become an increasingly studied topic within zoos. However, most of this research has focused on correlational studies of the visitor effect on the behavioral welfare of mammal species. In this paper, we discuss additional considerations for future AVI research that could assist in how we study AVIs, including research incorporating: (1) animal\u2013staff interactions, (2) non-mammalian species, and (3) improved methods and metrics used. With all three, past and potential future research are considered, including what might help in incorporating such factors. Thus, the goal is to provide the reader with a better understanding of additional AVI research factors worth consideration, as well as offering a path forward for how to advance and expand our AVI research efforts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16193035","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T10:00:34Z","timestamp":1790589634000},"page":"3035","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Animal\u2013Visitor Interactions: Where Do We Go from Here?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5444-6604","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eduardo J.","family":"Fernandez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-4466-2028","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Claudia C.","family":"Martinez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Psychological Science, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9104-3975","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James Edward","family":"Brereton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education, University Centre Sparsholt, Westley Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2NF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4488-3936","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrew","family":"Moss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chester Zoo, Chester CH2 1LE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2009.06.002","article-title":"Animal\u2013visitor interactions in the modern zoo: Conflicts and interventions","volume":"120","author":"Fernandez","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. 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