Design and perception: Making the zoo experience real

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to encourage the application of theories of human behavior to zoo design so that zoo visitors are environmentally predisposed to learn from and enjoy what they experience. The ultimate goal is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the importance of habitat and its protection to wildlife conservation and to present zoo animals in such a way that their reason for being and rights to existence are intuitively self‐evident to viewers. Many of the concepts and guidelines presented appear to be suitable subjects of behavioral research, whose findings would assist designers and other zoo professionals in continued improvement of the zoo visitor's experience.