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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(4); 441; doi: 10.3390/ani12040441

Preliminary Behavioural Observations of Horseback Safaris: Initial Insights into the Welfare Implications for Horses and Herbivorous Plains Game Species.

Abstract: In Africa, wildlife-watching experiences create substantial revenue from tourists that can finance wildlife conservation. Horseback safaris, where an experienced guide takes guests through the bush on horseback to observe plains game species, are a popular activity. Close encounters between ridden horses and game species are unnatural and potentially stressful situations, and horseback safaris may have adverse impacts on both the horses and the wildlife they have come to observe. This study aims to provide a preliminary insight into the behavioural responses of horses and herbivorous plains game species, including giraffe, zebra and impala, as a proxy measure of the potential welfare implications of horseback safaris. Seventeen group safari rides were observed encompassing 72 encounters with plains game species. Game species differed in their response to encounters with the horseback safari ride. Equine response behaviour appeared to be influenced by the species of game encountered. Horses seemed more wary of giraffe than other species, with a higher percentage of horses showing stationary and retreat behaviour at the start of giraffe encounters. They were also most likely to shy at giraffe. The behavioural responses suggest that game encounters can elicit a stress response in both animal groups, although it is not usually extreme, potentially indicating that some degree of habituation has occurred. Balancing the welfare of both the horses and the plains game species along with tourist preferences may be challenging in this context.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-11 PubMed ID: 35203149PubMed Central: PMC8868349DOI: 10.3390/ani12040441Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the behavior of horses and certain wildlife species during horseback safaris in Africa as a way of gauging potential welfare implications for both parties involved. The study provides early insight into how these animals react in these scenarios, emphasizing the need for balance between tourism and animal welfare.

Context and Significance of the Study

  • This study is conducted in the African setting, where wildlife-watching experiences generate significant revenue towards wildlife conservation efforts. Specifically, the study focuses on horseback safaris where tourists get the opportunity to observe plains game species up close.
  • While profitable, this common tourist activity could potentially stress both the horses used for the ride and the game species observed, given these unnatural and close encounters.
  • Hence, the research is significant as it initiates an investigation into the welfare implications of horseback safaris from behavioral responses of horses and herbivorous game species (for instance, zebra, giraffe, and impala).

Research Methodology and Observations

  • The researchers observed seventeen group safari rides, recording details of 72 encounters with plains game species to glean insight into the behavior of both the horses and the game species during these meetups.
  • It was found that the species of wildlife encountered influence the response behavior of the horses. For instance, horses were particularly wary of giraffes, showing behaviors indicating fear or apprehension such as staying stationary or retreating at the onset of a giraffe encounter or shyly reacting.

Findings and Implications

  • The behavior of both horses and game species suggested the possibility of stress responses during their encounters, although not extreme. This could potentially imply some degree of habituation over time.
  • This leads to the conclusion that ensuring the welfare of the involved parties, alongside catering to tourist preferences, can be a challenging task in the context of horseback safaris.
  • The study underscores the need for further research and effective strategies in order to balance the concerns of wildlife conservation and animal welfare with the profitable sector of ecotourism.

Cite This Article

APA
Hodgson E, Rooney NJ, Hockenhull J. (2022). Preliminary Behavioural Observations of Horseback Safaris: Initial Insights into the Welfare Implications for Horses and Herbivorous Plains Game Species. Animals (Basel), 12(4), 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040441

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
PII: 441

Researcher Affiliations

Hodgson, Evelyn
  • Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Rooney, Nicola J
  • Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Hockenhull, Jo
  • Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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