ABSTRACT

This study examined implications of Visitors’ Perception, Reaction on the management of zoological gardens; a case study of University of Ilorin zoo, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was designed to elicit relevant information on the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, perception and motivation of visitors to the zoological garden, visitors experience and how the zoo has changed their mindset. The study was qualitative and quantitative as it had to analyze the behavior and perception of visitors about zoological gardens. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

The findings revealed that 41.5% were between the ages of 25-34 and 51.2% of the respondents are male. Most of the respondents (64.6%) are resident in Ilorin central. A high percentage (85.4%) of the respondents are educated and they had tertiary education while 47.6% are students.  There were factors that accounted for motivation to visit the zoo and the most significant are to learn about endangered species / education (3.4390), to educate my children about endangered species (3.3415) and just for fun( The importance of some factors relative to their zoo experience are evidence of a contribution to conservation ranked first with a (), appropriate enclosures /exhibits(. It was revealed that 79.3% of the respondents indicated that they were not involved in any conservation projects.

Results from the inferential statistics revealed that there was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between respondents motivation and perception(r=0.636, p-value=0.00). Chi-square analysis revealed that there was significant relationship between the management of the zoo and visitors reaction.

The study concluded that visitors that visit the university of Ilorin zoological garden have definite animal preferences which were influenced by different factors. I hereby recommend that more researches be done on visitors’ perception and reactions towards the zoological garden in the nearest future.

KEYWORDS:

Perception, Reaction, Motivation, Management, Endangered, Conservation, Education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                                              Page

Title pages…………………………………………………………………………………...…i

Certification…………………………………………………………………………………..iii

Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………….iv

Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………v

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………...……vi

List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………ix

List of Tables………..…………………………………………………………………………x

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study...…………………………………………………………………1

1.2 Statement of the research Problem…………………………………………………………3

1.3 Justification………………………………………………………………………………...4

1.4 Aims and Objectives……………………………………………………………………….4

1.5 Research Questions………………………………………………………………………...5

1.6 Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………………5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Ecotourism………………………………………………………………………………....6

2.2 Wildlife Tourism…………………………………………………………………….........10

2.3 Zoological Gardens…………………………………………………………………..…...13

2.4 Previous studies on Zoological Gardens………………………………………………….17

2.5 Visitors Perception and Satisfaction………………………………………………………22

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Study Area………………………………………………………………………………..31

3.1.1 Animals and Husbandry system………………………………………………………...33

3.2 Method of Data Collection………………………………………………………………..35

3.3 Data Analysis and Techniques……………………………………………………………38

CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION                               

4.0: Questionnaire Return Rate……………………………………………………………….39

4.1: Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents………………………………………...40

4.2: Factors that accounted for motivation to visit the zoo.....................................…...............43

4.3: Importance of some factors relative to your visit to the zoo……………………................44

4.4: Involvement in any conservation projects or groups……………………………………..45                          

4.5: percentage of visitors inclined to own an animal as pet…………………………………..45

4.6: Respondents who would like to donate to conservation projects…………………………45

4.7: Respondents perception of wildlife management efforts………………………………...47

4.8: Shows the reaction of the zoo keeper to the viewer…...……...………..…………………48

4.9: Shows the comment of viewer in zoo.………………..………………….…………….…48

4.10: Respondents level satisfaction on zoo animals………………….………………………49

4.11: Are there any particular species that should not be kept………………………………...49

4.12: What should be the consideration of the zoo keeper?.......................................................51

4.13: Do visitor listen to the zoo keeper………………………………………………………51                                                                             

4.14: What does the future hold for the zoo…………………………………………………...52

Test of Hypotheses                                                                                        

4.15: Relationship between motivational factors and perception of visitors..…...……………54

4.16: Relationship between management of the zoo and visitors reaction...…………...……...54

4.2: Discussion………………………………………….…………………………………….55

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………………………….59

5.2 Conclusion….………………………………………………………………………….....62

5.3 Recommendation……………………………………………………………..…………..62

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………...……..64