Shirt a Phobia

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For the film, see Petting Zoo (film).
Child petting a domestic goat at the “Little Kids” Children’s Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, US
A zoo visitor interacts with a reticulated python at the Reptile Park in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia.

A petting zoo (also called a children’s zoo, children’s farm, or petting farm) features a combination of domesticated animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. In addition to independent petting zoos, many general zoos contain a petting zoo.

Most petting zoos are designed to provide only relatively placid, herbivorous domesticated animals, such as sheep, goats, rabbits, ponies and donkeys to feed and interact physically with safety. This is in contrast to the usual zoo experience, where normally wild animals are viewed from behind safe enclosures where no contact is possible. A few provide wild species (such as pythons or big cat cubs) to interact with, but these are rare and usually found outside Western nations. Petting zoos are categorized as part of the agritourism sector.

Concerns have been raised about the welfare of animals in petting zoos, particularly due to interactions with large numbers of visitors, which can be stressful.[1] Under appropriate conditions, where animals have access to refuge and can avoid visitors, friendly species such as goats may be unaffected, while more sensitive animals, such as pigs, may alter their behavior, especially under high visitor density.[2] Highly sensitive animals, including rabbits, experience persistent stress from human contact, even during calm petting, as indicated by hormonal and behavioral responses such as eye closure and pressed back.[3] In contrast, some animals, such as horses, may find gentle petting in preferred areas positive.[4] The Environmental Literacy Council recommends that petting zoos provide rest periods and areas inaccessible to visitors, adequate space and enrichment, veterinary care, and clear guidelines for interaction. Such guidelines are particularly important for young children, whose behavior may be unpredictable and stressful for animals.[1]

History

In 1938, the London Zoo included the first children’s zoo in Europe and the Philadelphia Zoo was the first in North America to open a special zoo just for children.

During the 1990s, Dutch cities began building petting zoos in many neighbourhoods, so that urban children could interact with animals.[5]

Animals and food

Petting zoos feature a variety of domestic animals. Common animals include cattle, zebu, yaks, sheep, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies, alpacas, llamas, pigs, miniature donkeys, miniature horses, ducks, geese, chickens, and turkeys. They occasionally contain several exotic animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, emus, swans, deer, zebras, parrots, porcupines, camels, ostriches, bison, water buffaloes, rheas, peafowl, guinea fowl, antelopes, capybaras, lemurs, tortoises and many others.

Petting zoos are popular with small children, who will often feed the animals. In order to ensure the animals’ health, the food is supplied by the zoo, either from vending machines or a kiosk. Food often fed to animals includes grass or hay, pellets, or crackers. Such feeding is an exception to the usual rule about not feeding animals.

Mobile petting zoos

Some petting zoos are also mobile and will travel to a home for a children’s party or event. Many areas have a qualified mobile petting zoo. One of the first mobile petting zoos in Australia (begun in 1992), was Kindifarm. As a result of its popularity, many Australians use the term kindy farms to describe petting zoos. In Australia, mobile petting zoos are allowed in schools, child care centres and even shopping centres. For many children, a mobile petting zoo is their first opportunity to see and touch an animal. American mobile petting zoos have gained popularity in the southern states.[citation needed]

Health effects

Touching animals can result in the transmission of diseases between animals and humans (zoonosis) so it is recommended that people should thoroughly wash their hands before and after touching the animals.[6][7] There have been several outbreaks of E. coli etc.[8][9] Another threat is salmonella specifically from chicks handled by children. Petting zoo attendees under the age of 5 are at a higher risk of contracting these diseases and they are a major target audience of these petting zoos.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Enviroliteracy Team, “Are petting zoos ethical?”, The Environmental Literacy Council, April 15, 2025
  2. ^ Farrand, A.; Hosey, G.; Buchanan-Smith, H. M. (2014). “The visitor effect in petting zoo-housed animals: Aversive or enriching?”. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 151: 117–127.
  3. ^ Součková, M.; Kolářová, M. F.; Přibylová, L.; Kováčová, K.; Zeman, M. (2026). “When touch is stressful: acute endocrine and behavioral responses of domestic rabbits to unfamiliar human handling”. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 13: 1793812.
  4. ^ Lynch, J. J.; Fregin, Frederick G.; Mackie, J. B.; Monroe Jr, R. R. (1974). “Heart rate changes in the horse to human contact”. Psychophysiology. 11 (4): 472–478.
  5. ^ Siegal, Nina (2017-03-21). “The Dutch Way: Tulips, Windmills and Barnyard Animals”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  6. ^ “Zoonoses associated with petting farms and open zoos”. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  7. ^ “Beware The Fair (And Petting Zoos)”. Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  8. ^ “Tests suggest E. coli spread through air”. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  9. ^ Harper, Paul (1 May 2014). “Children win compensation after Godstone Farm E.coli outbreak”. getSurrey. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. ^ “WHAT HAPPENS TO ANIMAL MOMS & THEIR BABIES ON FACTORY FARMS”. thehumaneleague.org. Retrieved 2024-11-23.