From Pets to Wildlife: An Ecological-Phenomenological Approach to Multispecies Tourism

Pet ownership and wildlife tourism are two prominent ways people interact with non-human animals in contemporary contexts. Despite this, there is a need for further exploration of the interconnections between pets, wildlife, and visitors. Utilizing an ecological-phenomenological framework, this study examines how these multispecies interactions contribute to experiences that extend beyond the human domain. This research is based on a quantitative survey of 1422 participants at the Panda Center that were analyzed using inferential statistical methods to assess differences in visitor experiences. The statistical results reveal that pet ownership and wildlife encounters mediate the environmental affordances and constraints encountered by visitors, creating a dynamic and intricate nexus among pets, wildlife, and tourists. Specifically, pet ownership is shown to enhance both the richness and frequency of wildlife encounters. Nonetheless, the study highlights that human dominance over non-human animals remains a central environmental constraint in multispecies interactions despite the adoption of a more humane approach to animal management through tourism activities.