Perception, Awareness And Practice Towards Animal Welfare In Petting Zoos Among Malaysians

An abstract of the research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, in partial requirement of the course DVT 55204 – Research Project.
Animal welfare is an essential aspect of ensuring ethical and humane treatments of animals in captive facilities such as petting zoos. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the levels of perception, awareness and practice of Malaysians regarding animal welfare in petting zoos while exploring associations with socio-demographic factors like age, gender, education, and income, as well as analysing correlation among the awareness, perception and practice levels. Data were collected through an online survey, with 101 participants. Descriptive analysis was performed to evaluate the overall levels, and associations were analysed using statistical tests such as Chi-square and Spearman correlation, with IBM® SPSS® Version 27. The study found moderate levels of awareness, with significant differences based on demographic variables. While respondents demonstrated positive perceptions toward animal welfare, their practices often did not align with these perceptions, indicating challenges such as limited access to information and insufficient policy enforcement. The study highlights that a comprehensive approach combining education, policy enhancement, and active public participation is vital to creating a welfare-conscious society that aligns Malaysia’s practices with global standards and improve animal welfare in petting zoos. This can be done by awareness campaigns, stricter regulations and community engagement to align with global animal welfare standards.
Keywords: Animal Welfare; Petting Zoos; Awareness; Perception; Practice