- Lemurs engage more with technology when humans share control of interactive systems
- Zoo Visitors Stayed Longer When Animals Visibly Responded to Inputs
- Shared control increased both the frequency of interaction with the animals and the attention of visitors.
A research team from the University of Glasgow has tested whether animals can interact with technology in ways that resemble experiences shared with humans.
Their system, known as CreatureConnect, allowed zoo visitors and red-collared lemurs to influence sounds, sights and smells through linked interfaces placed on either side of an enclosure.
The premise was not direct communication, but rather a mediated interaction where both species could affect the same environment.
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Red-collared lemurs prefer to share control rather than act alone
During a 20-day trial at Blair Drummond Safari Park, more than 16,000 visitors passed through the exhibit and 1,719 people actively used the system.
The lemurs interacted with the device 541 times, suggesting repeated engagement rather than incidental contact.
The system varied between automatic, human-only, lemur-only, and shared control modes, providing a structured comparison of behavior between different interaction types.
The findings indicate that lemurs became less involved when they were given exclusive control of the system; instead, they interacted more frequently when humans were also involved, suggesting a preference for shared control rather than isolated use.
“We were surprised to find that the lemurs don’t necessarily want to control the device alone. Instead, they seem to want to share it,” said Jiaqi Wang, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow’s School of Computer Science.
This contradicts initial expectations about animal independence in such environments. The animals also showed consistent preferences in the types of stimuli they activated.
High-intensity odors, bright visual patterns, and moderate sound levels triggered stronger responses, indicating that engagement was not random but was tied to specific sensory conditions.
Human behavior changed noticeably when CreatureConnect was active, and this was accompanied by increased visitor numbers and longer stays at the facility.
“Using technology to foster high levels of engagement and empathy could help zoo visitors leave not only with happy memories but also with a greater interest in wildlife conservation,” Wang added.
Visitors also reported greater enjoyment, empathy, and a stronger connection when they perceived the animals to respond to their input.
“It’s been fascinating to see how engaged both visitors and lemurs were when collaborating with each other,” said Lorna Graham, research coordinator at Blair Drummond Safari Park.
“When people can see lemurs responding and making their own decisions, something really seems to click. That shared moment creates a genuine connection, and when you feel connected to an animal, you’re much more likely to care about its future.”
The researchers believe this form of mediated interaction could address a long-standing tension between animal welfare and visitor expectations.
If similar responses can be observed in less familiar species, the approach could influence how public interest in conservation develops.
“Research like this helps us better understand what our animals value, while creating deeper empathy between people and wildlife. That’s incredibly powerful for the future of conservation,” Graham added.
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