VISITOR EXPERIENCES IN A NATURALISTIC ZOO EXHIBIT

Zoos in urban areas are very important as they enable urban people to have relationship with nature. Therefore, zoos strengthen the interest and the sense of protecting animals and required to help visitors to learn by reflecting the interactions of animals in nature. With their design approaches, naturalistic exhibits (third generation zoo exhibits) encourage visitors to know and protect animals. No research has yet been conducted on the experiences of visitors in naturalistic zoo exhibits in Turkey. Therefore, within the scope of the study, the effects of naturalistic exhibits on Turkish visitors (n=480) have been identified. The pre-visit and the post-visit feelings of the visitors have been investigated in two stages. According to the results of the study, naturalistic exhibits are described by Turkish people as natural, characterizing the habitats of animals and a place where animals are happy to live.