Physiological and behavioural assessments of stress levels in owls housed at owl cafes

Abstract Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are multiple aspects of the environment which may be stressful to nocturnal including lighting, tethering frequent interactions humans but, date, welfare has not been investigated. This preliminary study examines effects owl cafes on physiological stress (faecal corticosterone levels [FCL]) behaviour owls. Seven eagle owls ( Bubo bubo ) two African scops Ptilopsis leucotis ), were studied over an eight-day period. Cafe A (n = 5) was closed for one day per week, whilst cafe B 4) open every day. In there higher FCL during days than suggesting that conditions increase Eight nine showed evidence some aversion or avoidance humans, no affiliative behaviours observed. The number visitor associated level stress; when comparing a tendency individual percentage aversive responses also FCL. Close human negative nature, result aversion, significant stressor, but further research is required.