Results of the Popular Opinion Wildlife Survey at the Buffalo Museum of Science

Popular Opinion Wildlife Survey: Results of 550 Surveys

QUESTION 1

What is your favorite animal or fish?

Young visitors to the Science museum prefer domestic pets and charismatic exotic animals they have seen since early childhood.

Cats 36% 36%
Dogs 25% 25%
Monkeys 14% 14%
Lions 13% 13%
Fish 11% 11%

QUESTIONS 2 & 3

What is your least favorite animal and why?

Three out of five top scoring least favorite animals are insects, with a special dislike for spiders due to their movement which is scary and unpredictable. However, many surveys reflected love of all animals.

All insects * 30% 30%
Spiders ** 22% 22%
Sharks *** 18% 18%
Snakes **** 12% 12%
Mosquitoes ***** 9% 9%
Love all animals, no least favorite 9% 9%

Reasons for answers

*        Fear, visually unappealing, bites, stings, creepy
**       Movement, mobility
***     Speed, fear of sharp teeth, visually scary predator
****   Fear, movement is scary, venom
***** Bites, disease

QUESTION 5

What animals do we depend on most?

A definite preference for cows.

Cows 35% 35%
Chickens 24% 24%
Bees 23% 23%
Dogs 13% 13%
Pigs 5% 5%

QUESTION 6

What animals do you worry about the most?

This category is a little confusing due to responses worried about animals being harmed versus worrying about being harmed by wild animals.

Polar Bears 37% 37%
All endangered and vulnerable species 22% 22%
Elephants 17% 17%
Sharks 13% 13%
Turtles 10% 10%

QUESTION 4
If you could talk to an animal, what would you say?

SURVIVAL
I want to eat and sleep all day like you.
What is it like to always be hunting?
How does it feel not paying bills?
What’s it like being outside all the time?
What is hibernation like?

SAFETY
You are safe with me.
Do you need anything?
I apologize for human’s destruction.
Why do we cut down trees?
How can we protect animals?
Why do we kill innocent animals?
Why do people have to hunt?
How can we save animals?
Ill never hurt you
Its sad that humans ruined your home. (3)
I’m sorry. (3)
I want to help you.
How can I take care of them?
Don’t trust poachers.
Hide!

PERSPECTIVE
Are you happy?
How do you feel about extinction?
Is there room for all of us?
What do you think of humans? (2)
Do you like other animals?
Do animals have a conscience?
What do you like about your life?
How does your brain work so you can talk to others?
What’s your favorite thing?
How do you fall in love?
What’s your favorite color?
Do you hate humans?
Do you understand me?

GENERAL GREETING
I love you./Please love me.
Hello!/Greetings!
Will you be my friend?
How are you?/How old are you?
What can I learn from you?/Teach me about you.
How can I understand you?
How can I become an animal?
Tell me about being an animal.
What’s your life like? (2)
Hi, what’s on your mind?
What are the animals trying to tell us?

VISUAL
You look pretty.

FOOD
Bring me fruit.
Are you hungry?

PLAY
Do you want to play?
Can I swim with you?

QUESTION 8
Do you have a question about wildlife?

How will they survive if their habitat is destroyed?
How can we help them stay safe?
What is it like not being human?
Why is there so much deforestation?
What do animals think about extinction?
Why are there insects we don’t like, especially mosquitos? Why were mosquitos invented?
What makes an animal wild?
Do you like being chased?
Why don’t animals trust me?
Why do we hunt wildlife?
How can politicians take away habitat?
Stop building zoos and aquariums.
Is it right to put animals in cages?
Why would a lemur use a chainsaw?

Why are we such jerks to nature?
Do they understand us? (2)
Why don’t you come inside?
Why are there no more Dodos/and fewer animals?
Not enough room on the page to answer all the questions I have!
Do animals talk to other species? How do you communicate? do you get along w/ each other?
What do worms eat?
How old are turtles?
How can I save condors?
Who will exist longer, man or animals?
Where did you come from?
How do you survive?
Why can’t mules breed?
Why does evolution take so long?
Where are the dinosaurs today?/Are dinosaurs real?

Will we discover new animals?
How fast are we moving to extinction? (2)
How many species are still undiscovered in the ocean?
What happens to insects when I remove them from my house?
What do you think about humans?
Do animals have an inner dialog?
How do animals survive during storms? (2)
Is riding a horse animal abuse?
Why do some animals look so different?
How can we protect wildlife better?
Should we try to de-extinct species?
Why do the young look different from the parents?
How many animals are there?
Why are so many extinct?