Things people do that irritate you when you go to the zoo?

[sealion]

What is really disgusting is trying to photograph an animal whilst stood next to somebody smoking. At least twice last Saturday (and other times on other zoo visits), I have had smoke blow directly into my face from a smoker that isn't considerate enough to stand aside somewhere with their cigarette. I mean, I've seen smokers blow it into animals faces before

I seriously hate it when people smoke really close to you, and near animals? Just no justifiable explanation!!

 

[Tig]

If someone blows smoke in your face, caugh wetly in their face... fair is fair

 

[Wild_Orphan]

I hate it when people (especially large families) crowd around an enclosure so that you can't see the animal and are too selfish to move out the way even after they have been stood there for a long while. Or people who try to shove you out the way so they can get to see the animal. There's a solution to this, it's called being considerate.

 

[sooty mangabey]

I hate it when people (especially large families) crowd around an enclosure so that you can't see the animal and are too selfish to move out the way even after they have been stood there for a long while.

God yes, I really hate that too, when families have the temerity to come to the zoo and then spend some time looking at the animals. Awful! Surely they should realise that until they've learnt the special code words, they should just bugger off and leave it for the real zoo fans to observe the animals within. Isn't there some sort of theme park they could go to instead?

 

[Shorts]

God yes, I really hate that too, when families have the temerity to come to the zoo and then spend some time looking at the animals. Awful! Surely they should realise that until they've learnt the special code words, they should just bugger off and leave it for the real zoo fans to observe the animals within. Isn't there some sort of theme park they could go to instead?

I smell (righteous) sarcasm

 

[zoogiraffe]

I smell (righteous) sarcasm

So do I but i like it!

 

[blospz]

I witnessed a photographer to the extreme today. Huge camera, tripod, trying to be front and center where the gorilla baby was, would ask guests to step further back so their reflections wouldn't be caught in her photos. And worst of all, this woman had a HUGE flash. I'd like to say she got her shot in like 10 minutes, but no. She was there for 2 hours at least flashing away and I wouldn't be surprise if she was still there. My eyes were seeing dots for quite some time and I was at another window looking at them. The nice thing was the mother gorilla came over to me once and I got a couple decent shots of the baby, without putting my flash on. A docent or volunteer made a joke to her that she must be practicing for the photo contest, but she looked confused/annoyed. Well I'm hoping if she enters it, that none of her photos win. I know I'm probably as guilty as her for not saying anything, but after her remarks of asking people to move, I felt she was stubborn on getting her perfect photos. And I think zookeepers walked by and they didn't say anything to her.

 

[Javan Rhino]

I witnessed a photographer to the extreme today. Huge camera, tripod, trying to be front and center where the gorilla baby was, would ask guests to step further back so their reflections wouldn't be caught in her photos. And worst of all, this woman had a HUGE flash. I'd like to say she got her shot in like 10 minutes, but no. She was there for 2 hours at least flashing away and I wouldn't be surprise if she was still there. My eyes were seeing dots for quite some time and I was at another window looking at them. The nice thing was the mother gorilla came over to me once and I got a couple decent shots of the baby, without putting my flash on. A docent or volunteer made a joke to her that she must be practicing for the photo contest, but she looked confused/annoyed. Well I'm hoping if she enters it, that none of her photos win. I know I'm probably as guilty as her for not saying anything, but after her remarks of asking people to move, I felt she was stubborn on getting her perfect photos. And I think zookeepers walked by and they didn't say anything to her.

That really does give photographers a bad name . Manners, considertion and respect are the most important aspects of zoo photography. If she couldn't improvise in a considerate manner, then she isn't a very good photographer IMO.

As it is, I usually find that with respect and manners, I get the same back. If people see me with my monopod and camera, they usually step aside through choice, even sometimes when there is no need

 

[adrian1963]

People like that give everyone with a camera and tripod or monopod a bad name.
I have always practised that I am not the only in a zoo taking photographs and if thier are a few people taking photographs I will always move to the side for them, as I probally have more time then them to take photographs.
Its a pity you didint get a photograph of the person concerned then we could have done something about it (facebook)

 

[Pertinax]

And worst of all, this woman had a HUGE flash. I'd like to say she got her shot in like 10 minutes, but no. She was there for 2 hours at least flashing away and I wouldn't be surprise if she was still there.

A lot of Zoos nowadays have a policy of 'No Flash' photography in areas such as Primate exhibits. Doesn't your Zoo? I'm surprised a keeper or volunteer didn't intervene, implying its not against your zoo's rules.

 

[kkkp]

A lot of Zoos nowadays have a policy of 'No Flash' photography in areas such as Primate exhibits. Doesn't your Zoo? I'm surprised a keeper or voluneer didn't intervene, implying its not against your zoo's rules.

I am amazed that so many people are oblivious to human kind let alone the poor animals when it comes to using a flash.
Why does it say 'sorry there might be flashing lights etc'before a program is broadcast on T.V.? Because it can bring on seisures in epileptics.also it doesnt help if you have cataracts. It is totally and utterly selfish.

 

[Pertinax]

It is totally and utterly selfish.

I was having a meal in a pub with friends some months back. Some people at a nearby table kept getting up and taking flash pictures of their party at intervals throughout. I was too polite(?) to complain but I was getting very irritated by the time they left.. The next day I had a splitting headache- coincidence?- I don't think so.

 

[blospz]

I haven't read any signs that say no flash photography. And perhaps the people I thought were keepers were just interns, and maybe it wasn't their station, but you think one of the keepers, even in back would notice a flash eventually. I'm surprised no visitors mentioned anything as I'm sure it was incredibly distracting. The fact that she was also doing this and hogging room when it was feeding time -- the prime time for visitors to get a chance to even see the baby. I was being too polite as I gave her room to take photos, hoping she eventually get her shot and I have a turn. I should have stayed in one place, but I figure she would have said something, though I could have said something right back. What I don't get is why she was using a flash when she was shooting through glass. I'm not too familiar with high tech cameras so maybe there's a feature which takes glare away, but I think it just cause more. I don't like flash to begin with because I don't like how it drowns out color.

If she does end up submitting photos for the photo contest I'm going to be so mad if she wins first place. She got a million shots so it's possible, but I'm sure everyone is going to be submitting gorilla pictures now. Anyway for a woman who said, "I just love these guys, " she doesn't love them enough to respect them.

 

[blospz]

Oh I forgot to mention a couple of times when the dominant male came up to the glass and banged on it or that the mother put a blanket over her head and ran away. Clear signs that this flash wasn't appreciated by them.

 

[GreatApe]

Woman: F****** h*** look at those monkeys
Man: They are called Chimpanzees
Woman: What a stupid name for f****** monkeys
Why the language? They are the nearest primate next to humans but sometimes they must be classed as more intelligent than some humans

Apparently a number of captive apes tested with human non verbal intelligence tests do, indeed, score higher than a significant proportion of the primates on the other side of the divide ......! You may draw your own conclusions, folks!

My pet niggle, (although I do try to educate people about it, 'cos nobody knows anything until they're told), is people calling apes monkeys.

Feeding and banging on glass are top of my annoyances though!

 

[kkkp]

Apparently a number of captive apes tested with human non verbal intelligence tests do, indeed, score higher than a significant proportion of the primates on the other side of the divide ......! You may draw your own conclusions, folks!

My pet niggle, (although I do try to educate people about it, 'cos nobody knows anything until they're told), is people calling apes monkeys.

Feeding and banging on glass are top of my annoyances though!

I did point out yet again to a group of mothers that they were in the ape center hence they are not monkeys but apes. But were they bothered no! I was privvy to a verbal fight between husband and wife where she was adament that she was going to teach the baby what she thought was correct Gorillas=monkeys and he said correctly gorillas=apes he won as he pointed out it would be better to teach baby the three letter word ape than the incorrect longer version. I said well done .but mum had to try and get in the last word 'well now baby is confused' Dad replied 'So if you dont correct her she will be confused for the rest of her life'............

 

[Pootle]

[QUOTE Feeding and banging on glass are top of my annoyances though![/QUOTE]

Too right the number 1 & 2 of what really annoys me at zoos is the ignorance to feed and rattle the glass.

However, if someone wants to call a zebra a stripey horse or a camel a horsey (yes I heard that once..) just leave them in their own weird world.

Zoos and parks should have signs that clearly state that ANYONE caught feeding animals or banging on glass or any part of the animals home environment will be asked to leave the zoo or park grounds immediately.

Small simple, easy to read and see signage would cut right down on the problem, but few places actually mention this - I know Chester has some signs quite clear about this.

 

[Maisie]

(Said in strong Scouse accent)"EEEH, look at dem marmites!!"

"Look at the mummy tiger!" (Said in front of the lion enclosure. Hint: beige, lack of stripes = probably not tiger)

I can cope with a bit of confusion/ignorance about less common species, but confusing lions and tigers..?!?

I'm another one who hates unruly kids running all over restaurants, dropping litter, yelling and swearing, chasing birds in free flight aviaries or ducks in the zoo and barging in front of you. I was at Blackbrook Zoo a few weeks ago and some Yummy Mummy parked the 4 kids she was with on the ledge in front of the penguin viewing window at feeding time. She looked astonished when I asked her to move them so other people could see too. I'd deliberately sat on the tables near the window so as not to block the view. I also hate huge buggies parked in the way, but then that goes for supermarkets and pavements too! I could go into a lengthy rant about people who stop in the middle of pavements or doorways to put cash away / find their umbrella / tie shoelaces etc etc, but I won't

I don't remember ever seeing anyone trying to feed animals at the zoo, but I've seen plenty of people yelling at them or banging on glass.

I also hate people who take a look into an exhibit, declare "Nuffink in here" and move on, without bothering to look properly. They don't know what they're missing. Favourite places at Chester for noticing that are: the Twilight Zone tunnel (if you stay still long enough you'll see the bats flying right past you), Red Billed Blue Pies aviary, Tsavo Aviary. Still, at least it means you get to spend a long time watching without interruptions

Also count me in among those who dislike the "He looks so bored/sad/cooped up" brigade. They're the sad individuals who say they love animals but who've never taken the time to learn more about them and about how zoos work, and who underestimate the intelligence and personality of critters and therefore don't understand that you have a two-way relationship with anything in your care and that it's not just an animal in captivity for your selfish pleasure.

I think I need a lie down now...

 

[TARZAN]

A lady visitor in the bonobo house at Twycross commented " They must not get as much food as the other chimps as they are very thin". Regarding the confusion concerning the difference between apes and monkeys, well what about "Monkey World, Ape Rescue Center"?

 

[Pootle]

I find that sort of thing funny, general ignorance of some poeple is hilarious.


At Chester about 2 winters ago, the conversation eventually got to...

(some bloke) "You mean Rhino's dont eat meat??!!"
(me) "No, pretty much just grass and hay"
(sb) "But they are massive, they must eat meat"
(me) "Ok, your right, they go to KFC twice a week"
(sb) "Now your winding me up" ... pause for thought..
(sb) "But you are sure they dont eat meat"
(me) "Yep, (smiling at this stage)"
(sb) "I thought they got fed like lions and that"
(me) "Oh no, not rhinos" still smiling


and as innocently as he arrived he walked off away....probably to hopefully catch the elephants polishing off their special treat of roast pork with all the trimings.