I notice that Belfast Zoo( and others no doubt) have been running Zoo late evenings too- but they are very different to what's been happening at London- guided tours, children welcome and you can hand feed the Giraffes- and what a nice-looking big group they have too.
ZSL London Zoo London zoo party nights ‘threaten animal welfare’
- Thread starter Zooplantman
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Stop Zoo Lates parties, Peta, RSPCA and animal charities tell London zoo | Environment | theguardian.com
Alan
Stop Zoo Lates parties, Peta, RSPCA and animal charities tell London zoo | Environment | theguardian.com
Alan
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
An interesting piece. While I find the very concept of Zoo Lates fairly awful, I really resent the likes of Peta, Viva and Born Free "telling" anyone what to do. Unfortunately, the zoo open themselves up to such attacks by having this event, regardless of whether the bad behaviour has been over-hyped.
The comments which follow the article are interesting. Some anti zoo, some (eloquently) pro zoo. And one which puns on the word 'guenon', which is good to see.
If they want to raise extra revenue & bring in more visitors(avoiding the bad publicity), I don't see why they don't just open late on 2 nights every week over the summer months, without the age restriction. 6pm is ridiculously early to be closing in the tourist season. I have been to these events at Whipsnade & Colchester and they are always well attended.
I know it means paying overtime to the keepers & other staff, but that would possibly be no more expensive than the cost of the security presence & extras brought in for the party nights.
I know it means paying overtime to the keepers & other staff, but that would possibly be no more expensive than the cost of the security presence & extras brought in for the party nights.
I agree and these are the last organisations to have any street cred or moral superiority.
Whereas perhaps the events may be re-formatted somewhat to prevent some of the lager loutish behaviors, I really doubt that a net cash earner for the zoo and its breeding programmes/conservation work will be stopped.
Zoo Lates along the lines of other zoos is a completely different set up and I doubt if that brings in the cash as much as the said events.
As long as it does not spin out of control - which I really doubt it has ever done (that would really result in people being removed off the premises ...) -, I have no serious reservations about the events.
The whole concept is a rather smart idea to bring in parts of the population (urban childless singles >20 yrs) that would otherwise not visit a zoo. Intoxicated unruly participants should not be tolerated, but given that keepers and security are, as al222 mentioned, present, this should be kept at a minimum.