From what LaughingDove has told us in the chatroom, the prohibition is enforced even for other enclosures in the building which do not contain the salamanders.
One wonders if a disposable film camera, which thus does not use infra-red light at all, would be acceptable.
I suspect the zoo may be rather over-cautious; but if they feel that there is a risk, however small, it is the right thing to do. I think it is asking too much of the zoo staff to inspect every camera, even at a quiet time, because there will always be someone who says 'you let him/her take a picture, so I want to take one too'.
In addition disposable film cameras would be unlikely to produce acceptable results in the dim light of a salamander exhibit.
Perhaps it is fortunate that giant salamanders are such *****ingly ugly creatures that they are hardly worth photographing anyway
Something which unfortunately cannot be said for the other species within the house, and therefore also prohibited I cannot recall the full list, but LaughingDove mentioned Mang Mountain Pitviper, which I think is quite a nice looking taxon.
Sadly I followed the rules so there will be none . However I can tell you that the building and the enclosures within were very nice and there were also quite a few nice interpretive displays.
Something which unfortunately cannot be said for the other species within the house, and therefore also prohibited I cannot recall the full list, but LaughingDove mentioned Mang Mountain Pitviper, which I think is quite a nice looking taxon.
As well as Chinese Giant Salamanders, the building also contained Mang Mountain Pitvipers and Impressed Tortoises (probably the most unusual of the three taxa).
