"Boring" animals
- Thread starter Pygathrix
- Start date
Speaking of interesting leaf cutter ant exhibit. Cincinnati Zoo enlarge the display into two glass tanks, one the nest, the other leaves and plants. In between are clear tubes the ants go between the two tanks. However, these tubes are so long that they go along the walls of the room. This not only enlarge the space for ants, it also made a very interesting exhibit for visitors. And my 2 years old daughter just loves it.
I think it is not only the animal being displayed. The environment the animal displayed in also needs to be well designed to attract people's attention.
I think it is not only the animal being displayed. The environment the animal displayed in also needs to be well designed to attract people's attention.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@Tigerlemurguy: Why not jump over the fence of their enclosure to see (though very briefly) what big cats can do (to You)...
taun
Well-Known Member
@Tigerlemurguy: I find chimps boring to watch, don't know way considering I can spend hours watching a gorilla sit there.
@Sun Wukong: Thats the problem thou with big cats is that they are usually only active if they are hungry or they have cubs. However I can watch most big cats for a while just taking in how beautiful and powerful these animals are
@Sun Wukong: Thats the problem thou with big cats is that they are usually only active if they are hungry or they have cubs. However I can watch most big cats for a while just taking in how beautiful and powerful these animals are
@Tigerlemurguy: Why not jump over the fence of their enclosure to see (though very briefly) what big cats can do (to You)...
This facility is only available on a limited basis in a few zoos, most recently San Francisco. It is enrichment of the highest order...
Every now and again you get some nutbag climbing in with big cats and rarely living to tell about it. Many years ago here in Australia a religious fanatic gained entry to a lion enclosure at Perth Zoo after declaring that he was Daniel reincarnated!
(He wasn't, as was soon made obvious by the lions!)
(He wasn't, as was soon made obvious by the lions!)
forumbully
Well-Known Member
actually, he WAS Daniel reincarnated.
the lions just missed the memo.
but it is indeed astonishing that people seem to think animals in cages are not dangerous anymore.
in belgium, it happened on several occasions in Antwerp and olmen the last decade or so. even with extra fences, thorny bushes, moats, ... people still think they should get closer.
"you're inside a cage, I'm outside, what are you gonna do?"
then the lion thinks, reach through the bars and still grab you..."
I don't have any figures but I would guess that today zoos are fairly safe places for ordinary members of the public. Most injuries and fatalities seem to involve either members of staff, or deranged or drunk people who ignore barriers and put themselves in danger.
forumbully
Well-Known Member
don't be so sure.
last year a woman got killed by a cheetah (of all big cats)
who was very used to people.
either way, my cat is as domesticated as it can be, yet it still has a killer instinct. I'm pretty sure even a hand raised lion/tiger/... will lash out, maybe just because it got startled by your sudden appearence
btw, we are getting a little off topic here...
last year a woman got killed by a cheetah (of all big cats)
who was very used to people.
either way, my cat is as domesticated as it can be, yet it still has a killer instinct. I'm pretty sure even a hand raised lion/tiger/... will lash out, maybe just because it got startled by your sudden appearence
btw, we are getting a little off topic here...
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@Tigerlemurguy: You are kidding, are You? I was when I replied to that nonsense comment of Yours; but Your posts make me wonder whether You're just immature, ignorant or foolish....
But forumbully is right-back to topic.
But forumbully is right-back to topic.
Weird reply, and fully unjustified. If you read back he mentions some animals he finds boring (on topic, and meerkats, penguins and most big cats are terribly boring idd). Then he replies to someone else going off topic (namely, you) with to what looks to me as a normal response (being a bit full of typo's).
Then i find it also really immature of someone to lash out at someone else, and then quickly shout "and now back on topic", as if he isn't entitled a reply.
Childish.
"and now back on-topic"
for heavens sake
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@jwer: I don't understand why You feel addressed, as You're certainly not the person this "weird" response of mine was originally aimed at-or are You? I just don't like the belittling and anthropomorphising idea some people have in regard to zoo animals, and I think it's better to dissent such quirks right from the start than to just tolerate or even nourish them. If You want to correct me on this matter or feel the "childish" urge to put me into "my" place, better send me a PM; otherwise just let it be.
I added the "back to topic" remark as I agreed with forumbully's previous hint in regard to the growing deviation from the original subject-no more, no less. What You feel like interpreting into this, is Your cup of tea. "BTT"
I added the "back to topic" remark as I agreed with forumbully's previous hint in regard to the growing deviation from the original subject-no more, no less. What You feel like interpreting into this, is Your cup of tea. "BTT"
Last edited:
SWk - I'm with jwer on this. You who took the thread off topic then admonishes others for straying. And the comment about immature/foolish/ignorant is just insulting and says more about the person saying it. After he is only 14.
You say "BTT". I say "QED".
You say "BTT". I say "QED".
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
This mutual series of reprehensions is currently the only real deviation from the topic. One could have just left my first casual remark as it was-so don't try to pass the buck to me. And about the age: when I was 14, I knew better than to trivialise "domesticated" big cats.
Sorry @Pygathrix, no QED for You today. Better luck next time...
As I'm already here: I don't know whether it was already mentioned here, but another feature that can create "boring" animals for most visitors crossed my mind: the (animals') way of life. Even within nocturnal houses, You have species that don't display any behaviour attractive for most visitors, which means: they sleep or hide most of the time. As most people's attendence spane is rather short, a rather quiet and introverted lifestyle can soon label the species "boring".
Size is another matter, especially in already mentioned nocturnal houses; how often have I watched people quickly walk past Microchiroptera, little rodents or Insectivora exhibits because they can't see them at once. (Maybe one should try to teach people to be more patient, but that's a very unthankful task).
Thirdly, an attribute I think is one of the most important ones when it comes to judge about the "show effect" of the animal: how familiar is it to You?
This partly involves the standard collection species (neglected by many zoo fans), but also animals that look similar or are the same species people encounter quite often at home. A dingo is therefore "just another dog", a Crete Spiny Mouse is "just a mouse", a Red-legged Sun Squirrel is "just a squirrel" and a Travancore Tortoise "just looks like the tortoise we have at home". The less familiar the animal is, the more likely it might not be "boring" for the public-unless they easily get used to it...
Sorry @Pygathrix, no QED for You today. Better luck next time...
As I'm already here: I don't know whether it was already mentioned here, but another feature that can create "boring" animals for most visitors crossed my mind: the (animals') way of life. Even within nocturnal houses, You have species that don't display any behaviour attractive for most visitors, which means: they sleep or hide most of the time. As most people's attendence spane is rather short, a rather quiet and introverted lifestyle can soon label the species "boring".
Size is another matter, especially in already mentioned nocturnal houses; how often have I watched people quickly walk past Microchiroptera, little rodents or Insectivora exhibits because they can't see them at once. (Maybe one should try to teach people to be more patient, but that's a very unthankful task).
Thirdly, an attribute I think is one of the most important ones when it comes to judge about the "show effect" of the animal: how familiar is it to You?
This partly involves the standard collection species (neglected by many zoo fans), but also animals that look similar or are the same species people encounter quite often at home. A dingo is therefore "just another dog", a Crete Spiny Mouse is "just a mouse", a Red-legged Sun Squirrel is "just a squirrel" and a Travancore Tortoise "just looks like the tortoise we have at home". The less familiar the animal is, the more likely it might not be "boring" for the public-unless they easily get used to it...
Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
Off by hand, I can't think of any "boring" animals per se, because each and every time I go to the zoo (usually Toronto), some animal is always doing something interesting and unexpected. 
Maybe I'm easily pleased but an animal doesn't have to be overly active for me to find them entertaining, heck I love seeing how close the Victorian Crowned Pigeons can get to you.
Maybe I'm easily pleased but an animal doesn't have to be overly active for me to find them entertaining, heck I love seeing how close the Victorian Crowned Pigeons can get to you.
Try following your own advice. I get the impression that you actually think you are a reasonable guy.
Quite.
(BTW, that was a QED, although I have spoilt it by replying, but I'm sure there will be another along shortly....
)
Anyway, to get BOT - although I was moaning about common animals like meerkats in my first post, I don't mind watching them as they are usually doing something interesting, I just get bored with seeing them at every zoo I go to. If they are housed next to eg ringtail mongooses then it is the latter I will be looking at because you don't see very many of those.
Sleeping animals can be unexciting and many zoos now seem to realise this by having keeper talks and advertising feeding times so that you can see the big cats in action which is more interesting for Joe Public and zoonerds alike.
Sleeping animals can be unexciting and many zoos now seem to realise this by having keeper talks and advertising feeding times so that you can see the big cats in action which is more interesting for Joe Public and zoonerds alike.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@Pygathrix: Re: "QED": Like I wrote-"better luck next time"; although I do get the impression that the more You use it, the less appropriate it becomes. Better try following this advice...
"Feeding times" for the public are certainly nothing new; current observations even indicate that several small non-regular feeding occasions are a great way to reduce boredom and stereotypical behaviour. One big public feeding time is more likely to increase the latter. Equally, keeper talk is usually limited to the already popular animals; haven't observed one at the Kagus or Sailfin lizards yet.
"Feeding times" for the public are certainly nothing new; current observations even indicate that several small non-regular feeding occasions are a great way to reduce boredom and stereotypical behaviour. One big public feeding time is more likely to increase the latter. Equally, keeper talk is usually limited to the already popular animals; haven't observed one at the Kagus or Sailfin lizards yet.