General Zoo Misconceptions
- Thread starter CZJimmy
- Start date
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
Chester's Tropical Realm is done very well all the birds are correctly labeled.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
Yeah, heard that one plenty of times. But at least they didn't call it a koala, like that family recently I happened to walk past..
Around ten years ago two visitors to Chester Zoo stopped me and asked where they could find the giant pandas. I said the zoo did not have any but these people insisted they had seen some earlier in the day and wanted to take a second look. After a few questions I eventually found out the animals they were looking for were opposite the camels. They wanted to see the black and white ruffed lemurs.
NZ Jeremy
Well-Known Member
Ha ha, thanks for posting that some of those were awesome... Penguin, Ant Lion..? But Hyrax..? Anyone who knows what a Hyrax is should be able to tell a Tapir..!
NZ Jeremy
Well-Known Member
While at Hamilton zoo last weekend, in a single day I heard a young boy ask his mother, "What's this", to which his Mother replied, "A crocodile"...
It was a blue tongued skink...
About 10 minutes later I heard a girl in her early teens describe a White Rhino as a large horse...
And finally a man in his late 40's or early 50's was overheard to say to his friend, "They don't bite if you pat them like the sign says, they don't jump neither..!" He had just patted a wild pig...
It was a blue tongued skink...
About 10 minutes later I heard a girl in her early teens describe a White Rhino as a large horse...
And finally a man in his late 40's or early 50's was overheard to say to his friend, "They don't bite if you pat them like the sign says, they don't jump neither..!" He had just patted a wild pig...
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
I've been reading a zoo magazine, and one of the presenters had written an article, and this was a section of it:
I told the story of the Preswalski's horse to a little girl. After I'd finished she looked up at me and said "I hope it does a poo!"
I told the story of the Preswalski's horse to a little girl. After I'd finished she looked up at me and said "I hope it does a poo!"
tahninial
Active Member
EVERY time there is a crowd near a tiger, some scruffy looking woman will always call it a lion. I die a little bit inside.
I've heard quite a few funny little bits over the last six months when I've been to Chester quite a bit.
Once, a man saw a Caiman Lizard and when he realised it wasn't the Smoky Jungle Frog labelled on the tank he gave it a dirty look and fled.
Then there was the child insisting the rhino was a cow until the dad inclined to agree for an easy life.
My friend insisted that both the Prezwalski's Horse and the Onager weren't very good stock because they were effectively donkeys. I had to compromise by allowing him the Onager if the Prezwalski's could retain credability.
This is the same person that laughed for half an hour at the prospect of a "red panda", thinking a "panda bear" had been painted to increase diversity, or something.
Also, a woman once decided to talk to me randomly because she thought a spectacled bear eating a melon was eating a carrier bag, which was just weird. After telling her three times that it wasn't, she decided to ignore me and wander off.
OH and there was the time when a group of teenagers in the aquarium said "I'm surprised they haven't done a Finding Nemo theme" and ten seconds later said "Oh yeah they have" "I can't believe you thought they wouldn't it was well good" "Shut up!"
I've heard quite a few funny little bits over the last six months when I've been to Chester quite a bit.
Once, a man saw a Caiman Lizard and when he realised it wasn't the Smoky Jungle Frog labelled on the tank he gave it a dirty look and fled.
Then there was the child insisting the rhino was a cow until the dad inclined to agree for an easy life.
My friend insisted that both the Prezwalski's Horse and the Onager weren't very good stock because they were effectively donkeys. I had to compromise by allowing him the Onager if the Prezwalski's could retain credability.
This is the same person that laughed for half an hour at the prospect of a "red panda", thinking a "panda bear" had been painted to increase diversity, or something.
Also, a woman once decided to talk to me randomly because she thought a spectacled bear eating a melon was eating a carrier bag, which was just weird. After telling her three times that it wasn't, she decided to ignore me and wander off.
OH and there was the time when a group of teenagers in the aquarium said "I'm surprised they haven't done a Finding Nemo theme" and ten seconds later said "Oh yeah they have" "I can't believe you thought they wouldn't it was well good" "Shut up!"
Last edited:
I had an interesting journey on the Chester monorail today. Travelling in my coach was a middle aged lady and a younger lady, with two small children in pushchairs.
The elder of the two ladies decided to pass on her great knowledge of animals to the children. Her description is in brackets. (Or parenthesis if you're technically minded).
Look at that rhinoceros, she got the first one right; then the pelicans (flamingos), white storks (herons), gemsbok (horse with antlers), ostriches, another one right, sitatunga (Bambis), rheas (more ostriches), guanacos (buffalo).
Just before passing over Flag Lane she noticed a dog on the pathway through gap in the trees, (oh I didn't know they had wolves). I don't know what breed of dog they were, 3 of them were being walked by their owners, but they looked nothing like a wolf.
Next was the site of the cheetah enclosure (I think they must be building something), 3 JCBs was obviously the giveaway.
Finally she got the lions right.
I can only hope the children were young enough to forget all that she had told them.
The elder of the two ladies decided to pass on her great knowledge of animals to the children. Her description is in brackets. (Or parenthesis if you're technically minded).
Look at that rhinoceros, she got the first one right; then the pelicans (flamingos), white storks (herons), gemsbok (horse with antlers), ostriches, another one right, sitatunga (Bambis), rheas (more ostriches), guanacos (buffalo).
Just before passing over Flag Lane she noticed a dog on the pathway through gap in the trees, (oh I didn't know they had wolves). I don't know what breed of dog they were, 3 of them were being walked by their owners, but they looked nothing like a wolf.
Next was the site of the cheetah enclosure (I think they must be building something), 3 JCBs was obviously the giveaway.
Finally she got the lions right.
I can only hope the children were young enough to forget all that she had told them.
MARK
Well-Known Member
On a visit to Colchester zoo some years ago I was looking at a large male Orang who had very long bright red hair, a young boy who had walked up the the exhibit with his dad then asked him, "Dad what animal is that dad" his dad replied, "Son thats King Kong, its a Gorllia son", Well at least it was an ape.
Sure, I can come up with tales of the unexpected and blatantly ignorant. Volunteering as a zoo guide at my local you get some ... so to speak! I am not going to make fun of them, it is too easy.
The ominuous sign is that the average zoo visitor remains ignorant of their environment and the fauna and flora that live in these despite yonkers years of news regarding wildlife extinctions, loss of biodiversity, environmental disasters as a consequence of detrimental human activities and the climate change indications (beyond a new warm/cold ice age). The information on signage is usually sat 100-150 words in content and people just do not read them (too difficult, too boring, too ... well I have not figured that one out yet).
To make fun of them is fine, but the signs are DISCONCERTING! The challenge for zoos is to educate the average zoo visitor regarding fauna, flora and the environment and the urgent need to conserve what we have or had. Do we need to ask ourselves, our we not succeeding and why?
So instead of coming up with all these stories, why not come up with a solution to this issue of ignorant zoo visitors and how we can give them back a message of love, respect and care for their environment, plants and wildlife?
The ominuous sign is that the average zoo visitor remains ignorant of their environment and the fauna and flora that live in these despite yonkers years of news regarding wildlife extinctions, loss of biodiversity, environmental disasters as a consequence of detrimental human activities and the climate change indications (beyond a new warm/cold ice age). The information on signage is usually sat 100-150 words in content and people just do not read them (too difficult, too boring, too ... well I have not figured that one out yet).
To make fun of them is fine, but the signs are DISCONCERTING! The challenge for zoos is to educate the average zoo visitor regarding fauna, flora and the environment and the urgent need to conserve what we have or had. Do we need to ask ourselves, our we not succeeding and why?
So instead of coming up with all these stories, why not come up with a solution to this issue of ignorant zoo visitors and how we can give them back a message of love, respect and care for their environment, plants and wildlife?
Jelle, you make a really good point (and it was also discussed earlier in the thread, I think) and I agree with you that some zoo signs are too wordy for average visitors. But in my opinion, 80% of the time it is not the fault of the signs. If someone going into "Spirit Of The Jaguar" thinks they'll see a Cheetah, then it's just ignorant (with or without signs).
Many of Chester's basic signs have few words on them. The basic format is Name, Latin Name, large image showing male and female varients, map of their range, conservation status and one fact If I recall correctly. However many people, still do not read these simple signs.
I think when people have detailed guide books (which seem to me that they are being phased out) rather than just maps, they seem to understand the animals more. I guess it's because if they see an animal they are unsure of, they'll read the book rather than look for the sign...
(Although all of what I just said is my speculation and not definate study)
Many of Chester's basic signs have few words on them. The basic format is Name, Latin Name, large image showing male and female varients, map of their range, conservation status and one fact If I recall correctly. However many people, still do not read these simple signs.
I think when people have detailed guide books (which seem to me that they are being phased out) rather than just maps, they seem to understand the animals more. I guess it's because if they see an animal they are unsure of, they'll read the book rather than look for the sign...
(Although all of what I just said is my speculation and not definate study)
Oh boy, I have a few of these to add to the list also.
This happened the last time I went to the Milwaukee County Zoo on September 1st, 2007.
- I actually got into an argument with somebody for calling a capybara a pig. I told him that it was a rodent, he kept insisting it was a pig. Just so happened a zoo keeper was walking by, he asked if the capybara was a pig. The zoo keeper told him it was a rodent. Me: 1, Them: 0.
- A boy told his parents that the grey kangaroo was the largest kangaroo currently living. I told him the Red kangaroo was bigger, he said no. I pointed out a sign to him that said that red kangaroos are the largest. Me: 2, Them: 0.
Others ones that annoy me a lot:
- Jaguars being called leopards or vice versa.
- People calling apes monkeys.
- People calling certain animals names seen in movies (Kangaroo Jack, Simba, etc.)
- Tapirs being called hippopotamus.
I have more, but these ones annoy me the most.
This happened the last time I went to the Milwaukee County Zoo on September 1st, 2007.
- I actually got into an argument with somebody for calling a capybara a pig. I told him that it was a rodent, he kept insisting it was a pig. Just so happened a zoo keeper was walking by, he asked if the capybara was a pig. The zoo keeper told him it was a rodent. Me: 1, Them: 0.
- A boy told his parents that the grey kangaroo was the largest kangaroo currently living. I told him the Red kangaroo was bigger, he said no. I pointed out a sign to him that said that red kangaroos are the largest. Me: 2, Them: 0.
Others ones that annoy me a lot:
- Jaguars being called leopards or vice versa.
- People calling apes monkeys.
- People calling certain animals names seen in movies (Kangaroo Jack, Simba, etc.)
- Tapirs being called hippopotamus.
I have more, but these ones annoy me the most.
ZYBen
Well-Known Member
ohh this didnt happen at a zoo but at the aquarium store i work at,
We have a row of tanks, in tank 1 there are tadpoles tank 2 there ate axolotyl and tank 3 Murrays Tortoise
I overheard a mother telling her child, "See those tadpoles they will turn into an axolotyl, then when the axolotyls scome onto the land they will turn into a Turtle."
Atleast she didnt mention the seahorses in tank four!
We have a row of tanks, in tank 1 there are tadpoles tank 2 there ate axolotyl and tank 3 Murrays Tortoise
I overheard a mother telling her child, "See those tadpoles they will turn into an axolotyl, then when the axolotyls scome onto the land they will turn into a Turtle."
Atleast she didnt mention the seahorses in tank four!
Gigit
Well-Known Member
I was recently in the Ape House at Paignton, which has 'Ape House' written above the entrance, when a father and small son came in. Small boy must have been told that this was the Ape House and was asking 'are they the apes, are they the apes?' when he saw the gorillas. Dad replied 'no, they're monkeys'. Groan.