General Zoo Misconceptions

I think reading lessons for the zoo patrons are in order. but with all of the ignorant visitors out there, there will always be those who appreciate the sinage and info.

some of the things I have seen just recently include.....a mixed enclosure for freshwater crocodile and merten's water monitor had one freshy and one monitor and despite clear sinage at eye level the visitors still managed to block that out and mix the two up.

sorry if this is not in a zoo situation, but i was in an electrical store and they had a nature program featuring LIONS playing on the tele and once again despite that fact that the audio kept saying, the word LION over and over some bloke told his kid, "Look at the tiger" and the kid corrects his father by saying "its a lion, tigers have stripes".

one of the few instances where i felt the urge to, Like Hvedekorn, rip my hair out!

i dont know if anyone sees it the same way as i do, but i have seen more young kids take notice of the what the animals actually are than some adults.
 
I've heard some more recently...

peacock=condor
wild turkey=ostrich
kangaroo=wallaby
binturong=it looks like a seal's face
 
Pygathrix said:
Actually with their big whiskers and small ears they can look just like a sea lion
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Hm, maybe I haven't seen enough binturongs, but I can't see that.
Sea lions are more cute, while binturongs are eerie in a way. Still fascinating, though.
 
Quote of the week{ unless you know different]

'THE DINGBATS ARE IN THE NOCTURNAL HOUSE'
My reply; 'No lady they are just going into the house!'
 
The most common mistake i hear is calling a tortoise a turtle.

From Alice in Wonderland:

Alice: "If he was a turtle why did you call him tortoise"

Mockturtle: "We called him tortoise because he taught us"
 
I saw a TV clip recently of Jack Hanna at the opening of Polar Frontier. He was given a tortoise and as he was getting the creature he asked the assistant, "Is this a turtle or tortoise?" Maybe he was on a roll with his talking and didn't really look at the reptile, but I was thinking, "Really, you don't know that?"
 
Chuckwalla = Monitor
Ball Python = Rattlesnake

Not biggies, but deserving of mention.
 
Orang Utan - Is that a Gorilla? Or a Chimpanzee?
Rat snake - Rattlesnake
Ring-tailed Coati - Lemur
 
I hear the Rat Snake/Rattlesnake one allllll the time... I wonder if it's really a case of mistaken identity or people reading over the signs too fast to absorb what they read.
 
I personaly have an issue with under educated visitors and kids who think the know everything, any ways here is a good one I heard on my last visit to the Toronto Zoo:

Little girl walks up to the carcal enclosure and tells her dad and little brother that thier lions, when the real lions are not three meters away from her. Ill point out this girl is probaly around 10. My mom wouldnt let me tell her diffrent, she actualy wont let me tell anyone diffrent.
 
Sealife357 said:
I personaly have an issue with under educated visitors and kids who think the know everything, any ways here is a good one I heard on my last visit to the Toronto Zoo:

Little girl walks up to the carcal enclosure and tells her dad and little brother that thier lions, when the real lions are not three meters away from her. Ill point out this girl is probaly around 10. My mom wouldnt let me tell her diffrent, she actualy wont let me tell anyone diffrent.
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I'm acually okay with know it all kids. i think it shows enthusiasm and it has got to be better to think caracal's are lion as opposed to having no clue at all :)
 
Tig said:
I hear the Rat Snake/Rattlesnake one allllll the time... I wonder if it's really a case of mistaken identity or people reading over the signs too fast to absorb what they read.
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I think this one is just people reading the signs too fast and not paying attention.
 
I keep calling the flippin meerkats at YWP lemurs - I KNOW the difference but my brain is stuck on auto :(
 
Colchester...
Tiga - usually referred to as "her" or "she" or the "baby"
Rajang - orange gorilla, big hairy monkey thing, ugly
People making chimp noises at ANY monkey or ape they see!
If I had 50p for every time I have heard an ape being called a monkey I'd be minted!!!
The lions- "boring" because they are asleep...it's what lions do!!!!!

Monkey World.
Chimps- gorillas
Someone once asked me where he would find the giraffes, elephants and other "interesting" animals at the park! All I could do was laugh...
A child near the male capuchin enclosure asked his friend "are these lemurs, 'cos if they are, they're really boring"- would them being called something else have magically made them more interesting!?!?!?

I have found that on many of my zoo visits (usually Twycross, Monkey World or my weekly visits to Colchester) that if an animal, it doesn't matter what it is, isn't moving/running/eating people usually think it is "boring". I'm not sure what these people expect animals to do to be more interesting...
 
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