Incorrect 'facts' heard at zoos

[nanoboy]

I am sure that we have all listened to quite a few "keeper talks" in our time.

What are some of the most memorable incorrect 'facts' you have heard employees of the zoo tell the public?

For example, at a 'rhino talk' a keeper said that he read on news that the Javan rhino and black rhino were extinct. (The news actually said that Javans were extinct on mainland Asia - but still found in Indonesia - and that it was the western sub-species of the black rhino that was declared extinct - not the entire species.)

 

[Mr T]

I am sure that we have all listened to quite a few "keeper talks" in our time.

What are some of the most memorable incorrect 'facts' you have heard employees of the zoo tell the public?

For example, at a 'rhino talk' a keeper said that he read on news that the Javan rhino and black rhino were extinct. (The news actually said that Javans were extinct on mainland Asia - but still found in Indonesia - and that it was the western sub-species of the black rhino that was declared extinct - not the entire species.)

Which zoo was this?

 

[LizardInsanity]

DAK said that bearded dragons can be feed iceberg lettuce and crickets. Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value for bearded dragons at all.

 

[JBZvolunteer]

We have personally been told to lie about somethings relating to animals in the zoo.

 

[Mr T]

We have personally been told to lie about somethings relating to animals in the zoo.

Can you expand on this? What reasons does your management give for doing this?

 

[JBZvolunteer]

If an animal is sick they and it's serious reason the animal is off exhibit. We say it to not alarm the public.

 

[zooman64]

Some years ago at Colchester Zoo, the female keeper giving a talk at the porcupine enclosure claimed that the Crested Porcupine is the world's largest rodent. There, I thought, is someone who's not heard of a Capybara.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

If an animal is sick they and it's serious reason the animal is off exhibit. We say it to not alarm the public.

Well, that isn't a *lie* per se - just not telling the public *why* they are off exhibit.

A lie would be telling the public a motionless animal is asleep when it is really dead

 

[Mr T]

If an animal is sick they and it's serious reason the animal is off exhibit. We say it to not alarm the public.

That is fair enough and is probably what most zoos would do. I think the 'incorrect fact' aspect of this thread is to do with zoos and keepers misinforming the public about the animals in terms of distribution, taxonomy, population etc.

 

[Brum]

How about those institutions that claim various colour morphs are endangered species within there own right. I'm thinking white lions & tigers and melanistic leopards in particular!

 

[nanoboy]

Which zoo was this?

Werribee Zoo in Australia. I think it was a safari guide, and not a full fledged keeper though.

 

[nanoboy]

That is fair enough and is probably what most zoos would do. I think the 'incorrect fact' aspect of this thread is to do with zoos and keepers misinforming the public about the animals in terms of distribution, taxonomy, population etc.

Yup. I was thinking more along the lines of "the porcupine is the largest rodent" kind of 'facts'.

 

[Arizona Docent]

When I was at the San Diego Zoo (one week ago today), I was photographing the snow leopard when one of the tour buses drove by. The driver/narrator announced if you follow where the camera is pointed you will get a rare glimpse at our clouded leopard. I assume (hope) it was just a slip of the tongue and he really does know the difference.

The day before at the Safari Park, a handler with a new guinea singing dog on a leash said they are a critically endangered species and not closely related to dingos. (The sign at the zoo, on the other hand, says their status is least concern). Even if they are rare, I am not sure you can call a feral (formerly domestic) animal an endangered species.

When I was at Gladys Porter Zoo (Texas) last year, one of the docents was firmly convinced that their group of white and orange bengal/hybrid tigers are sumatran tigers. I tried to tell him there are no white sumatran tigers, but he would have none of it, so we agreed to disagree. (Other than this one disagreement, we had quite a friendly ten minute chat, with me being a fellow docent).

Speaking of white tigers, my favorite is the narration from Roy (pre-recorded) at the Secret Garden of Sigfried and Roy (Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas). When describing white tigers, he says the purest of the species have no stripes at all!

 

[Mr T]

I have heard lemurs being referred to as monkeys in many zoos but I think South Lakes tops it with their sign for the walk-through exhibit.

http://www.zoochat.com/212/example-signage-187619/

 

[bongorob]

I recently heard a sun bittern described as being a member of the heron family.

 

[OrangePerson]

Use of 'a specie' to refer to a singular species.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I recently heard a sun bittern described as being a member of the heron family.

Until you posted that, I thought they were!

 

[KCZooFan]

I recently heard a sun bittern described as being a member of the heron family.

Could have made a speaking error, meaning bitterns, which are in the heron family.

 

[zoogiraffe]

Could have made a speaking error, meaning bitterns, which are in the heron family.

No it wasn't I was present with bongorob when it was said,it is what the rangers at the collection have been told,say when they are giving people a tour round the Tropical House!

 

[jwer]

The bittern mistake is somewhat understandable... I didn't know the "Bittern-like"(according to wikipedia) sun Bittern wasn't a bittern...

Biggest mistake was a French speaking woman, leading a class of high-schoolers at Planckendael, pointing at a wombat and shouting, C'est un Capybara!