"Marwell sometimes plays traditional African Drumming/Choir music on the path leading down to Heart of Africa. I appreciate on a warm, sunny Summer's day, but I think if it's playing in dismal winter it's kinda taking the p**s! "
Fortunately the cable was cut and the speakers removed when the new giraffe road crossing was created to get the animals into the African Valley. With a bit of luck it will not be re-instated. I am not sure music adds anything to the visitors experience except in the most heavily of themed exhibits and even then "naturalistic" sounds are far more effective. Indeed if done correctly most people would never know the sounds have been added.
I can sort of tolerate "music" or appropriate sound-tracks in aquariums where it creates an atmosphere and, theoretically at least, discourages children from getting too noisy (for some reason children can get very noisy in semi-darkened areas). And in aquariums the animal inmates cannot hear it. But in zoos I am often worried that it could cause annoyance at least, or stress at worst, to the animals, although I have never seen any evidence to support that. There is a case in favour of having some, changing - not loop- background music/soundtrack to soothe nervois animals as, if they are used to varied noises they are less likey to be un-settled by unexpected sounds (hence a radio is often playing, albeit, not loudlt, in the okapi house at Marwell.) And there is proved evidence that cows yield more milk when music is played in the milking parlour - so who knows whether it is a benefit or nuisance to animals in zoos. But, as a visitor, I would far rather not hear it.
