Music Nights

J

Jane Doe

Well-Known Member
Look what I have read on Trip advisor must agree when you look on Twycross Zoos Face Book and see where the music is. Ok I haven't been for a long time but to have loud music next door to the lorikeets slap bang in the middle of the zoo surely that can not be good for the animals. I mean Twycross is always going on about they how they are trying to make their habitat as close to how it would be in their country of birth but surly they don't have loud music playing where they come from, and as they are trying to get the chimps back to how they would be in the wild does that mean they will be giving the chimps meat ?

I like Twycross Zoo. But I go there for the animals - not for second rate pub singers badly caterwauling third rate pop songs. Which is what we were 'treated' to today. Although it is described as a 'music night' it started at midday. It was loud and massively impeded our enjoyment of the animals. I'm sure it can't be good for the animals being subjected to Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift songs being murdered.

Even if the quality of the singing been better, that isn't what I went for. If I want to see a gig I go to a gig. If I want to see animals I go to a Zoo.

We left after about 20 minutes. When we asked for re-admittance at a later date or a refund I have to say they were pretty quick to sort out a re-admit. Lets hope they honour it!



Visited July 2015
 
I was at one of the nights last year and apart from the Bonobos getting a shock from the first couple of chords to one song, the animals generally didn't seem to be the least bit concerned. I'm no expert however, but they didn't appear to behave any differently.
 
The poor animals have been on show all day from 10am how would we like to have someone start playing loud music when we had just come back from work, I personally would not like to have it going on round me, in fact I don't think anyone would like it, they have got where the band stand was going to be why not go there people could still in joy the zoo.
 
Jane Doe said:
The poor animals have been on show all day from 10am how would we like to have someone start playing loud music when we had just come back from work, I personally would not like to have it going on round me, in fact I don't think anyone would like it, they have got where the band stand was going to be why not go there people could still in joy the zoo.
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But Jane, it really doesn't matter whether you would like it or not, or whether I would like it or not. I have no idea whether six hours of music, five times a year [which is what's involved according to the TZ website] is stressful for animals in the collection - which is the real question.

Perhaps you should contact the zoo and ask whether the possible impact on the animal collection has been assessed?

I remember going to an event at Chester many years ago with music to a later time - no sign of it adversely impacting on the animals.

Of course in the wild the tropical animals would presumably have to cope with the regular crashing and banging of tropical thunderstorms!

Indeed it might be argued that events like this by providing unusual stimuli can be beneficial.
 
Never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Jane Doe.
My opinion of any zoo that does this sort of event plummets.
Animal welfare should be number one priority 100% of the time.
 
Whilst I don't think loud music in the middle of a zoo is the greatest idea, believe it or not but 50 years ago it wasn't uncommon for fireworks displays to happen at zoos!

I'm going to play devils advocate here but, fireworks clearly have a negative effect on many animal species, music however could actually be a form of enrichment. If it happens a few times in a year then all the animals in the zoo have a new acoustic enrichment, different tones and pitches may affect animals in different ways.
 
While I respect the zoo is trying to attract visitors I don't think having singers and loud music is the way to do it. The only noises you should here in a zoo are lions roaring, elephants trumpeting etc., the atmosphere should be peaceful, tranquil, and relaxing.
 
Benosaurus said:
Never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Jane Doe.
My opinion of any zoo that does this sort of event plummets.
Animal welfare should be number one priority 100% of the time.
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Thank you for understanding what I was meaning about the animal welfare, to me this sort of thing is NOT thinking of the welfare of the animals ok I understand it is a good way of getting income but surely there is enough room where the band stand was going to be, But thank you for understanding where I was coming from
 
I was there for the whole duration of the event on Saturday. Several of the senior keepers were constantly observing the behaviour of the animals for any signs of stress. The volume was turned down from the starting level very early on, after that the animals seemed very relaxed about it all. If it helps increase revenue, which in turn helps improve the animal welfare then I see no problem with it continuing.
 
The Great Carmo said:
I was there for the whole duration of the event on Saturday. Several of the senior keepers were constantly observing the behaviour of the animals for any signs of stress. The volume was turned down from the starting level very early on, after that the animals seemed very relaxed about it all. If it helps increase revenue, which in turn helps improve the animal welfare then I see no problem with it continuing.
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Thank you for telling me that about the music being turned down from what it was at the start and it is good to know there were keepers checking on the animals but it still doesn't detract from the fact the previous management had a purpose built area that could have been used for this sort of thing there was plenty of room where Monkey House used to be that could have been used.

I would love to know what the people that live near the zoo Norton Juxta and those that live on the back lane to Orton on the Hill.
 
Jane Doe said:
Thank you for telling me that about the music being turned down from what it was at the start and it is good to know there were keepers checking on the animals but it still doesn't detract from the fact the previous management had a purpose built area that could have been used for this sort of thing there was plenty of room where Monkey House used to be that could have been used.

I would love to know what the people that live near the zoo Norton Juxta and those that live on the back lane to Orton on the Hill.
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I'm sure they're more annoyed about the Gibbons waking them up in the morning? What's this purpose built area?
 
Jane Doe said:
Thank you for telling me that about the music being turned down from what it was at the start and it is good to know there were keepers checking on the animals but it still doesn't detract from the fact the previous management had a purpose built area that could have been used for this sort of thing there was plenty of room where Monkey House used to be that could have been used.

I would love to know what the people that live near the zoo Norton Juxta and those that live on the back lane to Orton on the Hill.
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Jane,

If keepers were monitoring the animals and were happy they were not distressed why does it matter that the event wasn't held on the "purpose built area" of "the previous management"?

And since the event presumably held a Public Entertainment Licence (issued by the local council) local residents will have had the opportunity to object. If they wished to. And there's no evidence they did.

It's hard to avoid the conclusion that you just want to complain about anything that goes on at Twycross.
 
I have faith the even the keepers at twycros have enough integrity that they would stop the music if it was distressing or winding the animals up up. Don't forget most of these animals are from noisy environments. If you've been to the Amazon or any rainforest really its noisy with primates shouting at each other and various other animals mating calls, fights etc. Also tribes living in the environment will play music maybe more druming and dancing than Justin Bieber.

I don't understand why its needed but if it doesn't disturb the animals what's the point of moaning? The real issue is placces like ZSL who have their late night openings and serve alcohol and allow drunken idiots to harras and even throw things at the animals. Now that really is putting profit before welfare. I also believe Bristol zoo is hosting this years LGBT pride. Seeing as pride is just one big party with booze and awful music I'm not sure how Bristol zoo intend to ensure the welfare of the animals
 
monkeyarmy said:
I also believe Bristol zoo is hosting this years LGBT pride. Seeing as pride is just one big party with booze and awful music I'm not sure how Bristol zoo intend to ensure the welfare of the animals
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This is the first I have heard about this, so I do not know where exactly on the site Pride is proposed to take place, but a large portion of the centre of Bristol Zoo comprises lawns and gardens quite distant from any animal enclosures; as such it is possibly one of the better zoological collections in which to hold such an event.
 
Fair play then. I've never been to Bristol zoo do I just imagined "here's the hippo enclosures, there's the giarfs and there's a load of drunk gays.
 
monkeyarmy said:
Fair play then. I've never been to Bristol zoo do I just imagined "here's the hippo enclosures, there's the giarfs and there's a load of drunk gays.
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This map is somewhat out of date, but presents the lay-out of the zoo reasonably well:



I would imagine the event would take place on the Main Lawn.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
but a large portion of the centre of Bristol Zoo comprises lawns and gardens quite distant from any animal enclosures; as such it is possibly one of the better zoological collections in which to hold such an event.
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Except Bristol is so small at 10 acres that no part of it is that far from animal enclosures...
 
I believe all these types of events, musical or otherwise, are not really suited to taking place in zoos but the zoos themselves are conflicted by the temptation to hold them for the valuable revenue they produce. It seems these events are increasingly commonplace in summer in many of our major zoos and wildlife parks nowadays.
 
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