Smoking in British Zoo's

T

TriGB

Well-Known Member
I have just done a road trip with my wife and 10 week old first child. Along the way we visited Chester, Twycross, Slimbridge, Bristol, Paignton, Living Coasts and Newquay. At all of these Zoo's I had to bite my tongue, keep calm and walk away from the conflict/aggression that was building up inside me whenever I saw a member of the public (and/or staff at 2 establishments!) drop a butt, light up next to my baby or smoke within metres of Great Apes and many other endangered species.

Therefore I am going to write politely, with positive practical suggestions, to the Curators of all these Parks.

Does anyone else feel strogly about smoking in zoos?
 
Should have been banned years ago. I have a chest condition so people in zoos smoking is a real bug of mine. As for the way many dispose of the butt's, that a different ball game all together.
 
I agree, I'm quite shocked when I see people smoking in zoos because there are so many places where it is now forbidden.

I think the smoking bans we have in all buildings would make it quite easy to introduce no smoking to zoos and you could always have a smoking area tucked away somewhere unobtrusive. I think a ban would be repected by all but the most hardcore anti-social chavs as long as it's clear enough that it's not allowed.
 
smoking is banned at monkey world (i think this was brought in at the same time as the smoking ban in england) and there is a special smoking area somewhere in the park. however, i still see people smoking around the park, but most of them at least have the decency to hide and do it away from other visitors and the animals.

some of the rescued chimps were forced to smoke in their previous lives and are still dealing with cravings now, so it must have been really difficult for them when they saw people smoking prior to the ban.
 
I am a ex smoker I haven't smoked for 5 years now and can see both sides to an agrument about smoking as I feel it's up to the individual if they want to smoke or not.

Simple solution to the problem is have a smoking area in all zoos and make sure that everyone entering the zoo knows it's a NO smoking enviroment except for these places.
Anyone caught smoking outside of these areas should be excorted off the zoo premises.
 
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I agree, as a non-smoker I can't stand smoking and think that it should be banned from all zoos and animal parks (I think it should be banned full stop but that's a whole different issue!)
I was at Colchester today, and the number of people puffing away was silly, even in Orang Forest and the chimp viewing areas. If people are going to smoke, that's fine, it's their choice, but people not smoking shouldn't have to be breathing in their fumes and it's not nice for the great apes, or any animal, to have to watch and experience.
 
I have not long got back from West Midlands Safari Park and would like to open this thread up a little with the following
We are all on about smoking in zoos well how about petrol fumes in safari parks and before anyone comes up with thats different to smoking I was stuck behind a new car and due to the driver reving up like a idiot we in my car were actually starting to choke so if this was effecting me on one day what does it do to the animals every day of the year
Yes you need cars to go round safari parks but under the same way as we are talking about smoking then why don't safari parks use there own transport only ie coaches or mini buses to stop so many cars going round the park.

As we are now told by medical results that Lead in Petrol is more damaging to our health then Nicotteen is in cigerettes
 
adrian1963 said:
As we are now told by medical results that Lead in Petrol is more damaging to our health then Nicotteen is in cigerettes
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You are way behind the times. All the petrol sold in the UK has been unleaded for many years now. The use of catalytic converters has also cleaned exhaust gases considerably. You may get a problem with 'particulates' (very fine soot) from diesel engines, particularly old ones, but otherwise things are much better than they used to be.

Alan
 
Smoking is banned in virtually every zoo in America. This is one area where we definitely lead the world (not just smoking at zoos, but anywhere). I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, but oddly I don't recall that many people smoking at the two UK zoos I visited last year (Port Lympne and London) - or for that matter at the two French zoos I visited.

I will be in England/France/Spain in a month and will see if I notice any difference.

As for car exhaust, I agree with the comment above. Most of the best wildlife parks in America have their own non-pollluting trams (Northwest Trek, San Diego Wild Animal Park, The Wilds, etc). It is mostly second rate wildlife ranches that are still car drives (the one better exception being Fossil Rim).
 
Arizona Docent said:
Smoking is banned in virtually every zoo in America. This is one area where we definitely lead the world (not just smoking at zoos, but anywhere). I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, but oddly I don't recall that many people smoking at the two UK zoos I visited last year (Port Lympne and London) - or for that matter at the two French zoos I visited.

I will be in England/France/Spain in a month and will see if I notice any difference.

As for car exhaust, I agree with the comment above. Most of the best wildlife parks in America have their own non-pollluting trams (Northwest Trek, San Diego Wild Animal Park, The Wilds, etc). It is mostly second rate wildlife ranches that are still car drives (the one better exception being Fossil Rim).
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At my recent trip to the Buffalo Zoo I did see quite a few people smoking.
 
Smoking is not something we have to put up with in zoos around here, in fact, I can't remember the last time I've seen someone smoking in a zoo.
 
Gentle Lemur the car we were behind in the park was a 07 plate and it was not the only newish car giving of choking fumes around the park.
Maybe what I should of said was fumes being ommitted from the cars in front of me I am fully aware of the myth called unleaded petrol (I know because I used to work in a petrol station).
 
all of the 'corperation' zoos in Florida (Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens and Seaworld) have smoking points :)
 
Smoking is banned within the grounds at Durrell. (has been for 18mths-2yrs now)
Although there are a handful of designated areas for employees in off show areas away from any animals.
 
I'm one of the evil smokers...whenever I go to a zoo, I will always move away from an area where there are animals - easier said than done in some places! I'm also very aware of where other visitors are, particularly children, and if I see them around, I do try to get as far away as possible from them.
Smoking bans in places like zoos are always going to be incredibly hard to enforce. You really have to rely on people's good will to follow the rules. Having a designated area(s) is probably the best way to keep people smoking near the animals.
 
lorna_wilkie said:
Smoking bans in places like zoos are always going to be incredibly hard to enforce.
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You would be surprised at how easy it is to enforce here in America. Staff don't usually have to worry about it because visitors will take care of the smoker for them.
 
I was at the reception area of my local zoo one day and there was a gentleman questioning why people were allowed to smoke near to where others were eating reply from receptionist'Ican assure you we have more visitors that come to the zoo that smoke than dont' strange reply as i had previously spoken to reception about the lack of 'no smoking' notices either half torn or only evident on the way out of areas and monkey height's a place that is made mostly of wood the people i have seen smoking in the place defies logic when they dont know what to do with the cigarette ends, very dangerousas some choose to stub them out on or near the cages or on the wooden planked floors. There are no ash trays anywhere so it is mind boggling to say the least.It reminds me of a tinder box waiting to blow up. Again it is a money thing and obviously the zoo avoids all forms of confrontation but at what cost.
:eek:
 
Colchester Zoo used to have a No Smoking rule. At least there was a note to that effect in the leaflet containing a map of the grounds that was handed out to every visitor. But, despite this, I still used to see people smoking. On my last few visits, the No Smoking rule seems to have been quietly dropped, or anyway isn't publicised so much. I wonder if it is still in force?
I am totally against smoking, and think this disgusting weed (which robbed my dad of his life) should be banned not only in zoos but everywhere.
 
I smoke but I am happy to respect the rules although a designated smoking area helps. What ruins a zoo visit for me is other peoples screaming children, the deafening row has caused me to leave crowded animal houses in many zoos. I think the noise level is a more stressful situation than the occasional wiff of smoke. I would prefer to ban children unless they have responsible parents or are muzzled than smoking.
 
What I cant get round thinking is -Smoking is banned in a work place. Surely seen as a Zoo/Safari Park is a work place for some smoking should be banned. I have seen the occasional smoker at Chester but not that many. There are a few places at Chester I know people could smoke away from animals and other customers. However I cant say for other zoo's if there is space to set up smoking areas.

As for Children I agree that they can spoil exhibits more but that is more how they were/are being brought up and taught. I know school groups at Chester are meant to be accompanied by a teacher at all times but the amount I have seen wondering around on there own due to the teachers having a cigarette is amazing. In cases like that the school should be punished somehow for breaking rules they are told about on entry.
 
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