Things people do that irritate you when you go to the zoo? #2

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I hope they were joking too. One of the many weird questions I've been asked over the last four years I've been volunteering. Some of my fellow volunteers and I get a good laugh afterwards when we receive this kind of question. Another really bad one was when I was holding our Southeast Asian Box Turtle, and someone asked two questions. The first was "where does it live", innocent enough until you realize IT'S RIGHT IN THE NAME. When I said the species came from Asia, though, their next question was "Does it have small eyes?". One of the few questions over the years I've legitimately not known how to answer.

"Where does it live ?" LOL

*though to be fair they may have been asking what specific countries within the region is it native to.

 

[Junklekitteb]

does it accurately portray what the animal is

Depends really. I often use it in the manner Echobeast mentioned upthread, but also it is particularly appropriate for hornbills, especially the Bucorvidae, since their predatory habits are quite reminiscent of predatory 'raptor' dinosaurs I feel.

 

[Goura]

I would be irritated when I would see somebody entering a Giraffe-enclosure to do some Giraffe-riding ...... :

Such a shame the giraffe didn't kick him on the way down

 

[Batto]

"Where does it live ?" LOL

*though to be fair they may have been asking what specific countries within the region is it native to.

In regard to cosmopolitan species, you can always answer [with some updates]

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

In regard to cosmopolitan species, you can always answer [with some updates]

Lol ! looks exhausting (would need methamphetamine and an enormous quantity of coffee I imagine) and considering the average geographical awareness of people in the US with diminishing returns too...

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

I hate it when people call apes, monkeys, and when they call bison, buffalo.

Well technicly both terms a correct

 

[Paul Kalisch]

I don't know if it was already mentioned in this threat, but I have seen (and heard) several people listening to music via bluetooth speaker in a zoo. Not only is this completely disrespectful towards the animals and the other visitors, it seems also kind of contradicting to the whole idea of a zoo being a arch of nature and a mostly natural place often within a world completely constructed for and by humans.

 

[JT]

I don't know if it was already mentioned in this threat, but I have seen (and heard) several people listening to music via bluetooth speaker in a zoo. Not only is this completely disrespectful towards the animals and the other visitors, it seems also kind of contradicting to the whole idea of a zoo being a arch of nature and a mostly natural place often within a world completely constructed for and by humans.

I know this is a bit of a different topic but some zoos hold concerts which I’ve always found very odd.

 

[Zooplantman]

I know this is a bit of a different topic but some zoos hold concerts which I’ve always found very odd.

Zoos have had band-shells and offered concerts for over 150 years

 

[JT]

Zoos have had band-shells and offered concerts for over 150 years

Yeah, surely it can’t be great for the animals though.

 

[Zooplantman]

Yeah, surely it can’t be great for the animals though.

I suppose it depends on the circumstances: volume, proximity, amplification, type of music

 

[JT]

I suppose it depends on the circumstances: volume, proximity, amplification, type of music

Yeah that’s fair enough.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I think I remember reading that there a case of an okapi dying of a stress induced heart attack at Bristol zoo because of either a rock or metal concert in a nearby park.

 

[TinoPup]

I can't believe people still dangle their little kids over railings!

 

[Zooplantman]

I can't believe people still dangle their little kids over railings!

Well do you have a better way to get rid of the little howlers?

 

[TinoPup]

Well do you have a better way to get rid of the little howlers?

Any way that doesn't possibly result in the death of animals

 

[Jambo]

I have seen kids at the Melbourne Zoo jumping the tiny fence that surrounds the enclosure, and running around in the enclosure playing tag, and attempting to pat the Giant Tortoise!

Here's a photo of the enclosure:

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I have seen kids at the Melbourne Zoo jumping the tiny fence that surrounds the enclosure, and running around in the enclosure playing tag, and attempting to pat the Giant Tortoise!

Here's a photo of the enclosure:

Yeah, that would irritate me, I can't blame the kids for wanting to engage with such fascinating animals but the fences should make it obvious.

But it is worth mentioning that back 30 or 40 years ago it was common for zoos all over the world to allow children to ride giant tortoises.

 

[15399]

Yeah, that would irritate me, I can't blame the kids for wanting to engage with such fascinating animals but the fences should make it obvious.

But it is worth mentioning that back 30 or 40 years ago it was common for zoos all over the world to allow children to ride giant tortoises.

I also think it's a fair criticism that the fence doesn't do an adequate job keeping people out.. often little kids climb over fences without meaning to harm anything. As one zoo professional I know likes to say, fences aren't to keep the animals in, they're to keep the people out.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I also think it's a fair criticism that the fence doesn't do an adequate job keeping people out.. often little kids climb over fences without meaning to harm anything. As one zoo professional I know likes to say, fences aren't to keep the animals in, they're to keep the people out.

Yes, I think that too, but perhaps the zoo want to increase interest / engagement from the public (and unwittingly increase incidence of kids crossing over into the enclosure).