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

birdsandbats said:
Badgers are penguins
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I’m sorry, what?!
At least with the Hyrax one, I can sort of understand why some people would think that. Henry Vilas keeps them in the primate building, Hyraxes aren’t well-known, therefore people think they are primates.
But how do you mistake a Badger for a penguin?! Unless they meant one of the Bucky statues (that’s gotta be it, right?).
Speaking of Henry Vilas zoo misidentifications, I’ve heard people call Aayla the aardvark everything from a pig to an armadillo to a rat.
 
Corangurilla said:
I’m sorry, what?!
At least with the Hyrax one, I can sort of understand why some people would think that. Henry Vilas keeps them in the primate building, Hyraxes aren’t well-known, therefore people think they are primates.
But how do you mistake a Badger for a penguin?! Unless they meant one of the Bucky statues (that’s gotta be it, right?).
Speaking of Henry Vilas zoo misidentifications, I’ve heard people call Aayla the aardvark everything from a pig to an armadillo to a rat.
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I don't know why they thought badgers were penguins.
 
birdsandbats said:
-Aldabra Tortoises are Galapagos Tortoises
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This one is understandable, I think. Not many people are aware of Aladabra Tortoises, but they are aware of the similar Galapagos Tortoise, so it's an easy mistake to make.

(To be perfectly honest, I don't know what the difference between these species is, other than the size difference. But how would one distinguish between a small Galapagos Tortoise and an Aladabra Tortoise?)
 
DaLilFishie said:
This one is understandable, I think. Not many people are aware of Aladabra Tortoises, but they are aware of the similar Galapagos Tortoise, so it's an easy mistake to make.

(To be perfectly honest, I don't know what the difference between these species is, other than the size difference. But how would one distinguish between a small Galapagos Tortoise and an Aladabra Tortoise?)
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Aldabras have slightly pointier faces than Galapagos Tortoises, from what I’ve seen.
 
DaLilFishie said:
This one is understandable, I think. Not many people are aware of Aladabra Tortoises, but they are aware of the similar Galapagos Tortoise, so it's an easy mistake to make.

(To be perfectly honest, I don't know what the difference between these species is, other than the size difference. But how would one distinguish between a small Galapagos Tortoise and an Aladabra Tortoise?)
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The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is the nuchal scute - sort of a keystone scute on the perimeter of the shell, directly behind the neck. It's present in Aldabras, not in Galapagos. Galapagos also tend to have rounder heads. I wouldn't use size as a distinguishing characteristic, and usually wouldn't hazard and ID of a giant tortoise that I only saw from the rear.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Probably the colour scheme. I hope you told them the penguin family includes the following:

Smelly penguins (skunk)
Shy penguins (Malayan tapir)
Kicking penguins (zebra)
Rare penguins (Giant panda)
Big ass penguins (Orca)
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Not the color scheme since they were American Badgers. :p
 
birdsandbats said:
Not the color scheme since they were American Badgers. :p
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In that case, if the American badger was sitting just right, I suppose there look a bit like an Emperor penguin going through the moult, though it remains one of the dumbest mistakes I’ve heard so far in this thread. :D
 
Zoofan15 said:
People who visit expecting the animals to be what they see in a cartoon:

Tasmanian Devil Continues To Disappoint Zoo Guests

(San Diego) Zoo officials confirm they receive over 48 complaints about the Tasmanian devil each day.

Adults and children who visit the enclosure are often surprised when the animals don't spontaneously erupt into whirlwinds of chaos that decimate everything in their path.

——————

I assume they similarly expect lemur troops to perform and sing and dance routine or male Mandrills to preside over a birth ceremony for new born lion cubs.
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My guy, you got stung by the Babylon Bee. They are a satirical news website (and not even a good one).
 
Corangurilla said:
My guy, you got stung by the Babylon Bee. They are a satirical news website (and not even a good one).
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The last paragraph about the species dying out without the zoo's contribution should have been my clue. Australia only ships out post reproductive surplus to other zoos.
 
“Do you have physical maps?”
I volunteer at the front gate at Henry Vilas, and I swear I’ve gotten this question at least 7 times in one shift. I’ve considered making a sign saying “Sorry, no physical maps” or something like that.
Also, guests referring to all otters as “sea otters”. That one’s a real brow-furrower.
 
Corangurilla said:
“Do you have physical maps?”
I volunteer at the front gate at Henry Vilas, and I swear I’ve gotten this question at least 7 times in one shift. I’ve considered making a sign saying “Sorry, no physical maps” or something like that.
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This one is understandable as many people prefer a physical map. Digital ones can be fickle and are difficult to see well on the small screen size of an average smartphone. They can also be distracting from the zoo visit as if you are constantly looking at your phone for the map, you're also seeing all kinds of other notifications popping up. I get the reasoning for the shift to digital, but I'd still far rather have a physical copy to consult.
 
Great Argus said:
This one is understandable as many people prefer a physical map. Digital ones can be fickle and are difficult to see well on the small screen size of an average smartphone. They can also be distracting from the zoo visit as if you are constantly looking at your phone for the map, you're also seeing all kinds of other notifications popping up. I get the reasoning for the shift to digital, but I'd still far rather have a physical copy to consult.
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Physical maps can also be a nice collectible for people who visit lots of facilities.
 
Neil chace said:
Physical maps can also be a nice collectible for people who visit lots of facilities.
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Like me! Honestly, I’m disappointed by the lack of physical maps at Henry Vilas (and now Phoenix, apparently), but what can you really do about it?
I’ve also been asked “where are the elephants?” more than enough times. I usually respond with something like “the nearest elephants are in Milwaukee” half-jokingly or tell them about the elephant relatives the zoo has (the Hyraxes/Aardvark).
 
Corangurilla said:
Like me! Honestly, I’m disappointed by the lack of physical maps at Henry Vilas (and now Phoenix, apparently), but what can you really do about it?
I’ve also been asked “where are the elephants?” more than enough times. I usually respond with something like “the nearest elephants are in Milwaukee” half-jokingly or tell them about the elephant relatives the zoo has (the Hyraxes/Aardvark).
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The nearest elephants to Madison are in fact in Baraboo, not Milwaukee.
 
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