What was the biggest lie that you ever heard from anti-zoo people?

[Zoofan15]

That zoo animals are trained using abusive methods like beating them and withholding food as punishment, and that animals used in shows and are forced to perform against their will.

In some cases, the animals actually enjoy performing and it serves as enrichment for them.

What these people also don’t realise is what a benefit this training can be of to the animal’s welfare.

Auckland Zoo trained their California sea lions and as a result were able to walk them through the zoo to move them to a new exhibit; as oppose to crating/sedating them.

Their lions are also trained to come inside (as fast as possible) at the sound of a whistle, which is essential if there is an emergency (e.g. perimeter fence is down; visitor gains access to the exhibit) and they need to recall them (one of the best 14 second videos you’ll ever see): Conectează-te la Facebook

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

What these people also don’t realise is what a benefit this training can be of to the animal’s welfare.

Auckland Zoo trained their California sea lions and as a result were able to walk them through the zoo to move them to a new exhibit; as oppose to crating/sedating them.

Their lions are also trained to come inside (as fast as possible) at the sound of a whistle, which is essential if there is an emergency (e.g. perimeter fence is down; visitor gains access to the exhibit) and they need to recall them (one of the best 14 second videos you’ll ever see): Conectează-te la Facebook

Wouldn't it be ironic if a perimeter fence did come down during a visit by some of these critics or a schizophrenic evangelical did decide to re-enact Daniel and the lions by jumping into a cat enclosure in front of them ?

I'm sure that would be all the proof necessary to demonstrate the utility and necessity of this kind of training.

 

[Zoofan15]

Wouldn't it be ironic if a perimeter fence did come down during a visit by some of these critics or a schizophrenic evangelical did decide to re-enact Daniel and the lions by jumping into a cat enclosure in front of them ?

I'm sure that would be all the proof necessary to demonstrate the utility and necessity of this kind of training.

This video comes to mind:

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

This video comes to mind:

This guy got off very lightly and I hope he is treating his illness with medication rather than a Bible.

There was a schizophrenic Christian (not sure what denomination and either way it didn't matter to the lions) that jumped into the lion enclosure at the London zoo and was mauled to death.

 

[Zoofan15]

This guy got off very lightly and I hope he is treating his illness with medication rather than a Bible.

There was a schizophrenic Christian (not sure what denomination and either way it didn't matter to the lions) that jumped into the lion enclosure at the London zoo and was mauled to death.

I’d agree the man in the video got off very lightly considering what these animals are capable of. It was also good to see the zoo didn’t automatically shoot the lions. There were several people along the perimeter armed with guns, should they have needed them; but they (successfully) tried blow darts and high pressures hoses before resorting to that.

There’s been many cases of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol; or suffering from mental illness entering the exhibits of big cats and bears in Australasia’s zoos. A drug crazed man dived into the Polar bear pool at Perth Zoo in the 1972 and was killed by the bears; while a drunk 18 year old had his leg ripped off by a lion in 1984, as he attempted to climb into it’s pit at Auckland Zoo.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I’d agree the man in the video got off very lightly considering what these animals are capable of. It was also good to see the zoo didn’t automatically shoot the lions. There were several people along the perimeter armed with guns, should they have needed them; but they (successfully) tried blow darts and high pressures hoses before resorting to that.

There’s been many cases of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol; or suffering from mental illness entering the exhibits of big cats and bears in Australasia’s zoos. A drug crazed man dived into the Polar bear pool at Perth Zoo in the 1972 and was killed by the bears; while a drunk 18 year old had his leg ripped off by a lion in 1984, as he attempted to climb into it’s pit at Auckland Zoo.

Very lightly indeed.

Didn't know about the polar bears at the Perth zoo but the cases of mentally ill people jumping into lion enclosures under the influence of alcohol or drugs or religion or indeed all three of those intoxicants has happened all over the world.

I think the Biblical Daniel (though he was undoubtedly as fictional as the book itself) and the Romans did a great disservice to zoo lions.

 

[Zoofan15]

Very lightly indeed.

Didn't know about the polar bears at the Perth zoo but the cases of mentally ill people jumping into lion enclosures under the influence of alcohol or drugs or religion or indeed all three of those intoxicants has happened all over the world.

I think the Biblical Daniel (though he was undoubtedly as fictional as the book itself) and the Romans did a great disservice to zoo lions.

There’s an article regarding the Perth incident here: The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search

It’s a sad reality that zoos now have to consider how to prevent people from getting in (rather than merely insuring animals can’t get out). The wall of the Polar bear exhibit at Auckland Zoo was unnervingly low when it was constructed in 1922 (and indeed a bear did escape); but even decades after it was heightened, the director spoke of having to persuade a mentally ill women from climbing in. She was under the illusion the bears were sick and needed her help in being healed.

 

[Jambo]

I’d agree the man in the video got off very lightly considering what these animals are capable of. It was also good to see the zoo didn’t automatically shoot the lions. There were several people along the perimeter armed with guns, should they have needed them; but they (successfully) tried blow darts and high pressures hoses before resorting to that.

There’s been many cases of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol; or suffering from mental illness entering the exhibits of big cats and bears in Australasia’s zoos. A drug crazed man dived into the Polar bear pool at Perth Zoo in the 1972 and was killed by the bears; while a drunk 18 year old had his leg ripped off by a lion in 1984, as he attempted to climb into it’s pit at Auckland Zoo.

Another instance occurred back in the 1980's at Melbourne Zoo when a mentally ill man, climbed into the Lion enclosure, and attempted to fight the lions using karate. He was mauled by the lions as the result. It's a great lesson to be told; never underestimate wild animals.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

There’s an article regarding the Perth incident here: The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search

It’s a sad reality that zoos now have to consider how to prevent people from getting in (rather than merely insuring animals can’t get out). The wall of the Polar bear exhibit at Auckland Zoo was unnervingly low when it was constructed in 1922 (and indeed a bear did escape); but even decades after it was heightened, the director spoke of having to persuade a mentally ill women from climbing in. She was under the illusion the bears were sick and needed her help in being healed.

I don't envy that director at that moment and it must have been extremely unsettling.

There was that case of a severely mentally ill woman in Germany who became fixated on a polar bear that had been a sort of media star since a cub trying to climb in the enclosure for some reason known only to her.

She was of course rescued but ironically the subject of her infatuation could have got a bullet through its brain.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Another instance occurred back in the 1980's at Melbourne Zoo when a mentally ill man, climbed into the Lion enclosure, and attempted to fight the lions using karate. He was mauled by the lions as the result. It's a great lesson to be told; never underestimate wild animals.

Indeed and I believe the other lesson would be no matter how hard you train at the dojo a lion will still **** you up.

Did this end in a fatality or just a bad mauling ?

 

[Zoofan15]

I don't envy that director at that moment and it must have been extremely unsettling.

There was that case of a severely mentally ill woman in Germany who became fixated on a polar bear that had been a sort of media star since a cub trying to climb in the enclosure for some reason known only to her.

She was of course rescued but ironically the subject of her infatuation could have got a bullet through its brain.

It’s interesting how different zoos handle such incidences. In 2003, a mentally ill man climbed into the Sumatran tiger exhibit at Wellington Zoo and was mauled by the male tiger. Due to throat surgery, the tiger could only eat mince meat and combined with his docile nature, the man escaped with serious but non fatal injuries. The zoo used high pressure hoses and attempted to lure him away by bringing the zoo’s female tiger into an adjoining race way to attract his attention.

I spoke to a keeper at Auckland Zoo, who said their policy would have been to shoot the tiger outright; but added that’s only assuming the tiger had initiated (aggressive) contact.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It’s interesting how different zoos handle such incidences. In 2003, a mentally ill man climbed into the Sumatran tiger exhibit at Wellington Zoo and was mauled by the male tiger. Due to throat surgery, the tiger could only eat mince meat and combined with his docile nature, the man escaped with serious but non fatal injuries. The zoo used high pressure hoses and attempted to lure him away by bringing the zoo’s female tiger into an adjoining race way to attract his attention.

I spoke to a keeper at Auckland Zoo, who said their policy would have been to shoot the tiger outright; but added that’s only assuming the tiger had initiated (aggressive) contact.

I'm glad that it didn't end badly as it would be tragic for a Sumatran to be shot. There are enough of these cats facing that fate in the wild let alone within a zoo for no fault of its own.

Oh I totally agree and I have to admire the Zoos which don't opt for the lethal option straight away.

I can't remember where it was but I seem to remember reading about a mentally ill and drunk / crack addicted man entering a tiger enclosure at a zoo and the tiger actually being scared and running away.

 

[Jambo]

Indeed and I believe the other lesson would be no matter how hard you train at the dojo a lion will still **** you up.

Did this end in a fatality or just a bad mauling ?

Of course. It was mentioned the man did train extensively before jumped into the lion enclosure. Unfortunately, the incident did end up as a fatality. The fact that the man managed to get over the almost 4 metre tall fence, which had a big string of barbed wire over the top, and managed to get to the bottom of the enclosure, really highlighted his acrobatic ability.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Of course. It was mentioned the man did train extensively before jumped into the lion enclosure. Unfortunately, the incident did end up as a fatality. The fact that the man managed to get over the almost 4 metre tall fence, which had a big string of barbed wire over the top, and managed to get to the bottom of the enclosure, really highlighted his acrobatic ability.

Quite sad really.

Hopefully the lion wasn't put down because of this incident.

I would say it highlighted the power of his delusional state of mental health too.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'm glad that it didn't end badly as it would be tragic for a Sumatran to be shot. There are enough of these cats facing that fate in the wild let alone within a zoo for no fault of its own.

Oh I totally agree and I have to admire the Zoos which don't opt for the lethal option straight away.

I can't remember where it was but I seem to remember reading about a mentally ill and drunk / crack addicted man entering a tiger enclosure at a zoo and the tiger actually being scared and running away.

I always think it’d a ridiculous speculation that the media make regarding whether a big cat will be euthanised following an attack on a human that entered it’s exhibit. Yes the big cat is a danger to humans; but no more so before or after the incident if it remains contained in an exhibit.

Interestingly, the Taronga Zoo director offered to euthanise the Sumatran tiger that killed a keeper in 1988. She’d stooped to take photos of the tiger’s newborn cubs, when she was grabbed through the bars by the mother. The offer was made out of compassion to her parents, but they refused knowing her daughter wouldn’t have wanted the animal punished for acting on instinct to protect her cubs.

 

[Jambo]

Quite sad really. the

Hopefully the tiger wasn't put down because of this incident.

I would say it highlighted the power of his delusional state of mental health too.

The lions weren't harmed luckily because of this incident. According to a newspaper article at the time a police sergeant said, 'He had been fairly well mutilated.The only parts intact were the head, shoulders, both arms and one leg. The rest was fairly well eaten.' The fence is actually 6 metres mind you, not four!

In another instance that occurred at the Melbourne Zoo in 2004, a man climbed into the Lion enclosure and preceded to hold a bible over his head and ask the crowd whether he should go and pat the lions. Luckily, the lions were lured away before anything bad could happen.

Article: https://www.theage.com.au/national/man-climbs-into-lions-den-20040915-gdymxf.html

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

The lions weren't harmed luckily because of this incident. According to a newspaper article at the time a police sergeant said, 'He had been fairly well mutilated.The only parts intact were the head, shoulders, both arms and one leg. The rest was fairly well eaten.' The fence is actually 6 metres mind you, not four!

In another instance that occurred at the Melbourne Zoo in 2004, a man climbed into the Lion enclosure and preceded to hold a bible over his head and ask the crowd whether he should go and pat the lions. Luckily, the lions were lured away before anything bad could happen.

Article: https://www.theage.com.au/national/man-climbs-into-lions-den-20040915-gdymxf.html

Sorry I confused lions with tigers.

How did they know that he had entered the enclosure to fight these cats ?

Did it surface in the subsequent investigation and if he had actually told people of his intentions shouldn't someone have said something ?

With the second example that is a Darwin award if I ever heard of one.

 

[OstrichMania]

I have two, well one if we're being technical.

1. All zoo exhibits are automatically 'cages'.
2. Not really a 'lie' per se, but still funny.

This is what I am referring to. 'Where are the zookeepers?'. What the hell are zookeepers going to do against two alpha male gorillas who are probably twice or even three times the strength of them?

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I always think it’d a ridiculous speculation that the media make regarding whether a big cat will be euthanised following an attack on a human that entered it’s exhibit. Yes the big cat is a danger to humans; but no more so before or after the incident if it remains contained in an exhibit.

Interestingly, the Taronga Zoo director offered to euthanise the Sumatran tiger that killed a keeper in 1988. She’d stooped to take photos of the tiger’s newborn cubs, when she was grabbed through the bars by the mother. The offer was made out of compassion to her parents, but they refused knowing her daughter wouldn’t have wanted the animal punished for acting on instinct to protect her cubs.

Yes totally agree but there have been cases where tigers have killed more than one keeper and with those I do think destroying them is the best option.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I have two, well one if we're being technical.

1. All zoo exhibits are automatically 'cages'.
2. Not really a 'lie' per se, but still funny.

This is what I am referring to. 'Where are the zookeepers?'. What the hell are zookeepers going to do against two alpha male gorillas who are probably twice or even three times the strength of them?

Presumably according to the average Joe zoo visitor give them some boxing gloves and act as a referee ?