Thanks OC. I remember the case of two men who jumped into the lion enclosure in the Lion Terraces in a relatively short space of time. Both of them survived..
Lions maul intruder in London zoo enclosure
What was the biggest lie that you ever heard from anti-zoo people?
- Thread starter HungarianBison
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Lions maul intruder in London zoo enclosure
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Are you sure about that ?
I remember reading about zoo fatalities and I could have sworn one of these had died at the London Zoo.
I recall there was a lion related fatality at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. A visitor dropped their hat and dared a staff member to retrieve it. The staff member judged the lions to be a safe distance away, but tripped on a rock and was subsequently killed by the lions.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Oh, yeah. He was a terrorist.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
It doesn't tell a lie in the legal sense but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know it's bull ****
Oftentimes this isn't the zoo's choice to make though. Zoos are required to follow state and federal laws, which sometimes requires zoos to shoot to kill in these kinds of scenarios, and especially in scenarios in which they escape. I know this is the case for a lot, if not all, US Zoos. I'm not sure a complete list, but I know for escapes it includes big cats, bears, large primates, and injurious wildlife.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
True I know that it can vary widely between countries and as you mention in the US between states.
Some countries opt for this sort of task to be carried out as clinically as possible by trained police marksmen.
I am only aware of one lion-related fatality at Whipsnade; the incident I know of involved someone attempting to retrieve a lost hat although the actual details are different.
On 31st May 1956, a group of boys visited Whipsnade on an outing organised by a cub scout troop. One of the boys lost his cap; in an attempt to retrieve it, he climbed over the safety barrier and then slipped his arm between the bars of the cage to reach the cap. Tragically a lion grabbed his arm and fatally mauled him.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
The incident was detailed on Page 103 of The Zoo - The Story of London Zoo (2005) by J. Barrington-Johnson if anyone has a copy.
If not (my paraphrasing):
The tragedy was described as occurring around a year after Whipsnade Zoo opened in 1931. It involved a 26 year old driver in the catering department named Stanley Stenson. He would boast to visitors of his close relationship with the zoo’s four male lions. A visitor called his bluff and threw his hat into the exhibit, betting Stanley £500 he wouldn’t retrieve it.
Stanley observed the lions dozing and climbed into the arena, retrieving the hat. As made his way back, a lion charged and grabbed his leg. It was believed he died from hitting his head on the concrete, which was described as a blessing in disguise as it took the staff sometime to drive away the lions.
Edit: The incident occurred 07/06/1934 and there is slight variation in newspapers than what was detailed in the book:
MAULED BY LIONS. - ZOO EMPLOYEE KILLED. Attempt to Recover Friend's Hat. - The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) - 9 Jun 1934
ZOO TRAGEDY. - Man's Terrible Death. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. LONDON, June 14. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 15 Jun 1934
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I believe the story was he told people from his Kung Fu Club that one day, he would fight a lion and win. The stories are murky here, but some claim he told them it would be at the Melbourne Zoo as well. I presume, they just thought he was joking around and he wouldn't really do it!
Quote from article:
In 1989, 32-year-old Australian man Ellie Quo reportedly decided to seek out a martial arts matchup that would test his skills in Kung Fu. He decided to challenge a lion at the Melbourne Zoo to a duel — a duel that he promptly lost
In the middle of the night, he snuck into the zoo and scaled the lion enclosure. Whatever fight ensued, Quo perished as a result.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I take my hat off to him for his bravery ... sorry that was a joke in very bad taste...
Thanks for sharing !
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I believe the story was he told people from his Kung Fu Club that one day, he would fight a lion and win. The stories are murky here, but some claim he told them it would be at the Melbourne Zoo as well. I presume, they just thought he was joking around and he wouldn't really do it!
Quote from article:
In 1989, 32-year-old Australian man Ellie Quo reportedly decided to seek out a martial arts matchup that would test his skills in Kung Fu. He decided to challenge a lion at the Melbourne Zoo to a duel — a duel that he promptly lost
In the middle of the night, he snuck into the zoo and scaled the lion enclosure. Whatever fight ensued, Quo perished as a result.
I don't blame them for not reporting it.
If someone says something so outlandish as that it would be hard to take seriously or see any intent there.
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Getting back to myths, another I’ve heard (especially during lockdowns across the world) is that animals get stressed by people watching.
Any decent zoo will design their exhibit to ensure the welfare of their animals before the entertainment of the visitor. For example, Auckland Zoo are building a tiger exhibit which place the tiger above the humans as they traverse the exhibits through overhead tunnels. This will replace the big cat pit (demolished 2018) that housed first lions; then tigers since it was opened in 1922. Understandably, the tigers hated people looking down on them.
From another perspective, many animals seem to enjoy the buzz of the visitors - from intelligent species such as primates and elephants; to Slender-tailed meerkats, who avidly watch the crowds via sentry duty.
Any decent zoo will design their exhibit to ensure the welfare of their animals before the entertainment of the visitor. For example, Auckland Zoo are building a tiger exhibit which place the tiger above the humans as they traverse the exhibits through overhead tunnels. This will replace the big cat pit (demolished 2018) that housed first lions; then tigers since it was opened in 1922. Understandably, the tigers hated people looking down on them.
From another perspective, many animals seem to enjoy the buzz of the visitors - from intelligent species such as primates and elephants; to Slender-tailed meerkats, who avidly watch the crowds via sentry duty.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
A lot of Zoos in lockdown reported that their animals appeared unsettled by the lack of visitors.
And bored by the lack of visitors.
That’s very true: Coronavirus: Animals in zoos 'lonely' without visitors
There’s only been a handful of examples of species breeding due to the privacy the lockdown provided; but these have been few and far between.
In many cases, breeding pairs of these species are already provided with off display exhibits; with non breeding individuals on public display e.g. Temminck’s golden cat when held at Auckland and Melbourne Zoo.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes definitely I think that many zoo animals are puzzled by the lack of visitors and the stimulation of this.