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Cruel or kind? The zoos around the globe have been sparking a debate on whether the age of keeping and celebrating animals in captivity is over, and if we’re ready to move forward. And even if we are, then freeing the animals in captivity poses yet another challenge for scientists and entire populations alike. What are the best ways to do that and are we even capable of ensuring their safety out there?
Having said that, around 1 million vertebrate animals live in captivity worldwide, making up over 10,000 zoos across the globe. They accumulate more than 600 million visitors annually, so you can imagine what a powerful business it really is. But while people get to see its fun and exotic facade, many not-so-nice things remain behind closed doors.
Recently, some zookeepers have come forward on Reddit to share “the low-down, dirty, inside scoop on zoos.” With 53k upvotes, the thread went viral, amassing some seriously cruel and very unsettling stories about animals behind the fence.
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#1
Ok, as is tradition, not a full zookeeper buuut...
When I was a teenager in the 90s, I did volunteer work at the Oakland zoo. There weren't many of us, so we got to choose where we helped out, so I chose to work with Bhakti, the 32ish year old Bengal Tiger. Nearly oldest living in captivity when he finally passed. I chose him because he was beautiful, and he always seemed lonely.
He had pacing syndrome hardcore, so his entire paddock was green and lush except for the paths along the outer fence line and one or two diagonals he used to get into and out of his night cage. The keepers did their best with him, but had clearly written him off. He was grumpy, unsocial, hid from the public, swiped and hissed at keepers, and ignored all of the enrichment toys and food put out to keep him mobile.
They had a few young Siberians in quarantine already waiting to be put on display, they just had to wait for him to pass and the stubborn old cat lived to spite them.
He always started the morning by pacing his fence line, so I started pacing with him. No eye contact, no sounds, just walking back and forth for an hour or two.
After a couple weeks, he started chuffing at me when I arrived, so I learned how to mimic it to say hi back.
Another month, and he would actually break his pacing circuit to walk with me, jogging his ancient arthritic ass from wherever he was across the green sections to match me.
Poor guy just needed a friend. I still get a bit misty eyed thinking about him. Just a lonely old cat who had to spend the last years of his life basically alone.
Don't get me wrong though, the keepers really did do their best, but they couldn't spend all day with him like I could. They had many duties and creatures to care for and he had a really steep barrier to entry as a friend.
As grumpy as he was, I still think he was good people.
Christopher Davis 4 years ago
I love that you took the time to do this, me and the rest of the Animal lovers thank you.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
No, that shows that animals held in the 'old' way (just dumping them in a cage and feeding them) is damaging. If you create an environment that gives the animals as much space and mental stimulation as you possibly can, they can be content. I don't know about 'happy', but then again - is the tiger happier when he has to chase its prey, maybe get injured, break a tooth and maybe live on the brink of starvation for a long time, or is it happier in a smaller environment with nice shade and water and food whenever you want it? Question yourself: are you happier on your couch in your home, or would you prefer living in the African steppe, the Mongolian deserts or maybe the Canadian North without modes of transport but your legs, depending on what you hunt (or grow) for food, constantly in danger of being killed by something larger and tougher than you? In exchange, you get to see the stars in their full glory and would probably not have a problem with obesity. So I couldn't say.
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#2
I used to volunteer weekly at a large zoo, and at one point, management started doing monthly dangerous animal escape drills. Someone would run around in a lion onesie and we’d have to react as if one of the large animals had escaped. It was hilarious, but one of the funniest things I was taught was that if an incident did occur, you have to tell the nearby guests to get inside only once. If, after that, they refuse to follow you indoors (the protocol was to hole up in the large activity center buildings), you’re to leave them there, go inside yourself, and lock the doors. It makes sense because people can be very stupid and you don’t want to risk everyone’s lives because of one Karen, but it amused me to no end that the protocol was to just let them get mauled.
Alex the awful German 4 years ago
I have to laugh thinking about a poor intern in a lion costume getting that tranq dart in his butt: "But you told me it was just a drill" *lol*
Paul Davis 4 years ago
"I know you miss the Wainwrights, Bobby, but they were weak and stupid people -- and that's why we have wolves and other large predators." -- The Far Side
Friday 4 years ago
They have some of these drills from Tokyo zoo with people in animal costumes on YouTube if anyone wants to see
bon bon (still purple boi) 4 years ago
is the lion hungry or does it think im food...its litarlly drooling
Bored Panda reached out to Sam Threadgill, the director of “Freedom for Animals” charity that began as the Captive Animals' Protection Society in 1957. Today, it is one of the UK’s longest-running charities working to protect animals. Through a combination of undercover investigations, research, campaigns, activism, political lobbying, and education, their work for animals focuses on issues affecting those individuals held captive in circuses, zoos, and aquariums, as well as those used in the television and film industry, live animal displays and the exotic pet trade.
It’s no secret that zoos are extremely harmful to many of the animals who are unfortunate enough to find themselves destined to a life of captivity. Sam explained that “the highly unnatural environments of zoo enclosures often cause what is known as zoochosis - a mental disorder borne from the sheer boredom, frustration and lack of opportunity to display natural, innate behaviors.”
#3
When I worked on the grounds crew at a zoo, there was a camel who thought it was hysterical to nudge people into the electric fence. When we would trim the moat around his enclosure, he liked to reach his neck out and hook you just hard enough to stumble and get yourself shocked.
Alex the awful German 4 years ago
Sounds like this one is smart enough to keep itself entertained. I like that.
Ian Koch 4 years ago
this one isn't as much of a dark secret as it is just one of the animals being silly.
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Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
The surgeon general warned us all a long time ago that Camels will kill you.
#4
We closed the baboon exhibit because a baboon had a still birth and the troupe was "grieving".
In reality they were throwing parts of the infant corpse around and there was nothing we could do about it
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
Baboons man, they're one animal I would never want to meet in the wild.
Nicky 4 years ago
At the zoo in Alexandria, Egypt, a baboon mother refused to give up her dead baby and carried it around. It was so sad. I felt terrible for her. She looked traumatized by her dead baby. Visitors saw her with it. (Also, the most exotic zoo animal there was an American raccoon!)
Sam also suggested taking a look at any big cat enclosure at a zoo. “You're almost guaranteed to find a trodden path around the edge of the enclosure. These are caused by the big cats pacing up and down, or circling their enclosure continuously.”
Turns out that these "obsessive behaviors are directly caused by the frustration of being confined to a cage tens of thousands of times smaller than their natural home ranges in the wild.”
#5
The most dangerous and feared animal in case of an escape is not, as you may think, lions, tigers, or other large carnivores. It's the chimps. Those things will rip your arm off and beat you to death with the bloody end as soon as they look at you.
Sum Guy 4 years ago
And we have these animals roaming around hotels without a care in the world here.
Toni 4 years ago
since i read the story of travis the chimpanzee and the female friend of his owner, which it ripped apart .. im terrified of these animals
Susan Green 4 years ago (edited)
Yes, I remember the story of Charley, that was her nickname. Travis the chimp, ripped apart her face and hands so badly, that she ended up having a full face and hands transplant. Although her face transplant went well, the transplant she had an both of her hands didn’t work. Such a sad outcome. This has made me terrified of chimpanzee’s as well.
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grotesqueer 4 years ago
I don't know how to explain this, but I imagine I kinda get the chimps? The fact that we keep them in zoos makes me uncomfortable. I mean they're so intelligent, they must feel bit differently about it than many other species (presumably) do? If I was locked up to be stared at all day and managed to escape, I might want to rip the spectators apart too. (I know many zoos do important work to protect endangered species too. It's just that it doesn't really make a difference for the ape in the cage.)
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Well ir really depends on how the enclosure and zoo. If they have enoguh space and enrichment they usually have quite a happy life. The main problem nowadays is the extreme ammount of visitors in the zoos that stress them a lot. They are starting to out barriers so the visitors cant bump the glass and bother them so much.
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
In the wild, they will go to war against each other. Sound familiar? ....Primates. Yeesh.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
To any trolls: Behavioral studies over decades and in different locations demonstrate that Chimps are not cute little fuzzy critters. They'll bite each other, they will kill, and it's easily found on the internet.
Load More Replies... Linda HS 4 years ago
...and don't forget...in the wild, they hunt smaller monkeys, too! They are vicious and hunt in groups!
Esca Sav 4 years ago
I read an educational book where humans were described as Janus Heads. On one side we were like chimpanzees and on the other like bonobos to define our agressive and calm nature (although that book really focused on how sexual bonobos are...). Chimps really don't mess around, they're extremely dangerous.
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
Yeah if a Chimp smiles at you showing teeth make your peace because you're getting ready to take a one way ticket to the great beyond. It's a sign of aggression, and when we show our teeth in a smile they'll take that as aggression. They're stronger than us, humans really don't stand a chance. Especially after they reach adolescence or older.
Ben Steinberg 4 years ago
Sorry -- when chimps smile and show their teeth, that's fear not aggression. Please look it up.
Load More Replies... Duchess Raven Waves 4 years ago
I cant even tell you how scared i am of chimps. I love to hear Joe Rogan go into a chimp tangent because he is right. A chimp is basically a human but stronger and without human morals. A dangerous thing.
Michael Darnton 4 years ago
Human morals? Humans??? Most destructive creature on the planet by a huge margin.
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#6
There was one particularly traumatic event with the lions on a very warm and very packed spring day. The zoo was inside a large park, so various wild animals wandered through the zoo all day. One unfortunate day, a large deer fell into the lion enclosure. The adolescent male stalked it and ran it down within about 30 seconds and tore the deer to shreds. In front of dozens of horrified adults and screaming kids. I felt kind of bad that so many people saw, but like, circle of life.
kjorn 4 years ago
yeah! that would be like in National Geographic... but for real!
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wenchie 4 years ago
Best day ever for that lion though. You have to wonder if they think about that and watch the perimeter, hoping it will happen again. My mom once dropped a pie coming out of the oven, and her dog ate a ton of it off the door and floor. For YEARS after, he would run in expectantly at the sound of the oven opening, hoping for a repeat.
Sabse 4 years ago
Ever seen an animal die like that? Animals can scream, did you know that? Or imagine the eyes of the dying animal. Yes, it can be very horrible, even if it is normal.
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Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
... and after that, the Circle of Life event went monthly, attracting huge crowds, for what became affectionately known to locals as The Great Venison Toss.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Honestly, I' like to see it. Except I'd also feel bad for the prey if it doesn't have a chance of escape...
Load More Replies... Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Interesting zoo if an unwitting outside deer-sized creatured can just 'wander' into the lions' den. As that would hold for humans too.
Shelby Jackson 4 years ago
I think that would actually pretty interesting to see. I mean I'm sure it would be shocking but interesting just the same. If it happened in front of my kids I'd just explain that the lion did what his instincts told him and that we don't get to see that side of them while they are in captivity.
Spring Fisk 4 years ago
The lion probably really enjoyed being a lion for a little bit. It's got to be boring just eating already prepared meat.
Victoria Lenny 4 years ago
okay but that was probably the best day the lion had had in a long time :') <3
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Oh no, Tiny, the cruel sickos who love to see the blood being spilled (not their own blood, of course) consider themselves to be very fine people; no therapy needed.
Load More Replies...The director of “Freedom for Animals” believes that no animal deserves to be sentenced to a lifetime of captivity. “As humans, many of us are coming out of coronavirus lockdowns, but for zoo animals, the lockdown is permanent,” he added.
When asked about the most important step towards ending captivity, Sam said that it’s “an immediate end to breeding animals in zoos. The vast majority of breeding programs only serve to produce more animals who will spend their entire lives in zoos. Once breeding in zoos ends, the zoo population will slowly decrease, allowing for a phase out of this cruel and outdated industry.”
#7
Aquarist of 10 years so I’m one of the people who reeks of fish all the time. Getting the smell of squid you’ve prepped off your hands is only possible with bleach.
Artificial insemination of large sharks (for the purposes of developing procedures for vulnerable species) is as “interesting” as you might think. One day our vet used a broken popsicle stick as a speculum on a blacktip reef shark and every female aquarist at the procedure collectively shuddered. Squishing sperm out by squeezing the claspers is.... oof.
When I started as an intern my supervisor said we are glorified janitors. People don’t realize how technical being an aquarist is because we care for the system that keeps everything running and all of the filtration. I know how to plumb, drive a forklift, and am great with all sorts of random tools. Between cleaning the filtration that collects poop and scrubbing algae out of my exhibits, I really am a fancy janitor.
The things people seem to find most interesting are 1. Fish (including large sharks) have complex behaviors and can be trained. The goldfish memory thing is a myth. 2. We can anesthetize fish (including large sharks) and keep them alive out of water. We pump water with anesthesia in it into the mouth, and it then runs out over their gills allowing them to take up oxygen and the anesthesia. You can do this while they’re up on a procedure table that looks like a human surgery table, so you can do whatever surgery or procedure is necessary. We give veterinary care to even the tiniest of fishes and invertebrates... their welfare is excellent.
The nastiest (and saddest) thing I’ve seen is necropsies on wild rehab sea turtles when they either died in the wild or we weren’t able to save them. Going through the intestinal tract to look for impactions (usually plastic like balloons) is especially gross and there’s a smell that never leaves your nose. Do everything you can to reduce your use of plastic and vote for things that will help our planet.
The tough part of the job is the interpersonal aspect. Managers used to be aquarists, and aquarists are animal people- not people people. People skills don’t come naturally and neither does managing. Coworkers can also be judgemental and toxic. Pay also sucks, and the job is completely exhausting mentally and physically. It isn’t unusual for me to walk 5 miles a day on top of diving for hours and climbing 50 flights of stairs. Then there’s the mental aspect of always worrying about your animals or if you made a mistake that could hurt your animals. It’s not a job you turn off at the end of the day.
That being said, the job is amazing. I’m a coral specialist, and caring for coral is like being an awesome underwater gardener. Getting paid to go open ocean diving, and to go to conferences in cool cities to share knowledge with others is super amazing.
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
It sounds like an interesting and varied job, but probably one for an enthusiast!
Cat Houston 4 years ago
Ugh. I feel for those poor sea creatures. Must be like alien abduction to them. Off topic but Orcas need to be freed immediately. Unconscionable keeping whales in tanks.
Jessica Shookhoff 4 years ago
This, by far, is the best post here!!! OP's dedication and ability to share information is amazing. I loved reading this!!! Also, pro-tip: try squeezing a little toothpaste on your hands at the end of the day, rub it around like liquid soap, then wash like normal with soap and water. If it can instantly get rid of acetone smell and taste, it might work on squid, too!
#8
My wife was a zookeeper and I used to volunteer there a lot.
Most of zookeeping is just picking up poop and making/delivering food.
The animal that was was least scary was a cheetah. They were pretty cool ignoring everything as long as they had food. The most scary to me were the giraffes. Back then you went into the enclosure with them and they'd sometimes swing their heads around and try to hit you just to be pricks. You had to be careful.
The job would actually be fantastic if they didn't let people into the zoo
Stitches 4 years ago
Fun fact they actually give some cheetahs support dogs to help them come out of there shells and be less shy
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Al Christensen 4 years ago
"Most of zookeeping is just picking up poop and making/delivering food." Sort of like raising children.
HooowlAtTheMoon 4 years ago (edited)
I went to africa and got to feed giraffes and pet them, and one unusually big giraffe was eating from my hand (the stuff they gave us to feed them, I wasn't feeding them when I wasn't supposed to) and he ate the last of it and then got mad or something and started swinging his head and tried to knock me over (edit because i forgot to add: the giraffes apparently did this so much that they had a sign put up that said something along the lines of "the giraffes are jerks, watch out for their heads")
Mary Peace 4 years ago
Actually there are lots of jobs that would 'be fantastic if it wasn't for the people'! But it's obvious they need money to run the zoo, and not just to buy food, bedding, etc.
Lori Jabi 4 years ago
I'm very surprised about all the "this animal is stupid, they are pricks, these animal a dumb" wtf is wrong with people?? You keep these animals in a prison where they don't belong. I would say you are the prick.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Giraffes are also quietly facing extinction. Zoos need more support as arks, less as babysitting havens
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Andrew Douglass 4 years ago
I was once at a zoo where the giraffes were able to be jut their upper body over a very low enclosure. It was reaching for something beyond me and knocked me aside with its neck sending me sprawling 10 feet into a baby stroller. The power of that muscular neck is beyond description.
TrashPandaSociety 4 years ago
How you say? Zoo goers? Yes. People that visit the zoo are ASSHOLES. They will tap on glass, yell and scream at animals or throw garbage at them to get their attention and let their kids run wild with no manners. I hate people sometimes.
“Reintroductions of captive animals back into the wild is extremely difficult to do,” Sam said and added that “this fact serves as an important reason why zoos shouldn't exist.” Turns out, “Many zoos argue that they hold members of species captive so that they can be 'saved from extinction' but as reintroductions back into the wild for the vast majority of species are extremely few and far between, this argument holds no weight. Indeed, only 83% of species in English zoos don't have threatened wild populations,” he explained.
#9
What do you want to really know?
Zookeepers are overworked, underpaid, and are constantly in a battle to prove their worth to seemingly everyone. We spend day and night (and sometimes overnight) caring for our animals often regardless of our personal lives because those animals deserve the best life possible and at the end of the day the most abused thing at the zoo is the Zookeepers themselves.
I had a guest tell me one day that they thought the gorilla would be happier dead in the wild than in his habitat while also knowing absolutely nothing about what is impacting gorillas in the wild. I’ve had parents point at me cleaning a habitat and tell their children “stay in school or you’ll end up like her”. In fact I’d say a decent percentage of guests in my 10+ years were extremely surprised to hear most Zookeepers have degrees/higher education.
Zoos need our support at the end of the day as they provide education and experience that can build empathy. We have to teach people to care and it’s hard to when sometimes things aren’t affecting the immediate world around us but is instead affecting someone else’s across the globe. Why is it important to recycle your old cell phones? It will reduce the need to mine for coltan, a mineral used in cell phones that can be recaptured in the recycling process. Less coltan mining = less loss of habitat for gorillas among other animals. Do you check the labels of items you buy for sustainable Palm oil? If not, you could be helping add to the destruction of orangutan habitat. Our actions matter, our choices matter, and we have to teach that.
pusheen buttercup 4 years ago
I hate it when people see your job and think it means you're uneducated
Anna Banana 4 years ago
Even if you are (uneducated) it doesn't mean that your job is bad, boring or even worse-paid.
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Paul Davis 4 years ago
All those people with 6-8 year degrees in English and Art with tens of thousands of dollars of debt who work at low wage jobs are better how? I don't understand the obsession with college degrees and trying to use them as a yardstick of a human being's worth.
Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)
It really does. Right now it's #15. I upvoted
Load More Replies... Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
The zoo is my favorite place.... in fact it's where my hubby and I went on our first date 49 years ago ~ my sincerest appreciation and gratitude for all of the care and devotion that you and the zoo Team members provide.! Watching out for the creatures on earth makes you angels in my eyes! Thanks again!
M O'Connell 4 years ago
It's not just cell phones, you need to be religious about recycling and electronics (AND not buying new things unnecessarily, and when you do, buying something of quality which lasts for many many years). Coltan is one of the mineral ores that the element Tantalum is refined from. Tantalum is a vital ingredient of capacitors found in all manner of electronics.
Shaurya Joshi 4 years ago
I’m tired of hearing “if you dont study, you’ll end up like him.” All I want to hear is “if you study hard enough you can make their life better”
Petra Christovová 4 years ago
People that think manual work in general is somehow inferior are morons.
Cat Houston 4 years ago
I respect your service to animals but zoos should be eradicated and animals left in the wild. We need to protect our natural habitat, not put them in a zoo while we ruin it.
Patrick Timmel 3 years ago
I am pro-zoo. Of course they should be as humane as possible. I believe that without zoos for people to discover the variety and beauty of wild animals, we would be far less concerned about trying to preserve these animals' wild habitats. All of the earth is here to serve us. We must be good stewards of God's amazing creation.
#10
Animals sometimes kill other animals and there really isn't much that can be done about it. I remember when a groundhog made it into a chimpanzee exhibit and the baby of the group found it. She caught it and played with it for a long time. Eventually, to keep it from running away, the baby beat it to death right beside the viewing windows. She then held it like a stuffed teddy bear for another half an hour, dragging it around with her when she went to forage. Mind you, this happened right in front of a group of school children. I was in the viewing area and a teacher/chaperone insisted that I "do something". Like, what? Ma'am, that's a chimpanzee; nobody's doing anything.
The kids actually learned something on that trip to the zoo, though.
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
I love the "That's a chimpanzee; nobody's doing anything" because it's so true! You could offer me the net worth of Bill Gates and I wouldn't do it.
Shelp 4 years ago
Maybe the teacher just asked them to do something in order not to be later accused by the parents of not having doing anything to protect their lovely children's innocent eyes of that terrible sight? Some parents are very stupid.
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kjorn 4 years ago
what do you think they do in the wild? people need to learn that nothing in life is sunshine and rainbow. those a WILD animals! WE are the weirdos on this planet
soniacccccccccc 4 years ago
YES! not all animals are small friendly puppies and people need to get that
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sylvanticx 4 years ago
apes can be terrible pet owners. for example, wild bonobos often make pets of monkeys, but they do things like swing them around by the tail, and most of the monekys die.
Milord Cutter 4 years ago
"The kids actually learned something..." Yeah. They learned their teacher ain't so bright!
Penelope Mays 4 years ago
yeah, I would rather face a tiger than a riled-up chimp. At least tigers respect pack order, chimps are crazy.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Tigers dont have packs. Chimpanzees are not crazy. You seem to be though
Load More Replies... Most importantly, the time when it was acceptable for animals to be held in captivity purely for public entertainment has long since gone. Sam called the Zoos and aquariums “relics of a different and outdated era that need to be phased out.”
#11
This isn't a zoo I worked at but did visit often. Operators couldn't figure out why the sharks in the mixed species tank kept turning up dead so they set up a couple cameras and it turned out there was a [freaking] psycho octopus just killing for fun. Hiding between rocks, waiting, and then just strangling them to death.
Jessica Shookhoff 4 years ago
Omg! Serial Killer Octopus??? I want that movie, like, yesterday!!!
Keith Wollenberg 4 years ago
Would that I could grant more wishes so easily https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQhecoXyzTU
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Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
How the hell do you strangle a shark and why didn't they teach us this in the Navy?
Happy Daihatsu 4 years ago
It was likely a small shark (2-4 feet) like a Dogfish, Catshark, or Leopard Shark.
Load More Replies... #12
Our lions will urinate on guests if they get too close, which is always funny to see. Not so funny to smell.
Batwench 4 years ago
That is why a lot of large cat enclosures have large perpex panels in fence. Tigers will go for it as well. Actually so will one of my neutered male cats. It’s a kitty thing.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
My neutered GIRL cat will pee on my husband just because she's having a bad day. It's rare, but oh yeah, she goes for it. Cats.
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Mihai Mara 4 years ago
The lion, chilling in their enclosure: "I am the undefeated champion for the past six weeks. Today I urinated on 15 humans, you only on 9. Noob"
StrawberryParfait 4 years ago
So do tigers. My friend and I got pissed on when we were in the 6th grade during a field trip to the zoo. It was so strong smelling it gave my friend a nosebleed.
Allison Baker 4 years ago
Our old lion Cecil (rescued from a scrap yard in Cornwall when the laws on keeping exotic animals changed) would pace up and down a short area of fence closest to the guests giving growls and small roars until he had drawn himself a decent crowd and then walk back along the fence one more time spraying urine over the entire crowd. We keepers knew exactly when he would do it and it was so funny.
Beatrice Multhaupt 4 years ago
There's a concoction that kills skunk smell and it works well for feline urine: add half a cup of baking soda to a cup of hydrogen peroxide and apply immediately. You cannot, unfortunately, prepare this in advance.
#13
If you’re a guest feeding/touching animals outside of the petting zoo or an encounter, you might just kill them.
I could rant about this forever. The number of zoo animals that die from incorrect food in their systems is staggering. The average person has no idea which animals can be killed from an apple core, a piece of bread, or a grape. Even just picking leaves and grass from outside of the enclosure. A guest has no idea what an animal’s digestive system cannot tolerate and can place a death sentence on an animal just because they wanted a special interaction.
Let’s talk about diseases! Our good pal rabies is a great one! Rabies vaccines are NOT produced specifically for every exotic animal species, so a vet will do the best they can by giving high risk animals the closest version of an appropriate rabies shot. The closest version does NOT guarantee no rabies! You tried to touch a monkey that is undoubtedly covered in saliva from grooming? Better go get your rabies shots! Not to mention the abundance of parasites and human foreign diseases that exotics can carry or we can pass on to them.
TLDR: If you feed or touch a zoo animal that you weren’t supposed to, you might kill it and should probably go to the doctor.
JitkaBlitka 4 years ago
It's not. I have been to a zoo where they have little monkeys roam freely and there were signs almost on every corner that you can't feed them with anything because of that, even pictures of dead monkeys killed by wrong fond from visitors and yet I saw people giving them pieces of bread, waffles etc. because "oh look how cute it is". The stupidity of some people is infuriating. Otherwise in every zoo I've been to it was forbidden to feed any animal, with the exception of some species like goats, sheep etc. and to feed them you have to buy special food pellets.
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Paul Davis 4 years ago
Every zoo I've ever been to is just covered with signs begging people to not feed the animals. I'm sure though that the people who do still feed the animals are the sort who don't think any rules apply to them, especially any rules that involve them not indulging in their impulses.
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
Truth. Same with Ducks and Bread. Our city has signs posted everywhere begging people to stop feeding the ducks bread. It's not good for them and it's not good for the environment either. The conservation department has busted their butts in my state trying to bring back the natural habitats, tress, etc, and some of the natural water habitats, which includes water plants, are taking steps back. Bread. It's the bread. Hurts everything including the ducks.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
So so true and so often overlooked. Same goes for pigeons, btw! If you feed a duck bread, its stomach will be full. But they are plant-eaters! Their stomachs aren't made to digest wheat-flour-baked sugary things, so they get diarrhea and in the case of pigeons (who eat seeds, normally), they can even starve to death even though their stomachs are full.
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Two Silly Pups 4 years ago
I live near a zoo that has 'feeding machines' in the animal areas. You put a coin in and it dispenses a piece of snack for the animals. Obviously, the contents of the feeding machines differ for each animal. This way, you can feed them but you can't harm them.
SomeoneTookMySweetRoll 1 year ago (edited)
A fun fact about Rabies: Once the symptoms appear it is incurable and in humans is fatal in like 99.999% of cases. You can only be treated for rabies BEFORE symptoms begin, and the number of reported cases where someone survived after symptom onset is in the single digits. I’m talking literally only 2 or 3 people out of everyone ever confirmed infected. Not only that, but if you do get medical treatment before symptom onset, it’s an absolutely horrific and painful treatment. You have to get multiple injections directly into your abdomen, and I’ve been told the needle is gigantic. Don’t screw around with wild animals, even if they’re in zoos.
Parmeisan 4 years ago
Important note about rabies: it is apparently an incredibly bad way to die, and you often won't see symptoms until a few years later when it is far, far too late to do anything about it. https://np.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/81rr6f/he_fed_the_cute_trash_panda_and_looked_up_for_a/dv4xyks/?contex=3
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
The petting ZOOs: one more proof that ZOOs are for profit, to them, animals are disposable.
bakkysak09 4 years ago
man i forgot rabies is a major problem in America we dont have it here in australia so i just dont really think about it much
#14
I spoke to a zoo keeper at the national zoon in DC. We where watching another keeper inside the cheetah enclosure and I asked him about the danger involved. He said a cheetah is harmless to an adult human because it only hunts smaller creatures. I asked which creature was the worst to go in with, expecting hippo, elephant or croc as an answer. Without hesitating he said "zebras" then leaned close and whispered "They are the biggest [jerks]. They will bite and kick for no reason." I still think it's hilarious that off all the teeth and claws out there, it's stripped donkey horses that are the worst.
Kira Okah 4 years ago
Zoo I worked for, we got the same question very often, wih people expecting the wolves or the wildcats. Nope, boar. It was the boar. Add in piglets to the mix and these boar would kill and eat you if they could. Their enclosure was extremely limited so that no one would ever be among them, ever.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Boar are dangerous, but they're also very smart. Where I work, they have a huge open area fenced in (it's about 10 hectare) with many boars in them, who breed freely (and get hunted because there's only so much boar that can live there and hunting them is better than any other method) and people are allowed to walk inside even during feeding-time (which is done apart from the path, of course). It's great and interesting, and the animals know how humans behave and are pretty chill - but I wouldn't ever try angering them and it's NOT allowed to feed them (*It's not wise to teach animals that people contain food*)
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Gary Davidson 4 years ago
At the Natural Bridge Wildlife Park near San Antonio, TX, you can drive through where many of the animals are on exhibit and feed them bags of food provided at the entrance. I used to go through it with the top down on my Jeep Wrangler (Signing a waiver of liability, of course). I had a Zebra stick it's head in through the side of my Jeep and fall asleep with it's head on my lap as I scratched it's ears and jowls. He was so lonely, that he just wanted some attention for a change.
brukernavn340 4 years ago
I didn't know zebras originally wore clothes (before they were stripped).
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
*striped not stripped (only mentioning it because the two mental images that are created by that typo are so VERY different)
Robin Childers 4 years ago
Not really a surprise to me. Mules will kill coyotes and are often used as guard animals for herds.
Jods 4 years ago
They’re angry and have a terrible identity crisis because they don’t know if they’re white with black stripes, or black with white stripes.
Mary Peace 4 years ago
Next time they ask you, tell them they're white with black stripes. They have more white than black, and some parts, e.g. on parts of this one's legs, are just white.
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Alex Preston 4 years ago
I've been bitten by a Zebra, London Zoo a long, long time ago. It was not a great deal of fun.
Sarah Tate 4 years ago
Yes, a Zebra escape is considered as dangerous to the public as a lion or tiger. We have a small wildlife park in my area and workers there told me this as well. Apparently Zebras are assholes. LOL!
#15
Some people like to bring fruit and stuff to throw into the animals cages, even though they're not suppose to. If you're around and someone throws a pineapple into the gorilla or chimpanzee dens, gtfo. They will throw that thing full blast at someone. I saw a man get hit full force right in the side of the head and he was lights out. Pineapple exploded on impact. Paramedics came and everything.
Purple light 4 years ago
I hope he was the one throwing the pineapple at the gorilla or chimpanzee. If so, no mercy.
Esca Sav 4 years ago
I pictured this as a scene out of an anime... Can't imagine the strength of that hit...
sylvanticx 4 years ago
chimps and gorillas (mostly chimps) will absolutely MURDER you. or throw poop at you.
Brian Stanton 3 years ago
LA Zoo, as a kid. Gorilla would rip out a huge piece of sod and hurl it at onlookers! Sad , he just wants to be in the wild alone eating ginger
#16
Our camels will spit if you piss them off, and it's not saliva like most people think. You really, really, really, really don't want to upset our camels if you have any plans the rest of the week, please and thank you!
May 4 years ago
Looked it up - found this: "Their spit is a mix of saliva and the contents of their stomachs—basically, vomit"
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cookie panda 4 years ago
I mean, heck if I was a camel I would too lol. the look on a Karens face would be absolutely priceless.
Sarah Tate 4 years ago
Yeah it's nasty! Llamas and Alpacas spit the same stuff. It's basically rotten stomach acid. So gross!
Upstaged75 3 years ago
Llama spit is just as gross. You better hope you don't get rotten stomach juice in your hair! The stench is unbelievable.
Michael Sanders 4 years ago (edited)
I miss that completely harmless and lighthearted comment Batwench had. Look at yourselves.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
They have a lateral gate, so it’s less comfortable. They have rhythm, why on earth you’d think they didn’t is odd.
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#17
I work three jobs to support my zookeeping habit, I've been in the game for about three and a half years now and it's a constant fight to keep my head above water. But I love it so much I don't think I can give it up.
Most of my day is spent cleaning up animal [poop]. It's not glamorous. I have sustained a concussion and herniated discs in my spine from my work. I'm constantly covered in bruises and scrapes. I have so little vacation time that I see my family about once a year. I have to buy a lot of my work supplies and gear on my own dime. My benefits are so trash that the medication I need to survive is $220 a month with their insurance.
But I really, truly, honestly believe that I am doing good and worthwhile work, and I wouldn't trade anything for that moment during a training session where you see it dawn on an animal what you're asking for. My zoo is very conservation minded and avoids charismatic megafauna so that we can support smaller, lesser known mammals that don't get the same hype. I love it and I'm not giving it up.
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago
People like you should be the doctors. You are passionate about what you do and you believe that what you do can help. Have a bow from my side of the world.
Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
If they treat their workers like that, then how do they treat the animals?
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Good question, Paulina. They treat animals like money - machines, and their workers like a good opportunity to cut costs, all that in the name of profits.
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Logically Reasonable 4 years ago
THANK YOU for taking care of our precious animals!!! THANK YOU!!!
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Good for you, Mr. (or Ms.) zookeeper, the way your ZOO takes care of their workers does not make the owners worthy praises you awarded them. I have the feeling that animals are not impressed either, they are not the number one priority either, the profits are. You both would be better off in a reputable animal sanctuary of wildlife rescue.
Tommy DePaul 5 months ago
Wages are probably one of the few costs that a zoo can cut.
Load More Replies... Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
...... to work on behalf of the oppressed, speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, give the voice to the voiceless, Geri.
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Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
The only real solution which would help animals and humans is to fight for our planet, for preservation of wild lands, that's the solution.
Load More Replies... #18
I worked at a zoo in a northern country (can't say which as it'll give it away) which had a white tiger, and was quite famous for it. One day the zoo announced the tiger had died of 'natural causes'. Whilst working there a few years after he died, I was told by a keeper that there was actually a problem with the electric fencing in his enclosure that the zoo managers refused to pay to get fixed, thinking it would be fine.
He was electrocuted to death a few weeks after they found the problem.
They covered the whole thing up by saying they weren't sure how he died, but that he was old. It's still a zoo secret to this day.
Alex the awful German 4 years ago
that shows how hard it is to keep a secret. Especially one that should be revealed...
Susan Green 4 years ago
This is disgusting! You would think they would have done everything possible, to keep this beautiful tiger safe.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
A part of me wonders if this is the same Zoo that killed and fed a zebra in front of visitors... most of which were children... This was Kristiansand Zoo, in Norway, they, as it was reported, beheaded the zebra, which was perfectly healthy btw, it was simply "surplus" as the herd of Zebra had "too many" in it. Apparantly it was, possibly still is, common practice there. I know the tigers need to eat but this method seems pretty dark, here in the UK if you witness a feeding it's generally pre-made hunks of meat, not an actual animal carcass, and certainly not killed in front of you.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Heartbreaking!!! I remember a story about an older captive dolphin or small whale that got stuck in an underwater pipe type opening and drowned. The aquarium knew about it and didn’t fix it.
Rainclouds Radio 4 years ago
Denmark? They have a terrible reputation at their zoo's. Sweden too
TheGirlFromTheNorth 4 years ago
There's a zoo in Sweden that's very famous for their white tigers. Also, they've been questioned A LOT of times for how they care for the animals since report after report of animal abuse is very common for them. It's a mystery to me how they're still allowed to exist and why people still visit them... Wouldnt set my foot at that place!!
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Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago
They're gorgeous aren't they? Sad that they don't naturally exist in the wild.
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#19
Those free-roaming peacocks are really stupid and sometimes go in the lions exhibit and get torn up.
Mihai Mara 4 years ago
The lions, chilling in their enclosure: "I wonder if we'll have peacock meat this evening"
Vic 4 years ago
I don't know how fast a peacock can run, so not sure if they qualify as fast food..
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I'm sorry that I laughed at this, but there's a place here that has free-roaming peacocks on their "farm", and I swear htey will literally walk up to a bobcat and say, "Hi!" in the most suicidally stupid manner possible.
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
They look beautiful but they are one of the most annoying birds I've ever been around. One of the local parks in my area got some, they love the hospital complex right next to the park and walk around screaming at everyone. I'm not suprised they get eaten by lions.
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
I live in the country and maybe 40 years ago someone got peacocks. Now there's a wild colony competing with the turkeys. When I first moved here from the city 20 or so years ago, I thought it was feral cats, shrieking love in the night. Nope. The shriek of the male peacock echoes strangely most nights, you can hear it a mile away.
Alfred Stöhr 4 years ago
We've had free-roaming peacocks here in Vienna zoo. Until the white ones ended up in the polar bear enclosure.
TheRandomBorger 4 years ago
I remember I went to a zoo once, and there was a really beautiful albino male peacock walking around. I was kinda scared of it, because a 9 year old should be scared of a bird bigger than she is. Anyway, my mom said she saw a nursery and it was where they kept the baby animals. We all went inside, realized it was for baby humans, had a good laugh, and turned to leave. But it was there. My older brother tried to reach to the door, and it TRIED TO BITE HIS F*****G HAND OFF THROUGH THE GLASS. So we waited, but it refused to leave, it stalked us. We came up with a plan, and went into one of the secluded rooms, hoping it'd forget about us. And it did, thank God. TL;DR: Peacocks are savages
cookie panda 4 years ago (edited)
once on a field trip a couple of free-roaming peacocks tricked me into running away while another one stole my sandwich XD (he was ok, we scared him enough to drop it and he seemed shaken but didn't eat it) I guess it depends on the zoo lol
#20
The zebras are ruthless and will tear apart any unfortunate kangaroo that dares break into an enclosure. They love the thrill of the chase...and the subsequent kill when they get bored.
Jyri Hakola 4 years ago
And thats why we have the Indian ocean separating zebras and kangaroos from each other.
Brian Stanton 3 years ago
Exactly! People often argue all over Facebook regarding exotic invasive species and dont get why sudden introduction is an issue
Load More Replies... Susan Green 4 years ago
This is true. I used to think that zebras were gentle animals, until I learned the truth about them. They still are very beautiful though.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Horses can be similarly nasty. But they also have personalities --- so I'm guessing their zebras were less personable than the average.
Load More Replies... Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
Zebras are super aggressive. If you didn't know that you should look up what they're capable of. It's pretty interesting, and considering their natural habitat it makes sense.
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
Exactly. They're like horses evolved to survive lion country.
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Something 4 years ago
They're more endangered and can't afford the bad PR.
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Eva the Egg 4 years ago
Also in the wild zebras use their legs to kick lions which potentially break the lions neck and kill them
achilles get down from there 4 years ago (edited)
Is this aggression demonstrated in the wild? Or are the kangaroos just unlucky?
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
It's in the wild too. They're not like horses, quite frankly a lot of herbivores in Africa can get pretty dang aggressive from the reading I've done. Heck you should check out what Cape Buffalo are capable of. Considering their natural habitat it makes sense. Zebras can kill a Lion, they also kill each other.
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Susan Widomski 4 years ago
Why wouldn't they attack them? It's not like they naturally live together.
#21
When you're cleaning underneath the perches, parrots will wait for you to look up before [pooping]. They have good aim. That's how you get [poop] in the mouth. Don't look up.
AzKhaleesi 4 years ago
lol that's a learned behavior. I have 10 parrots and not one has ever pooped on my face lol. A little education for those that do not know. Pictured is a green wing macaw, they are the second largest parrot, the largest being the Hyacinth. Green wings often get mistaken for Scarlet macaws (both red) the biggest difference, are Scarlets are the smallest (and meanest) of the large macaws, and they have a yellow band of feathers on their wings, and NO feathers around the eyes. Green wings have a green band (hence the name) and red feathers around the eyes. They are gentle giants. The feathers around a macaws eyes are like fingerprints, no two patterns are the same.
Dan Buczynski 4 years ago
"That's how you get [poop] in the mouth" is how I end all my stories.
Amery 4 years ago
Yep, they are smarter than credited for. Ever wanna do that to YOUR ex ?!?!? LoLoL...
#22
Lions know fully well that they can't get through the glass. They do that just to get attention.
Allan Breum 4 years ago
Yup, I saw a couple of videos where the premise was: "Do big cats like (whatever), like a housecat does". The answer was, more or less, yes.
Load More Replies... #23
The amount of injuries you can just casually pick up from animals is crazy. I've been kicked in the chest by a kangaroo, almost sexually assaulted by an emu, attacked by a wombat and a bat, bitten by a monitor lizard and a carpet python, had a rhino charge at me, and been scratched by a macaque. My old boss has this badass scar from a snow leopard attack, and this guy I work with now has his entire left forearm mangled from an orangutan attack.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
In my first internship i worked at an old (but good zoo) where caregivers entered most all enclosures (including wolves). The first animal that ever attacked me (and only in that zoo) was a domestic rabbit xD
glowworm2 4 years ago
Should have had the holy hand grenade of Antioch on you.
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Shelp 4 years ago
They did win a war against a 20th-century western nation. Never ever underestimate emus.
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Dreamwolf 4 years ago
The Emu one makes a lot of sense, because big birds usually have a sexual attraction to humans. I know it sounds awful.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
I'm imagining all these animals in ski caps and striped shirts just ganging up on this one zookeeper.
Christopher Walkies 4 years ago
I like that this post makes no mention of a Zoo. So you can read it as just a crazy life story with weird animal encounters.
Tracy Sellars 4 years ago
Yeah Australian animals are mean little so and so. Especially the "cute" furry ones.
Michael Sanders 4 years ago
I’m curious what “almost” means? Like was the emu following her home and she maced him or something?
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Just Your Regular Avocado 4 years ago
Every time I think Australian stereotypes are exaggerated...
#24
Dead zoo animals are sometimes fed to carnivores.
Mark Howell 4 years ago
This reminds me of my daughter's interview for uni to be come a vet: Interviewer: 'Why do you want to be a vet?' Daughter: 'Well. If a doctor accidentally kills a patient, they go to court. If a vet accidentally kills a patient,they get a good meal.' She got in and is now a vet, though a skinny one, so she must be good ;o)
Load More Replies... Mihai Mara 4 years ago
Sounds reasonable. Also great choice of photo, the tiger licking its mouth in a "Looks like meat is back on the menu, boys!" style.
Rikke Visby Wickberg 4 years ago
Dead horses can be donated to the zoo as feed for the great cats.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
I visited a big-cat sanctuary in the early 2000s. Apparently they supplemented the diet of their residents with roadkill deer. The state DNR would collect and deliver them daily so everything was fresh. It was a bit unsettling to see one of the volunteers stroll by with a wheelbarrow full of quartered deer carcasses.
JitkaBlitka 4 years ago
One zoo in our country once announced they will feed zebras and girrafes to carnivores as a spectacle for visitors, as they are doing it anyway, because they had more girrafes they could harbour and no other zoo wanted them either. Needless to say it was not received well in public and they dropped it.
Stille20 4 years ago
Yea, it's a messed up practice because it's not the same as the wild. They don't have a chance to escape. They are just trapped and terrified.
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#25
One of our most popular exhibits was this incubator with baby chicks. We were told to tell visitors that the older baby chicks would be sent to schools as classroom pets or to the petting zoo. In reality, we did send the chicks to the zoo...as live animal feed for the snakes and other carnivores.
Alex the awful German 4 years ago (edited)
I guess people don't really like to hear about the circle of live... unless in an Elton John song. But I also understand you don't want to tell that to little kids for example.
LuckyL 4 years ago
I think at least in Germany it's forbidden to feed living animals. I'd like to know where this is from
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
Is it forbidden for house pets or zoos? Seems like for zoos it would make more sense for them to get live animals so that they can hunt?
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Katherine Boag 4 years ago
Once i visited a snake and reptile park. It had a guinea pig exhibit. I connected them dots pretty quick.
David Albro 4 years ago
What does it say about society that we lie to our children about nature? Farm children wouldn't be so shocked by this information.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Here we go again, arrogant humans playing nature, and "humans" are down-voting Tims's and Grumble's comments like crazy - I suppose, they like alternative facts.
Load More Replies... Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
So many people have seen the Planet Earth shows, animal planet, and other shows like that but still manage to maintain an almost ignorant innocence when it comes to this kind of stuff.
Mary Peace 4 years ago
Obviously the snakes, etc have to eat. Where else would their food come from?
Brian Stanton 3 years ago
If many here had their way, tofu. Vegan Pets on reddit is a disaster
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Amanita muscaria 4 years ago
Ok not the subject but- LOOK AT THAT CHICK! ADORBS! *high pitched teenage scream
Lynne Monteith 4 years ago
We took the younger relatives to our local Wildlife Park for Easter. Watched the baby chicks hatching etc. Later in the Rapture exhibit we noticed little yellow fluff balls in the feed dishes.
Gene Perry 4 years ago
Same thing happens to bunnies. So, let's say that you find an injured bunny in your backyard. You take it to the zoo. The kid at the front gate is all like "we'll take good care of you little friend" but in reality the bunny is destined to be constrictor (or raptor) food.
#26
I worked with large tortoises. We had these five-gallon buckets for cleaning the poop out of enclosures, and other buckets for feeding them fresh grass we cut. The first day on the job, I took both buckets into the pen. ... I heard this awful, loud grunting and something breaking. One of the 300-pound males tried to bang the bucket in front of visitors and flattened it. He would even follow me around just in case I might leave more innocent buckets unattended.
ChickyChicky 4 years ago
I have a clear and vivid memory of two galapagos tortoises going at it, when I was about 5 years old. Could hear them from far away in the zoo. Saw it and was totally mystified, but also felt like I shouldn't be watching.
Robin Virga 4 years ago
I was at marine rescue center on the Gulf coast, and heard a sound like Monty Python knocking coconuts together... The (HUGE) tortoises were having a threesome. Children were making awkward (entertaing) enquiries of their parents.
Brittany Rowe 4 years ago
As a former zookeeper.... yes these guys go at it all the time! And loud! We would tell the kids they were just in laying leap frog!🤣
#27
The dolphin trainers are stuck up. They are like the jocks in high school. They usually try to stay in shape because wetsuits aren’t flattering. They perform daily and people love them, so they have an ego.
Susan Green 4 years ago
Phttt. Big deal! They aren’t great, but the dolphins are! What bothers me though, is that dolphins, like many animals, should never be kept in captivity.
the landlocked mermaid 4 years ago (edited)
I'm extremely pro-zoo and aquarium. We should have dolphins only in the case of rescue similar to captive sea turtles. While I agree we shouldn't have dolphin shows any more we still need the trainers to train the dolphins to hold still during veterinary examination and perform procedures concerning veterinary medicine. Also, many captive dolphins today are captive bread and have no chance of returning to the wild so don't even think of going "Empty the Tanks" on me thank you.
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Ozacoter 4 years ago
I am completely pro zoos as soon as they are good. But cetaceans need too much space for being able to have a good life in captivity. They should not be kept in aquariums and least made to perform. Lukily dolphin shows are banned in many places in europe.
Viviane 4 years ago
I'm glad to hear that. Cetaceans, especially orcas, tend to live longer in the wild.
Load More Replies... TheGirlFromTheNorth 4 years ago
Dolphins that are kept in captivity are usually very depressed (and severely injured in their bellies because of always jumping up on the pool side). A lot of studies show that dolphins actually can commit suicide (they actively stop breathing), and that this is not that rare from dolphins kept in captivity. But yeah, go on and watch Flipper jump thru that ring of fire... </3
Susan Green 4 years ago (edited)
This is true, TheGirlFromTheNorth. Dolphins have been known to commit suicide, because they are depressed. This breaks my heart, because I love dolphins. So yeah, let’s just continue to see them do all of these tricks, while they are kept in captivity. It’s so wrong!
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Myrkur 4 years ago
Had an internship at a sea mammal zoo (not with the animals, I did a huge wall painting with a classmate). We usually stayed close to where we worked during lunch breaks, but decided to go to the canteen sometime (was a pretty long walk going there). We sat at a table and a bunch of dolphin trainers came in and sat at the same table, barely even saying hi and just giving us dirty looks. Never went to the canteen again
Aroha 4 years ago
That's a bit of a generalisation.. My home country had a few dolphins born in captivity. As far as I can tell, they were well taken care of, and never forced to perform. The young one waited till people got closer, and then splashed everyone and laughed like crazy. Anyway, suddenly they were all sold and flown to another country. The trainers were heartbroken, they spent 20 years loving these animals. It was very sad for them.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Check out the Dolphin Project. Captive cetaceans are living in hell. Worse, they are or descend from wild caught animals. Heartbreaking how arrogant and complicit trainers are.
Corinne Riede 4 years ago
I watched a video of a dolphin repeatedly banging its head against the floor of the tank.
Load More Replies... Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Only the species in that aquarium which need training are people; the lessons in compassion and humility.
Susan Green 4 years ago
Some of you people are brutal. I’m not saying I’m right, this is just how I feel.
#28
Fun fact bout the local zoo i learnt when i worked maintenance, there is a wolf enclosure. There is info bout the wolves, its maintained. "They are just shy/in their shelter atm" . There are no wolves, never was.
Kira Okah 4 years ago
Only if it's that zoo. Ours had a pack, you'd hear them before you see them, they would howl at every siren and plane.
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
A zoo I visited admitted to not having wolves b/c people woudl try to steal them to breed them with domesticated dogs.... Which ended up badly for all concerned, apparently. No idea if it was true, but.... No thanks.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Oh jeez! I imagine the wolves might kill the dogs, or the dogs the wolf. Also, the hybrids would be no good as pets since they'd probably be scared by everything since wolves are not vicious and strong and courageous but rather timid and shy (usually... there are exceptions).
Load More Replies... Lynne Monteith 4 years ago
Our local Wildlife Park does a Wildlights at Christmas. You go after dark and it's all lit up. That is when you see the wolves. They even fed them at that time so everyone got a bit of a show. Also they stalk the small children.
Cami 4 years ago
depending on the laws in a certain area and the type of wolf, it can be really hard to have them on exhibit. The place I work out has 6-10, but there is one-way glass and you have to be quiet because the wolves don't know. With a new act coming in my state their species(Mexican grey wolves) are slowly being reintroduced to the wild, which means they might be set free as well. This is why there is one-way glass and such, they don't know they are in the zoo so they don't get used to humans and die in the wild(they had pups last year and they are the cutest things)
HooowlAtTheMoon 4 years ago
I love love love the wolves at zoos. Once I went up to the glass and a wolf came up and stared at me. It was kind of intimidating but the wolf was really pretty.
Don't Look 4 years ago
the only wolves I've ever seen were at a wildlife refuge in Vancouver. Definitely not a zoo.
Susan Widomski 4 years ago
You could do like they do at some zoos around the world: disguise a large dog as the animal in question and lots of people are fooled.
#29
Not a zookeeper, but worked at one for a long time. We had a tram tour that drove over a bridge where there were a bunch of crocodiles below. If someone were to fall out of the tram at this point, the protocol was to speed out of the area as fast as possible so the remaining visitors on the tram would not see the unfortunate person get teared to shreds by the crocs
HooowlAtTheMoon 4 years ago
See this is why I hate water. No one's even gonna try to save you.
Demongrrrrl 4 years ago
That's your story and you're sticking to it, right?
Load More Replies... #30
Went on a behind the scenes tour of the zoo.
Saw quite a few bunnies come out during the tour (the neighboring park had a problem with people abandoning pet rabbits). It was pretty clear the dumb bunnies were getting into predator enclosures. Tour guide confirmed they were regularly getting eaten.
Tour guide also indicated other urban wildlife: raccoons, possums, squirrels, birds were regularly eaten by predators. Said that when they drained the lion enclosure moat for maintenance it was filled with the bones of small mammals.
The most amusing stories were about the orangutans who are wicked smart. Zookeeper trained them to give over items in exchange for food in case they needed to get something from them in the enclosure. But orangutans are smart, and realized if they break things up and hand it back in lots of little pieces they get more food. They disassembled a radio that accidentally got left in the enclosure and when there was an opossum in the enclosure the results were a bit more gruesome.
sylvanticx 4 years ago
fun fact: a man wanted to play his french horn for orangutans at a rehabilitant center known as Camp Leakey, but the orangutans were picky and would often urinate at him.
Don't Look 4 years ago
The national zoo has orangutan walks in the air - absolutely disturbing.
Lorraine R 4 years ago
Not at all -- they travel from their enclosure on the "O-Line" to the "Think Tank" where they do enrichment activities.
Load More Replies... Teresa Taylor 4 years ago
This made me laugh. Animals are way smarter than we give them credit for and then we end up looking like the fools we are.
#31
Not a zookeeper, but someone who has designed equipment and caging for zoos. I was told many horror stories how some animals would get hurt or even killed because of trying to find ways out of their caging. They can range from really stupid to incredibly brilliant.
Had to replace a giraffe indoor pen. The previous one had vertical bars, think old jail cell bars. A bull giraffe stuck his head out then turned and went back in to the side to see what's behind him. He freaked out and essentially hung himself. So we couldn't use vertical bars that they could stick their head through.
Witnessed a silverback gorilla having a bad day. He seemed tired of the crowd and put a box on his head to make the world go away. People kept watching, he kept getting annoyed and finally threw the box off, charged us and pounded on the glass. I'm well aware that glass can take several shots from a .50 cal. rifle. But the explosive bang from the gorilla hitting the glass was insane, and terrified everyone.
Ostriches run on instinct primarily. I designed a cage for the vet. to treat them. It was entirely enclosed and had multiple small doors all around the cage. The reason is the vet told me about an instance where an ostrich got its foot cut and needed stitches. They got the bird in the cage and one vet fed bird and the other stitched up the cut. No anesthesia, just a diversion. The bird just kept eating and didn't care about getting the stitches.
In a different zoo they needed to replace the caging of a very large bird of prey. I don't remember the species, but I do remember seeing what it's claws did to the aluminum tubing cage they kept it in. The aluminum was shredded, and whoever was on the other side was either going to have a bad day or get what they deserved for pissing off this bird. I of course went with stainless steel heavy gauge rod for the cage. The shop hated all the welding but in the end the cage was way nicer and stronger than the old one.
I didn't get to travel much with the installation crew but I was in the shop supervising the building of caging. There were many times I had to have things rewelded or redone because of safety and Q.C. issues. Remember when you visit a zoo, that often times your life is depending on someone that wasn't qualified, underpaid, and overworked. Whenever I visit a zoo, I look at the structure design and how it was put together. Too many times I see welds that are of poor quality and barely hold the structure in place let alone stop something big and heavy that's pissed off..
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Holland had a famous case where a woman went to visit the gorillas daily, with lots of broad smiling to her favourite animal (showing teeth... i.e. aggression to a gorilla). In the end the gorilla called Bokito snapped, after these (to him) daily taunts and threats to his position, so he broke out and captured here and severely showed her who's dominant.
Viviane 4 years ago
She had been warned many times. And she professed her eternal love from the hospital bed.
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Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Just more reasons against animal confinement and human greed, and mainly against selfish, indifferent visiting public. All it comes to is indifferent, compassionless consumer.
Xylle Flora 4 years ago
Even if the gorilla had broken out, he wouldn't have attacked the visitors, probably just chestbeat to make them leave
Marcia Konings Goedegebuure 4 years ago
He was broken out, and did attac some visitors. The name of the gorilla is bokito. Sure you'll be able to find a newsitem about this trough google
Load More Replies... #32
If any animal escapes before the zoo opens to the public, the zoo is supposed to shut down completely for the day. Often, though, smaller zoos can’t afford to lose a day open to the public, so if some specific types of animals escape (such as reptiles or small animals), they will just stay open while having keepers look for the animal. ... I remember hearing from coworkers that they listened to our boss and opened even though a small but somewhat venomous snake was on the loose.
Mihai Mara 4 years ago
Note to self: never go to a zoo, small venomous snakes might have escaped.
Something 4 years ago
There are several species of snake that are venomous but not considered dangerous to humans.
Load More Replies... Kira Okah 4 years ago
Yes, the zoo I once worked for opened with escaped foxes, and also while half the keeper staff were recapturing an emu. So small that they couldn't risk closing for the day, so small that noticing a hole was often after an animal wiggled out of it because they couldn't afford a full maintenance crew.
Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
And this is why Zoos should not be funded with the money they get from selling tickets.
Bella, Your Kitty-Loving Queen 4 years ago
Maybe y’all just shouldn’t have venomous snakes. There are plenty safe ones.
Lovely_hobi 4 years ago
o0o can you imagine the snake nearing a kid? If I'm honest I'd freeze but it would be entertaining
#33
Next time you go to the zoo, ask someone which animals are 'kill on sight' in an escape. The answers will surprise you. Lions and tigers are typically on the 'tranq and capture' list, but a jaguar the size of a golden retriever is 'KoS.' The zoo I was with, the two jags were the only animals on site that were on the shoot-to-kill list. Even the silverback was on the tranq-first list.
Batwench 4 years ago
Because they kill first and ask questions later? Or they are least endangered? I want to know why.
Something 4 years ago
According to Reddit, they will go around killing everything within sight after they escape in order to establish their territory.
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sofacushionfort 4 years ago
I've read that tigers who live in the Ganges' swamps are more aggressive than tigers who live in the forests, because they have to defend territory that they can't mark with scent since it washes away. The Tiger Widows of Sundarbans is a relief organization for their human victims. Jaguars behavior may be the result of this same swam and jungle river environment. And even some people you may know, raised in abusive environments where they had no boundaries respected, can be aggressive and defensive beyond limits that seem rational to others.
BlackPearltheSeaWing/NightWing 4 years ago
I feel like animals that need to be killed on sight if they escape shouldn't be in zoos...
GaeFrog 4 years ago
No animals should be in zoos unless its better for them there than in the wild (injuries or cant take care of themselves because their parents died when they where young or smth)
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Sum Guy 4 years ago
It must be spotted animals... because if you go to a game drive, they will tell you about the leopard being the most dangerous animal you can encounter
Jon S. 4 years ago
I watched a documentary about leopards once and will never forget the line "Leopards rarely hunt humans...which is fortunate, because when they do they really, really good at it"
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Jessica Cifelli 4 years ago (edited)
Its because jaguars are master climbers and could very easily drag a person up a tree or on top of a building. Tigers and lions generally don't climb and Gorillas are not climbers too.
#34
The poor penguin keepers can never quite get rid of the miasma of dead fish that envelopes them. As for me, the stinkiest job I ever had to do was cleaning out the duck ponds. Managed to empty a whole train carriage that evening, even though I had changed and my work clothes were double-bagged.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Cleaning duck pods is indeed disgusting. I dont mind the smell while i am cleaning but you can never get rid of it.
Corinne Riede 4 years ago
The duck pond I recall was large, with an willow tree island in the middle and it was concrete. It was simply drained and hosed down with a fire hose.
Load More Replies... Mary Peace 4 years ago
Friend of mine used to work in a fried fish-and-chip shop, and complain she couldn't get rid of the smell. I must tell her it wasn't that bad.
Nicole Robertson 4 years ago
Penguins kill their young if they come to close to other penguins.
#35
Because their external genitalia look similar, many spotted hyena populations in captivity are facing extinction due to groups being made of the same sex.
Paul Davis 4 years ago
This sounds fairly damning as to the laziness or cheapness of the zoo operators -- how hard is it to do a piss test or other method to make sure of their animals' sex?
Becky Samuel 4 years ago
You wanna volunteer to walk up to a hyena and ask them kindly for a urine sample? Unless they're fully anaesthetised you won't even be able to get a blood sample or a cheek swab, and it's dangerous and unethical to use an anaesthetic just for DNA testing if the animal is healthy.
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linda derosett 4 years ago
It is a shame that bored panda failed to do due diligence and reach out the AZA to hear about how high the standards are for accredited zoos. Zoos accredited by the AZA take part in a shared breeding program called a Species Survival plan to ensure that there are enough resources for animals born in zoos. They use the science of enrichment to counteract boredom. Animals are not trained to entertain, but to take part in their own care, ie urinating in a certain clean spot for testing. Accredited zoos are our arks; thanks to humans there are no safe places in the wild for many of these animals. I am all for shutting down roadside zoos and circus acts, but to label all zoos as terrible is neither accurate or fair. Taking the time to educate humans on reducing consumption of dwindling resources to save wild places for wild animals would be a better use of Mr threadgills time, but then he wouldn't get to look like a hero.
Hedonism Bot 4 years ago
As I understand, most zoos in the US aren't accredited.
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Ric Delmonte 4 years ago
Very interesting and educational. Welcome to reality. More posts like this are needed
Dana Bazata 4 years ago
Zookeepers is almost like retail workers. Underpaid, long time workers and looking when some carnivores killed between.
#36
In high school I worked at the Jacksonville Zoo, just doing super basic stuff. We had an exhibit of river otters and one morning the staff noticed there was an extra otter. Not a baby, an extra adult otter. They looked through the security cameras and found that a wild river otter was making his way from the nearby St.Johns river and getting into the exhibit to play with the other otters. Because of the risk of disease transmission we couldn’t allow the wild otter to keep doing that so they reinforced the exhibit to keep it out. It took like 5 attempts for them to finally make a wild otter-proof exhibit. It was an ongoing problem for like a year.
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
So why not just keep the river otter IN? Seems like he liked his new friends! 💕
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Naeser's Law: You can make it otter-proof, but you can't make it damn-otter-proof!
Chaotic-pansexual-Gemini 4 years ago
Just catch the otter, make it healthy, quarantine it, add it to the exhibit
#37
My mom worked at a zoo when I was a kid and there were some things that were kept under wraps. For one, a hyena escaped once and they had to track it down. Also, a pack of dogs got into the zoo and killed most of the wallabies.
The worst story was that a group of teenagers broke in in the 80s and pulled the legs off of the flamingos. That one always really bothered me.
Autumn 4 years ago
Evil f*ckers like that have no place in the world so I hope they got punished.
debrina blackmoon 4 years ago
SEVERELY! Hopefully tortured in the most brutal ways as well!
Load More Replies... María Hermida 4 years ago
They (the kids) should be found and their balls should be pulled off so that they can't breed and produce more idiots like them. I really think we should start to drastically clean the genetic pool of our species.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
yo i found the neuter-o-matic for them Big-Train-...66ef50.jpg 
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago (edited)
Noooooooo not the wallabies!!! Also, that kid needs to get his life together, what the flamingo do to him?!?!?!
Aileen Grist 2 months ago
I'm amazed the dogs killed the wallabies. There are/were some that had escaped a zoo and - this is going back to the 70s - and a group of hare coursers set their greyhounds on them and quite a few dogs were ripped apart.
#38
I volunteered at a zoo for ~4 years. The otters ate absolutely anything they could get their paws on. In an open air exhibit that included a lot of birds and squirrels. The same is true for just about any carnivore/omnivore in an open air exhibit, it's just that the otters were particularly good at it.
#39
Monkeys will, in fact, try to have sex with a female human if there is an opportunity to. The more you know.
tiari 4 years ago
After reading about what female Orang-Urans have to endure from human men sometimes, I can only think we (as humanity) probably deserve whatever nature wants to throw at us...
Steve Barnett 4 years ago
I believe you're referring to Pony, a Bornean orangutan, that was used as a sex slave. A truly abhorrent story.
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WolfGirl23 4 years ago
Ok but can they? And can they get a woman impregnated? Like would the baby be half human half chimp? I'm actually curious
Emilycookie 4 years ago
oookkkaaaaayyyy.... guess I'm not gonna get too close to the monkey enclosures then!
#40
If you work with the animals there's a good chance you'll not be able to have any kind of social life, between the long hours/weekends and the stench.
I've been kicked out of stores after work because I apparently stunk way worse than I thought I did - even after scrubbing off!
And I'm around animals every day, but I still can't stand when otter / sealion keepers are around me in "all-hands" meetings. The rotten fish + ferrety otter smell combo is a gagger. Meanwhile, I work with apes, and they say that I smell like I haven't showed in a decade (again...even after I shower)
tiari 4 years ago (edited)
This kinda seems strange to me. I worked in a zoo for a month, mostly in the ape/monkey department. Nobody there particularly stank.
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
Seals and sea lions smell like an open air fish market mixed with wet dog. I was in Monterey once when about a thousand seals thought it was a nice sunny day and the smell was unbelievable.
#41
Former coworker got a job at the aquarium. He was basically the night watchman, making sure nothing exploded when the aquarium was closed. The thing is, he can't actually do anything about it.
A ray jumped out of the open touch pool, so he gently picked it up and set it back in the tank. No harm done, ray is fine. He got chewed the [hell] out for handling an animal. Policy is to call the expert handler for that department and have them come in, to avoid any liability and whatnot. By the time you get them to pick up the phone at 3 am, get up, and drive into the city it'll be like forty minutes at best. Assuming they came in at all.
So his job was really to just stand there staring as the animal suffocated.
He ended up quitting when he tried to call out sick because he had the flu so bad he literally couldn't stand up straight and part of the job was to walk the narrow hanging walkway over the largest tank in the world, which includes sharks, alone, at night... and they told him to come in anyway.
Spring Fisk 4 years ago
How they treated him was so unjust. I would have picked up the stingray also, I am not going to sit there and watch them die if i can help it.
#42
Late to the party, but I wanted to mention all the older animals. Sometimes people don't realize there are older critters who have health issues. A lot of older fish we had were kept in the back tanks away from view because people assumed normal old fish issues were a result of poor husbandry and would get upset if they were on display. Imagine having your 17 year old incontinent dog in a zoo, people would think it looks emaciated and pathetic.
Along the same lines, zoos have improved significantly in terms of animal husbandry over the years, but a lot of older animals have been in zoos since before these changes occured. I remember working with a group of chimps and one of the old chimps would masturbate while staring at me as I cleaned the outside of the enclosure. I had to remember this guy joined the zoo at a time when they would dress chimps up in kids clothes and make them have tea parties and [stuff]. He had some mental issues that weren't his fault. Thankfully that troop has gotten better housing and care and has now started acting more normally, even reproducing with their own troop members and acting like real apes should.
Nathan Pogorzala 4 years ago
Because it would be a tad worse if eventually those humans started masturbating in public. Can't take the unstable male out of the mammal.
Load More Replies... Ozacoter 4 years ago (edited)
That is indeed a problem in zoos with old animals. A lot of them learn abnormal behaviour (like pacing or plucking their hair) and even their kids learn it from them. Even if they have been living 10 years in the best enclosures some will still have the behaviours. The best is to have a sign in the cage explaining it so the guests bith learn about what are the consequesnces of bad welfare and also understand why those animals arent being mistreated.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Does this make anyone else think of all those news stories about politicians getting busted wanking off on their Zoom meetings?
#43
Former monkey keeper of around five years. I worked at a sanctuary for rescued animals or individuals that were not deemed valuable for breeding programmes (because of disability or overrepresented genes).
You would assume people need lots of qualifications to work with exotic animals like monkeys. This is completely untrue. The most important thing is experience, and you can get that at some really [bad] zoos.
It astonished me how little science and understanding went into the primates we cared for. Our lemurs had chronic diahorrea due to the unsuitable, high-sugar diets that they were fed. I made significant efforts to change this, but I don't think the keepers ever listened to me.
Escapes happen way more often than you think. One time our geriatric groundskeeper caught an escaped baby macaque in a net with what was a very lucky leap. Another time, visitors were fascinated to see our langurs sitting peacefully on top of one of our enclosures. They had made it out through a hole in the enclosure.
Visitors throw stones/rocks at the monkeys all the time. I would catch people once every couple of weeks.
Monkeys truly are vile. I love them but they are so gross. My favourite monkey was a rescued individual from Israel who was so prone to violent mood swings that he had to live by himself. Every morning he would wait until the keepers arrived to make his breakfast and he would sit at the wires having a wank. Often times he would try and get you to shake his hand, but usually he just ate his ejaculate.
#44
I had to draft the zoo's contingency plan for all sorts of emergencies. Flood, tornado, extreme heat, war or attacks, you name it. The plan included a prioritized list of which animals in the collection we would have to sacrifice to feed to the other animals in extreme situations. I literally created a zoo food chain. Humans were left off the list entirely.
Batwench 4 years ago
Damn, I know a few humans that I would be happy to see on that feeding list.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
I looked at the list of animals at my local zoo, all those domestic and native-North American critters are solidly at the bottom of that food chain!
#45
I volunteer at an aqurium and the people always ask about whether the sharks that are in with the fish ever eat the fish officially we say, “we keep them well fed enough that they don’t”, but on more then one morning on my initial walk around I have found remains of fish that definitely weren’t feed fish. On a particularly memorable occasion I found the head of a large porgy just sitting on the bottom. A diver went in and got it before guests arrived.
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
The most dangerous animals in the zoo aren't chimps. It's the sharks with lasers attached to their frickin heads
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago (edited)
This shouldn't be downvoted, It's an allusion the nursery rhyme, Georgey Porgie.
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#46
Coming in a little late but I was a zookeeper for roughly 6 years. The inside scoop that most guests don't realize how little most zookeepers are paid. It's an field that quite often suffers from the same fate teaching(at least in the US) share. Lots of highly motivated, passionate people who are willing to deal with low pay in order to do what they love. I can name quite a few of my past co-workers who have left just because they simply couldn't afford to live with such a low salary.
#47
The bird sanctuary has a bird hospital attached to it full of sick dying birds and smells like Satan's anus.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago (edited)
How are y'all offended about a joke about a cave? Peak Cavern? The Devil's Ar*e? Do you not get the f*cking joke?
Wonder Woman 848 4 years ago
They are sick and dying, now, i have no clue about birds, but maybe they have diseases that make the poo smell bad. and lots of birds smell completely horrid
Load More Replies... #48
I work with dolphins, these creatures are sexual as [hell]. We have 2 smaller boys together and they’ve been seen stimulating each other. Our 3 female dolphins have freshwater hoses that lead into the pool to play with, they flip themselves upside down, lay on the surface, and let the water do its thing. We also have another male dolphin separate from the others that likes to show his d*ck to families, pretty funny to watch tbh. Dolphins are weird.
third molar 4 years ago
Some humans to tear off the skin of other animals dry them and use as a cover to their body!!
Kira Okah 4 years ago
In places like Alaska, remot parts of Canada, and Siberia - primarily populated by indigenous peoples - the best protection against the elements is fur, which is mostly either recycled from old damaged ones or comes from animals that they eat. Artificial - plastic - products don't keep the warm enough, and damage the environment because they are plastic.
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Jon S. 4 years ago
I don't know if there have been documented cases or it is an urban myth, but it is definitely true that dolphins raised around humans have displayed sexual interest in humans and wild dolphins are known to engage in forced sex.
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Nerdy 4 years ago
Fun fact Dolphins are one of the only other animals to have sex for pleasure.
Jon S. 4 years ago (edited)
I'm pretty sure this is a myth. I suppose it depends how to define sex, because lots, and I mean lots of animals take part in masturbation and mutual masturbation. Almost all animals demonstrably receive pleasure from sex. But it is true many female mammals are incapable of having vaginal sex outside of the mating season because their hymen regrows and forms an impenetrable barrier.
Load More Replies... #49
If you have to choose between cleaning the poop from a flamingo enclosure or an elephant enclosure, choose the elephants. The flamingos were by far the smelliest exhibit, and elephant poop is heavy but comparatively odorless.
Alethia Nyx 4 years ago
No surprises there. Bird s**t is pretty gross anyway, and flamingos are omnivores. Elephants are herbivores. Herbivore s**t is generally less smelly and has less dangerous bacteria than omnivore or carnivore s**t. Give me horse crap over dog crap any day.
#50
So, my best friend is a zookeeper (birdkeeper?) at a zoo that has a renowned aviary. He has told me that most birds are just constantly horny and are never gentle. If you wear anything bright, they WILL try to f**k any appendage that gets near them. They're also smart enough to be vindictive about it. And not just males; he has a mortal feud with a female hornbill for similar reasons. His stories are great.
#51
I volunteered at a zoo a few summers ago. I worked in the bird house. The job mostly consisted of chopping fruit, filling bowls with live meal worms, and cleaning. Oh my god so much cleaning. Captive penguins have trouble swallowing on their own, so you have to kindof shove fish down their throat. Oh and the more social ones will hump your leg. It involves a lot of wing flapping. Some of the cutest parrots are the most evil. There were a few nasties, likely because they pair bonded to a singular person or bird long ago and are now separated. There's a bird at that zoo with clipped wings that occasionally sits on a perch outside, without a real cage. He's not going anywhere from there, but he sleeps in the indoor enclosure. When being trained on how to feed him, I was told not to fall for the sweet "I love you!" spiel. He goes for the eyes. I would use my hand as bait under the cage so he would move away from the door, then quickly swap out his food plate before he realized my other hand was actually in reach. Brand new baby birds are both cute and horrifying to behold. They had Keas, which are an incredibly smart species of large parrot. We'd give them boxes full of fruit that they would have to take apart a certain way to get in, and they loved it. I heard they've been known to occasionally ruin people's engines for fun in New Zealand, but that could be a rumor. It was a great summer.
Allan Breum 4 years ago
Keas, if given the time to do so, Will disassemble anything they can get their claws on.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
I don't think there's enough Keas left in the wild for that to be a thing... I'd chalk it up as rumor.
Ceredwyn Ealanta 4 years ago
They're endangered, but I've had them remove windscreen wipers from my car. They certainly need to increase the numbers, but in areas where they're still in strength (Arthur's Pass), they will play with things. They tend to hang out in small flocks, so have the birdpower to do some 'interesting' things :)
Load More Replies... #52
Partner was a zookeeper in Dallas. Safety protocols for when a large, dangerous animal escapes its enclosure dictate that you lock yourself in whatever room you can get to quickest and grab the nearest weapon, which, for most zookeepers, was a broom or rake for cleaning up animal poop.
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago
I live in Dallas too. This is me versus spiders.
Load More Replies... #53
I worked in two completely different departments (elephants and neonates), but the drama between keepers was insane in both. Like, attempted murder level insane.
Roadkill The Brave 4 years ago
I'm not shocked. Animals inspire passion. Passions inspire clashes.
#54
Not a keeper but worked at an AZA zoo for 6 years, and was lucky to work with life science staff often. In the case of that zoo (and it isn’t unique): Keepers are required to have a bachelor’s degree and make poverty wages. Treated like sh*t and paid like sh*t because there are always new, young graduates that want it as their dream job. Pseudo-intellectualism is used to create a strict hierarchy between the majority of the keeping staff and the few in management and leadership. (How something may look for a paper or philanthropic effort takes precedent to actual animal welfare.) There was an intense in-group culture to ingrain delusions of grandeur about sporadic, piecemeal wildlife conservation efforts being done. The keeping staff mostly stayed sane by making truly deep relationships with the animals they care for. These animals are definitely loved and treated the best those individuals can (despite frequently terrible decisions and mandates from leadership).
#55
Zookeepers can only stand to hang out with zookeepers of the same kind of animal because of the smell. No matter how much you scrub or change, the smell clings. Primate keepers smell like they haven't bathed in a decade, snake keepers smell cloyingly unnerving, and sealion people make you gag from the fish smell.
#56
I worked in the zoo's restaurant. The one thing that even low-level cashiers learned was the 'Mr. Wallaby' code. The manager on duty in each department carried a walkie-talkie, and if an animal ever escaped, the code to announce its location was 'Mr. Wallaby, please meet Mr. [Escaped Animal] at [animal's location].' I kinda hoped we'd have one with a small, harmless animal that would be easy to catch again, just to see the excitement. Making chicken salad sandwiches all day got a little monotonous.
Alex the awful German 4 years ago
"Mr. Wallaby, please meet Mr. Tiger at the playground"... you don't want to hear that.
WolfGirl23 4 years ago
You shouldn't worry about the tiger, it's the zebras and chimpanzees you have to worry about.
Load More Replies... TheRandomBorger 4 years ago
Imagine making a sub and hearing "Mr. Wallaby, please meet Mr. Chimpanzee at the restaurant". That's an 'oh s**t' moment
#57
If you have worked with them then you probably already know, but one swift kick from an ostrich can kill you. Like they will literally disembowel you. Every time I see a video of someone getting up close to one, I can’t help but cringe. One of our head keepers had actually lost part of their ear to one.
#58
I did co-op at one for two weeks. The Sumatran tigers had a nice enclosure but the overnight enclosure was very small and depressing. I would walk around the outdoor enclosure hiding meatballs while they were in there, and I was always scared someone would forget I'm out there. There's nothing like that smell of tiger urine, as soon as I first smelled it it's like an instinct kicked in and all the hairs on my body raised as if I just knew there was something close that could kill me. Also, so many people drop money beneath the walkways, I found a few $5.00 bills.
#59
Be careful walking by the open-air monkey enclosures, because poop isn't the only thing they'll fling at you. It's like that scene from Silence of the Lambs, when Clarice is going to see Hannibal Lecter...you know the scene I mean. Only much, much worse.
#60
I'm a small animal vet now but worked in a zoo before vet school. Zoos are one of the biggest purchasers of Calvin Klein's Obsession cologne. The cologne has animal musk in it and it drives the big cats wild. We used to spray it on everything.
Allan Breum 4 years ago
Well, which would you rather? It trying to maul/eat you, or it treating you like you're the worlds biggest bag of catnip.
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Ozacoter 4 years ago
It is caled environmental Enrichment. Basically you use something (normally toys or food but can be smells) to make the life of the animal more interesting to keep their mental health well.
Load More Replies... #61
Not a zookeeper, but my two next door neighbors are. One of them told me all animals have to get an autopsy immediately post-mortem, and her team has the luxury of not having an external team to do so. She has to cut open the animals she so tenderly loves and cares for immediately after they die without time to grieve and see all their viscera - even if the cause of death is already known, since they want to check for any other issues such as parasites, cancer, genetic problems, etc. Worst part is she also takes care of some rather larger animals like antelopes, giraffes, and cheetahs - so you can imagine both the attachment over the years and the horrid reality of excavating every crevice of a dead giraffe. She still loves her job very much, but struggles with this. Her partner works with primates and they have their own autopsy team so he gets to avoid carving up his babies, but she's had to learn to dissociate emotionally to get through the tougher moments.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Unusual one person would take care of both ungulates and cats.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
That seems conceptually unwise. A keeper who smells of prey animals would be a serious liability in caring for cats, likewise a keeper who smells of cats would be much less likely to be able to approach a prey animal.
Load More Replies... #62
Hippos use their tail to fling their poop everywhere. Stay out of their splash zone.
#63
The job is 24/7. Even where you're not working, you're still working. And it's like 90% cleaning poop, pee and food leftovers/food containers and buildings. And answering some very dumb question such as "Is the cheetah right there the youngster of a lion?". That kind of question truly make you understand how dumb people can be and how much they need to be educated about wildlife. If you're working with small primates, you will be peed on at least once in your career; birds can show love in a quite painful way (but you still love them because they are way smarter and amazing than most people know) and you always watch you back (and never turn it to some species). Btw, the skin between an hippopotamus' nostrils is super smooth under the hand (but yeah, don't pet them for no reason xD). And sometimes, you will just have to stand in front of an enclosure for hours in order to monitor your animal's behavior (they like to give this job to trainees/interns).
Alex the awful German 4 years ago
"Is the cheetah right there the youngster of a lion?" How?!? Who would ask this?!? That's just awful....
Abigail Nagel 4 years ago
On the topic of weird dumb questions, once I got asked when toads were invented. I laughed harder than I should’ve
#64
The amount of dumbasses who complain to management about paying to go to the zoo then not seeing any animals is unreal! Like, what do you want us to do? Go in there with sticks and chase them out of their hidey-holes?! Sorry buddy, not going to happen.
Bookworm685 4 years ago
But the best part about going to a zoo is playing "hide and seek" with the animals! Look around the enclosure, until you find them. If you can't, well then the animals win
#65
Flamingos are territorial a-holes. Whenever I cleaned their enclosures I would have to go in with an umbrella to scare them away to prevent them from attacking me
#66
The path to being a keeper is rough. It can literally start with working a concession stand at a zoo with a college degree making minimum wage, and the path to mobility being talking to the other keepers to the point they'll let you clean the cage of the animals they keep. Do that a few years and hope that position opens, not necessarily one that you want, but any, because getting in the door is HARD, high demand, low supply. It is a job where you really need to love the work and be OK not making much money. Source: Friend followed this path at a zoo that is known the world over.
Ozacoter 4 years ago (edited)
Not only that, most vacancies nowadays are unpaid and the ones that are paid have insane requirements. To put an example the last one I applied to was for 2days a week (you cant live with that). It required perfect english and if possible dutch, a bachellor and a master in biology or similar and min 2y experience. I had all the requirements except the dutch and was not even called for an interview "because we are looking for somebody more experienced".
#67
The big cats eat horse meat and the toads get fed 'pinkies' which are baby mice right after they are born.
Upstaged75 3 years ago
And the Meercats too. Lots of animals are fed those pinkies.
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ScarlettofHydraIsland 4 years ago
The turtles get these too, usually chopped up. I don’t work at a zoo, but I do volunteer at a nature center.
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What do you think ?
Liucija Adomaite 4 years ago
Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback! :)
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the landlocked mermaid 4 years ago (edited)
My god what is with all the PETA freaks in the comments! I've worked at a zoo for five years I can educate you all you want.
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
Well, F PETA, but I would like to know what your favourite animal was, and if you have any funny stories.
Load More Replies... Happy Panda 4 years ago
Former zoo staff here. Where to start?? First, this article is entirely one-sided and misleading. The "editor" spoke only to an activist with a negative viewpoint, and did not in any way attempt to reflect the other side. Readers, look up the AZA and WAZA. These are the American and World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums. They handle the accreditation of zoos, which is very strict, thorough, and focused on safety and conservation. Second, there is a HUGE difference between an accredited zoo and a "roadside" zoo. The little rinky-d**k attractions that have cages and baby animals you hold for photos? THEY ARE NOT ZOOS. They are abominations and yes, should be shut down. Third, if you talk to any zookeeper at any accredited, reputable zoo, you will learn that they put the animals' safety and comfort above anything else, even/especially their own. This is just shoddy "reporting" meant for clicks. It's truly a disservice to BP. I'm disgusted.
Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
I'm from Europe and thinking: come on. Not even all accredited zoos are perfect. Of course, they usually try to become better which is the whole point. About road side zoos and private people buying exotic or endangered animals I completely agree. Those places are absolutely horrible and how on earth is that even legal.
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Amanda Panda 4 years ago
Visited a Zoo in Scotland because they had recently gotten Pandas. Had to wait in line for an hour to get tickets to see the Pandas (my fave) for like 30 minutes I think. However, some kind of bull of some sort escaped while I was at the Zoo and everyone got herded into whatever the closest enclosure was. I happened to be near the Pandas. Got to hang out in there for about an hour and a half. Fun day.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago (edited)
.....and that is all what matters, fun for us people. Thanks for sharing, Amanda.
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Vi. B. 4 years ago
People, read cassiushumanmother comment rather than downvoting it, yes most zoo's do very few for conservation, animals in it are bored to crazyness, I'm a behaviourist, when you know what behaviours to look you see them, it's awful, not even talking of the inbreeding, size of enclosures etc they just breed the animals stupid people want to see, when was the last time you heard about a zoo making some rehabilitation in the wild? Yeah almost never happen. Some are providing nice living facilities and are really working with rehabilitation centers but they are a minority.
the landlocked mermaid 4 years ago
Interesting. What animal behaviors do you specialize in?
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Patricia Rix 4 years ago
I believe that zoos are necessary, bc if people don't come into contact with wild animals this way, they will stop caring what happens to the wild ones.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Really? People care about what happens to wild animals? So why don't they fight for them and our planet? Why aren't they responsible and compassionate consumers? People go to ZOOs to have fun, as it was stated many times in the comments posted here. Get off the cloud nine, Patricia.
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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative post— I would love to continue seeing more posts like this.
Liucija Adomaite 4 years ago
Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback! :)
Load More Replies... the landlocked mermaid 4 years ago (edited)
My god what is with all the PETA freaks in the comments! I've worked at a zoo for five years I can educate you all you want.
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
Well, F PETA, but I would like to know what your favourite animal was, and if you have any funny stories.
Load More Replies... Happy Panda 4 years ago
Former zoo staff here. Where to start?? First, this article is entirely one-sided and misleading. The "editor" spoke only to an activist with a negative viewpoint, and did not in any way attempt to reflect the other side. Readers, look up the AZA and WAZA. These are the American and World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums. They handle the accreditation of zoos, which is very strict, thorough, and focused on safety and conservation. Second, there is a HUGE difference between an accredited zoo and a "roadside" zoo. The little rinky-d**k attractions that have cages and baby animals you hold for photos? THEY ARE NOT ZOOS. They are abominations and yes, should be shut down. Third, if you talk to any zookeeper at any accredited, reputable zoo, you will learn that they put the animals' safety and comfort above anything else, even/especially their own. This is just shoddy "reporting" meant for clicks. It's truly a disservice to BP. I'm disgusted.
Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
I'm from Europe and thinking: come on. Not even all accredited zoos are perfect. Of course, they usually try to become better which is the whole point. About road side zoos and private people buying exotic or endangered animals I completely agree. Those places are absolutely horrible and how on earth is that even legal.
Load More Replies... Amanda Panda 4 years ago
Visited a Zoo in Scotland because they had recently gotten Pandas. Had to wait in line for an hour to get tickets to see the Pandas (my fave) for like 30 minutes I think. However, some kind of bull of some sort escaped while I was at the Zoo and everyone got herded into whatever the closest enclosure was. I happened to be near the Pandas. Got to hang out in there for about an hour and a half. Fun day.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago (edited)
.....and that is all what matters, fun for us people. Thanks for sharing, Amanda.
Load More Replies... Vi. B. 4 years ago
People, read cassiushumanmother comment rather than downvoting it, yes most zoo's do very few for conservation, animals in it are bored to crazyness, I'm a behaviourist, when you know what behaviours to look you see them, it's awful, not even talking of the inbreeding, size of enclosures etc they just breed the animals stupid people want to see, when was the last time you heard about a zoo making some rehabilitation in the wild? Yeah almost never happen. Some are providing nice living facilities and are really working with rehabilitation centers but they are a minority.
the landlocked mermaid 4 years ago
Interesting. What animal behaviors do you specialize in?
Load More Replies... Patricia Rix 4 years ago
I believe that zoos are necessary, bc if people don't come into contact with wild animals this way, they will stop caring what happens to the wild ones.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Really? People care about what happens to wild animals? So why don't they fight for them and our planet? Why aren't they responsible and compassionate consumers? People go to ZOOs to have fun, as it was stated many times in the comments posted here. Get off the cloud nine, Patricia.
Load More Replies... Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative post— I would love to continue seeing more posts like this.
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