No 'Wild' Clothing in Zoos

[Hum]

Animal print clothing can be wild, but one zoo in England is declaring it downright dangerous. Chessington World of Adventures, a theme park and zoo in Surrey, England has banned visitors from wearing animal prints to avoid confusing or scaring the animals.

Banned prints include zebra, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, tiger, spotted and striped hyena, and African wild dog. To enforce its rule, the zoo has even hired bouncers to keep an eye on visitors.

Zoo officials enacted the policy after employees noticed a behavioral change in animals following the opening of a reserve called "Zufari: Ride Into Africa!" The exhibit allows people to drive through a Serengeti-style reserve where animals roam freely. Now, if someone enters the zoo wearing an animal print, they?re issued a gray boiler suit (coveralls) to wear for the remainder of their visit. "Animals are getting confused when they see what looks like zebras and giraffes driving across the terrain in a 7.5 ton truck," :huh: according to  spokesperson Natalie Dilloway told The Guardian this week.

more

[+Tyranade Subscriber²]

"Animals are getting confused when they see what looks like zebras and giraffes driving across the terrain in a 7.5 ton truck,"

 

When I read that I just freaking LOLD!

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

While I understand their concern it amuses me that our zoo (one of the largest in the USA) sells clothing that has animal prints on it lol.

[AshUK]

Merlin Entertainments have always used this kind of stuff as marketing so it gets in the public eye, like at Alton Towers when they open a new ride they make out things like you need to sign a disclaimer because its "too scary".

[Hum]

"Animals are getting confused when they see what looks like zebras and giraffes driving across the terrain in a 7.5 ton truck,"

 

That just be craZy talk.

[Growled Member]

We must think of the animals. Lol.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Merlin Entertainments have always used this kind of stuff as marketing so it gets in the public eye, like at Alton Towers when they open a new ride they make out things like you need to sign a disclaimer because its "too scary".

 

Too true.

I used to work at Alton Towers, closely with their Marketing department.  It's a tactic to get people talking about the theme park, even if it is "outrageous".  I personally dealt with feedback about "no speedo trunks in the water park".

[Dotdot]

Can see how it makes some kind of dumb logic, but im pretty sure animals use scents/smells to identify things, not just the visual image.

Thus I`d wager they know the difference, even with a wolf in sheeps clothing.

This is likely policy due to some non-zoologist manager getting freaked out after a tiger growled at them, the one day they wore a stripey top to work.

Its pretty funny how management will often take the nuclear option, after a rarely occurring or once in a life time event.