I got in trouble at the St. Louis Zoo!

[Gonzo]

Well, I guess I'm a rebel zoo lawbreaker! I was at the St. Louis Zoo with the kids, and we were at the penguin area.... The clear wall were the penguins were swimming is really low... I didn't see no signs (I looked) so I stuck my hand in there and was petting this penguin! It was loving it! It kept swimming back to me, and I just kept on petting it... Until a zoo employee ran up on me and said not to pet them they bite. Oh well, It was fun while it lasted! I do say, I'm no expert, but that penguin was anything but viscous... and if they don't want you to pet them, they need a taller wall, or hey! Even a sign! The wall was so low, my 8 yr old was able to put his hands in there and pet it too!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

What a cool experience!!!!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Wow, that's FUNNY!!!

 

[SmartyChick]

What did it feel like?? Awesome experience!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Awwww~

I petted some stingrays at Sea World once, but they allowed you to pet them. Was so neat, a big huge tankfull of them and they swam right up for the petting cause they loved it.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
I got to pet dolphins that way....coolest thing ever!!!

 

[hoppy]

I hate to be a buzz kill but
do you remember the case where the parent put the child on the wall of the gorilla enclosure so the child could be a better view of the gorillas and the child fell in? I don't know that they had a sign or not.
that's all I'm going to say.

 

[MagsC]

I agree though that if they dont want people touching animals, they should have a taller wall, SOMETHING to make them less accessible.(sp?)

 

[CoopCrazy]

I have had this happen at a small zoo once .. If they dont want you to touch why make the enclosure small enough to reach in..

 

[snewman]

I had the most incredible zoo experience this winter near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There is a small zoo south of the city, tucked away up a dirt road, behind a little town with dogs and chickens running around. When you go in, you can buy a bag of various foods, fruit, bread, grain, etc. As you make your way through the zoo you have basically free access to feed and pet any or all of the animals. The animals appear to be quite well-fed and in good condition, but are, nonetheless, very interested in the treats. They come right up. Now, this is not something that would every work in the US because people would ruin it by either a) abusing the animals or b) suing the zoo because the baby got slobbered on by the camel or the teenager got his fingers bitten off by the bear. For someone who really digs seeing these amazing animals up close and can respect them, it is an incredible experience. It's a sad commentary on the litigious nature of the US that when I told people back home about this zoo, almost every one of them commented that they were suprised the zoo didn't get sued and put out of business. At the zoo, no patrons seemed to be abusing the animals, and nobody complained about how close they could get to them. It was very peaceful and kind. I think the mentality there was very refreshing, in a lot of ways. In general, it seemed that people are vested with a reasonable expectation to take responsibility for their own actions, and not try to find someone to blame for every personal injury (not just at the zoo, this is what I found to be common everywhere I have been in Mexico). Delightful!