How to Be A Polite Zoo Guest

Earlier this week, TheTravel.com released an article outlining the top 10 things that zoo guests do that frustrate zoo staff members. The list is a collection of items found across the internet. Although misbehaving at a zoo seems like a pretty black and white concept, you would be surprised to hear how many of these we run into on a trip to the zoo. So let’s take a look at the list, and talk a little bit about how to be a polite zoo guest on your next visit.

The Don’ts

Several of the items on the list of don’ts talk about interfering with the animals in the exhibit. The two here that really rub us the wrong way are tossing coins into the exhibit (#9) and tossing food into the exhibit (#7). There are a few things that people will do at zoos that cause us to step in and correct them, and this is one of them. Both of these are harmful to the animals, and can result in penalties. The others that involve interrupting the animals are tapping the glass (#10) and yelling at the animals to get them to do something (#6).

Safety violations show up frequently on this list as well. Again, these seem like no brainers. Items such as standing on the enclosure railing (#8), not reading the signs (#4), and parents not watching their children (#2) all show up on the list. For us, going to the zoo is a fun, family activity, so that means keeping our kids with us and safe at all times. We don’t let them wander, and if we do, you’ll find us shortly behind them. Violations in these areas typically gain national attention, such as when a child fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2016.

The Do’s

We encourage our kids to not only be kind to other zoo visitors and zoo staff members, but also to respect the animals that live in the zoo. While we also strive and hope for meaningful animal interactions, we know that we’re on their turf, so we need to be respectful. Respect is the driver of many positive behaviors you can encourage yourself and your kids to use while visiting the zoo.

The Dallas Zoo has a link on their website with tips on how to be a great zoo guest. We encourage you to check these out. While some of them are simply inverses of the don’t list from above, several others are quite helpful.

Our biggest advice when visiting the zoo is to be courteous. We’re picture takers, so we tend to linger a bit longer at exhibits to get the best shot. That said, rotate your position frequently so as to let others share the best views. You can also be courteous by staying on paths, not climbing on fences or railings, and cleaning up after yourself.

Being a polite zoo guest is an easy thing that we can do.

Thanks for reading. Want to have a memorable zoo visit? Check out our list of favorite animal feedings here.