Zoo workers sometimes go beyond the call of duty when it comes to telling their visitors how to behave around their animals, not only by offering warnings that are wholly unnecessary, but also by throwing in the odd joke or two in the process.
A new series of photos snapped by zoo-goers shows how the staff members at some venues shunned regular, boring warning signs and instead took the opportunity to showcase their creativity and sassy sense of humor.
One venue warned its visitors against accidentally falling into an enclosure, not so that said visitors wouldn’t get injured or killed, but because if they do fall in, animals might eat them and get sick.
Another gave zoo-goers food for thought by placing signs reading: ‘Please do not bang on glass, what would you do if it broke?’ on a cage housing snakes.
One kindly told visitors that gorillas are ‘known to throw objects such as clumps of dirt’, warning them to keep at bay.
Well, we can’t have that: A zoo warned visitors against falling into an enclosure, not so that said visitors wouldn’t get injured, but because if they fall in, animals might eat them and get sick
Spiritual: Another venue pointed out that only those who believe strongly in rebirth (and are thus prepared to experience the process) should go near its tigers
Threat: In order to stop people from throwing items at the crocodiles, this zoo kindly told its visitors they would be asked to go in and retrieve the objects
Will that be all? One sign includes an impressively detailed list of everything visitors shouldn’t do to the animals, with no less than 18 different items
Very punny: A venue named Blue Monkey kindly warned its visitors it had no time for their potential ‘monkey business’
Food for thought: A zoo placed signs reading: ‘Please do not bang on glass, what would you do if it broke?’ on a cage housing snakes
Why does this need to be said? It was apparently necessary for one venue in Florida to warn its visitors not to feed or molest its alligators
Fair warning: Another zoo was kind enough to tell people that gorillas sometimes throw objects around, including clumps of dirt
What is this, Alice In Wonderland? One zoo needed to put up a sign asking visitors not to feed hallucinogens to its alligators
Kid’s menu: Parents and caregivers were gently warned not to let children climb on the railings of the polar bears’ enclosure, because the bears don’t eat kids
Counting their macros? This venue told people it actually feeds its bears enough protein, so they don’t need to provide extra nutrition by leaning over or sitting on the wall
Who does that? Sadly enough, it was apparently necessary for this zoo to tell people to refrain from punching the lamas
Why? This venue also figured it needed to ask people not to feed or molest its ducks
‘Urine danger’: This zoo used a handy drawing to demonstrate that tapirs have a wide range when they need to relieve themselves
What about finger food? One venue warned people to keep their fingers away from its animal by politely asking them not to feed said fingers to the creatures
Long list: Once again, this zoo enumerated all the things its visitors should refrain from doing when around the animals, and named 14 actions in total
Trying to quit: This zoo kindly asked people not to throw their cigarettes butts on the ground so that fish would refrain from crawling out at night to smoke them
I’ve got the right temperature: This sign let people know that turtles might be hot
Run for cover! One drawing warned visitors to get away from the hippos, lest they find themselves in the ‘splatter zone’
It should go without saying: Some people apparently needed this handy reminder that it is not acceptable behavior to pick up goats
Uh oh: One venue had a free-flying bat enclosure but had to warn people against standing directly under the creatures, since they might relieve themselves ‘without warning’
Education: This venue apparently decided to warn animals against accepting food from humans, explaining the dangers they might face if they did so
Trouble: Someone hilariously claimed that their girlfriend had left them for a koala after a trip to the zoo during which she was overwhelmed by the animals’ cutness
No judgement: This sign took the penguins’ sign explaining that yes, they might smell, but it’s simply due to their diet rich in fish