Zoo Rules, Policies & Prohibited Items (2024)

FAQs

What are the rules of the Zoo? ›

Protection of Zoo Animals

No visitor shall go over, under, between or otherwise cross any guardrail, fence, moat, wall or other safety barrier. No visitor should sit on, stand on or hold children over such barriers. No visitor shall throw or toss rocks, trash or other articles into exhibit areas.

Respect the Animals

Do not yell at or taunt the animals, do not bang on their enclosures and do not throw objects into their habitats. We will remove you from the property the first time this rule is violated.

A cage for a single animal should measure at least 20 ft (6.1 m) wide x 15 ft (4.6 m) deep (300 sq. ft/27.9 sq. m); cages should be 50% larger per additional animal.

AZA has been the primary accrediting body for zoos and aquariums for over 40 years. U.S. agencies such as OSHA and the USDA consider AZA standards as the “national” standard, and they refer to AZA standards when evaluating institutions.

As a result, a captive animal's memory and emotions are irregular and some animals have been shown to become emotionally unpredictable. Prolonged stress also disrupts the balance of serotonin and dopamine in an animal's brain, which can lead to repetitive and often damaging behavior.

Do not feed the animals, throw objects, tap or bang on exhibit glass. Respect walls and fences throughout the zoo. See something? Say something!

Zoos act as a safe haven for these animals who would be driven extinct otherwise by poaching, deforestation, or other loss of habitable ground, and environmental destruction caused by pollution. In zoos they are safe from all of these factors, and their rights are preserved and protected.

That captivity can be REALLY bad for both physical AND psychological health. And while zoos have been really helpful is saving endangered animals, it doesn't work out for certain species. For example, most large carnivores like lions and tigers that are bred in captivity die when released into the wild.

If I Ran the Zoo has been criticized for its use of racial stereotypes and caricatures. In a 1988 biography of Dr. Seuss, Ruth K. MacDonald notes the perceived presence of "occasional stereotypes of native peoples—potbellied, thick-lipped blacks from Africa, squinty-eyed Orientals", that may offend some modern readers.

What are some examples of Zoo abuse? ›

We discovered big cats in gladiator-style shows in large amphitheatres, dolphins being used like surfboards, elephants playing basketball and clothed chimps in nappies, driving around in scooters. All activities that would require cruel training techniques for these wild animals.

Zoos Care for Their Animals

They don't suffer from the stress and threat of predators, the pain of parasites, injury, or illness, and they won't suffer from starvation or drought.

Proper attire, including shoes and shirts must be worn at all times. Animals other than trained service animals.

Use only legal and ethical means when seeking to influence governmental legislation or regulations. Promote the interests of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and animal welfare to the public and to colleagues. Maintain high standards of personal, professional, and business conduct and behavior.

Zoos can help to save endangered species by keeping them in a 'safe' environment. Safe as in protected from poachers, predators, habitat loss and even starvation. Some zoos have breeding programmes. This is another way to protect endangered species which may have trouble finding suitable mates in the wild.

Visiting the city zoo in this rhyming romp of a picture-book, young Gerald McGrew imagines what he would do, if he were in charge. Setting free all of the "boring" animals like lions and tigers, he would go on a worldwide hunt for more unusual creatures, from a ten-footed lion to an Elephant-Cat.

Certified zoos and aquariums are ethical institutions that enrich and ultimately protect the lives of animals, both in human care and in the wild. And today, the need for intensive conservation campaigns is more urgent than ever before.

Wild animals often get more sleep when they are in a zoo. Food is provided for them, and they are safe from predators. So they can relax and sleep for longer periods of time. In contrast, animals have to spend time hunting or gathering their food in the wild.