Comments on: Accessing a ‘hard to reach’ audience: the unbelievable things visitors say at zoos http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos John Regan Associates: funding for zoos, botanic gardens, aquariums and nature sites Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:55:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Jeremy http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos#comment-45 Jeremy Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:47:05 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos/#comment-45 While at Hamilton zoo in a single day I heard a young boy ask his mother, "What's this", to which his Mother replied, "A crocodile"... It was a blue tongued skink... A small Australian lizard like reptile about 30 cm long with you guessed it a blue tongue... About 10 minutes later I heard a girl in her early teens describe a White Rhino as a large horse... And finally a man in his late 40's or early 50's was overheard to say to his friend, "They don't bite if you pat them like the sign says, they don't jump neither..!" He had just patted a wild pig... While at Hamilton zoo in a single day I heard a young boy ask his mother, “What’s this”, to which his Mother replied, “A crocodile”…

It was a blue tongued skink…

A small Australian lizard like reptile about 30 cm long with you guessed it a blue tongue…

About 10 minutes later I heard a girl in her early teens describe a White Rhino as a large horse…

And finally a man in his late 40′s or early 50′s was overheard to say to his friend, “They don’t bite if you pat them like the sign says, they don’t jump neither..!” He had just patted a wild pig…

]]> By: Sun Wukong http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos#comment-44 Sun Wukong Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:57:54 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos/#comment-44 Arnheim, NL, Burger's Zoo: A tourist claimed that an "ESB"(=European Studbook) ran into him in the rainforest exhibit. The "ESB" turned out to be a Crowned Pigeon... Straubing, Germany: An animal right activist tried to sue the little local zoo for inadequate treatment of the alleged "skin disease" of a camel. The "skin disease" turned out to be normal seasonal coat-shedding. Arnheim, NL, Burger’s Zoo:
A tourist claimed that an “ESB”(=European Studbook) ran into him in the rainforest exhibit. The “ESB” turned out to be a Crowned Pigeon…

Straubing, Germany:
An animal right activist tried to sue the little local zoo for inadequate treatment of the alleged “skin disease” of a camel. The “skin disease” turned out to be normal seasonal coat-shedding.

]]> By: Suzanne Coleman http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos#comment-43 Suzanne Coleman Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:17:36 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos/#comment-43 As Education Officer at theWelsh Mountain Zoo I have been asked on more than one occassion by children who have come into the Education Centre if the chinchilla was an elephant. I suppose they are both grey animals with big ears and something curly at one end but can only conclude that seeing an animal on TV is no substitute for seeing the real thing. As Education Officer at theWelsh Mountain Zoo I have been asked on more than one occassion by children who have come into the Education Centre if the chinchilla was an elephant. I suppose they are both grey animals with big ears and something curly at one end but can only conclude that seeing an animal on TV is no substitute for seeing the real thing.

]]> By: Erin http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos#comment-42 Erin Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:45:58 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos/#comment-42 I used to volunteer at an aquarium. Often, dads would tell their kids "hey, look at the lions!" (They were Sumatran Tigers.) Once, a lady asked me about the large "round fish" that seemed to be in distress -- it was a ray near the surface, splashing visitors for fun. I used to volunteer at an aquarium. Often, dads would tell their kids “hey, look at the lions!” (They were Sumatran Tigers.)

Once, a lady asked me about the large “round fish” that seemed to be in distress — it was a ray near the surface, splashing visitors for fun.

]]> By: Bob Barathy http://www.johnreganassociates.com/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos#comment-41 Bob Barathy Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:42:44 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/accessing-a-hard-to-reach-audience-the-unbelievable-things-visitors-say-at-zoos/#comment-41 Welsh Mountain Zoo (mid 80's) Daughter: Mummy, why had that flamingo only got one leg. Mother: They cut it off so the birds can't fly away. Welsh Mountain Zoo (mid 80′s)
Daughter: Mummy, why had that flamingo only got one leg.
Mother: They cut it off so the birds can’t fly away.

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