Does anybody else have their own 'rules' or 'requirements' when your visiting a zoo with somebody else? Here are mine: 'Please'...." -Keep up because I walk quite fast at zoos. -Don't call an ape a monkey. -No stopping for breaks unless we have all day. -No using a map unless we really need it. -Don't use a schedule for the things we need to see, just follow the path or we won't actually get to see everything.
now I'm imagining you at the zoo: "Hmm, where does that path lead..." [looking at map] "Stop looking at the map or I'll shank you! "
Hoofstock first No asking when are we going to leave Before you guess about what an animal is called read a sign or ask me
-Don't ask what an animal is before looking at the signs -No asking what's left or when we're leaving -What's the "important" stuff -No asking, "where is it?" -Keep up with me/slow down depending on where we are and if I'm seeing something new or not -No stopping for constant breaks! -No telling me to hurry up! -Don't complain if I want to go around again if it's a small zoo ~Thylo
If they're going to bring me they're going to visit with me. I'm mostly independent during visits as it is, though. I mean, I barely see the people I visit with as I tend to spend more time at each exhibit then they do and I photograph/log what I see. Of course since they're still bringing me I'm forced to take breaks with them, follow their schedule, arrive/leave on their time, and of course they like me to stay in the same general area as them at all times. ~Thylo
My rule is to see everything. Using a map certainly helps in this respect, as does going down every path possible, whether or not it looks like its supposed to be for people or not. I recently found myself in what appeared to be an old elephant enclosure at Melbourne Zoo, and was shooed out by a staff member. In regards to going alone/with others, in some ways going with my partner is better than going alone, but I avoid going with my family or other larger groups. My partner is a bit too fond of breaks, but is very good at spotting reptiles in terrariums, something I often struggle with, so does come in useful.
1.don't tell me to hurry up at a exhibit (especially if it's a new animal for me, I'm taking a photo, I'm taking notes, etc.) 2. Don't shout "oh, look a .........." and especially if you guess the species. 3.don't say "that animals boring". 4. Don't ask when we're leaving, if you wanted to come, why are you asking to leave? 5.no flash and no banging on the glass. And even though I haven't yet been able to, I agree with jbnbsn99's rule : go alone. I can't wait for my first zoo visit alone.
Tip for determining your rules: if the zoo visitor is annoying you so much that you want to/imagine in your head, shouting at them. (ps. I haven't shouted at anyone YET)
If I'm visiting as a posse it tends to be with like-minded lads and lasses from IZES/Bartlett/ZooChat so most of the above annoyances are avoided - over the years we've settled into a extended group who pretty much have the same approach to zoo visiting, which is perhaps best described as 'relaxed but thorough'. Periodically there are (very welcome) new additions who join in and no-one has objected to our methods yet! And for a first-time-visit/seldom-visited zoo, you can't beat 'left-left-left' or 'right-right-right' round the edges, then fill in the middle (unless the middle is where the thing you most want to see is, in which case go to that first, then go round the edge ). I also agree with zooboy28 - I don't like leaving paths out! You'd only find out later that's where the Kodkods were..!
