NATION Zoos reconsider protection issue

Zoos are emphasizing the importance of visitors respecting the animals.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
ST. LOUIS -- At Penguin and Puffin Coast at the St. Louis Zoo, the birds are so close that visitors can touch them.
And some do.
"It's so tempting to just reach over," said Zoo employee Kyle Hardin. "People will try to touch them or just put their hands in the water to see how cold it is."
Hardin's job is to protect the birds and the public from each other. He keeps food out of the exhibit and reminds visitors not to pet the penguins. Those who violate the rules are curious -- not cruel -- said Hardin. Still, any contact can be dangerous.
"It's really important to respect the animals," said Hardin.
Gorilla attack
Many zoological parks are stressing that message in the wake of last month's gorilla rampage at the Dallas Zoo and the arrival of peak zoo visiting season.
Dallas officials are investigating why Jabari, a 300-pound gorilla, attacked four people before police shot him to death. Some witnesses claim the ape was provoked. They say that two teenagers threw rocks or ice at the gorilla before the attack.
The attack is prompting zoos to rethink not only how to protect us from the animals but also how to protect the animals from us.
"It's wonderful that zoos have these open, naturalist habitats, but people have to be sensitive," said Jane Ballentine of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association in Silver Spring, Md. "I've witnessed boys being too rowdy or trying to get over a fence. There are cases where it's [apparent] the kids haven't been taught respect for life. But you don't have to taunt an animal to harm it. Some things are common sense, like don't throw pennies in the penguin exhibit."
Recognizing tension
Zoos recognize the tension between offering visitors an up-close view of animals while still keeping both animal and visitor safe.
Fragile Forest, which will become the new home of the St. Louis Zoo's primates in 2005, was designed to allow humans to get close, but also designed to make it nearly impossible for primates -- who definitely notice their human observers -- to escape.
St. Louis Zoo President Jeffrey Bonner said taunting might not bother most animals, but primates were more like us -- easy to rile and quick to strike.
"We're very fortunate that there is an incredible amount of reverence that people have for the zoo," said Bonner. "There isn't a lot of graffiti or vandalism, and people tend to show a lot of respect for the animals. That's the good news. But primates [gorillas, orangutans or chimpanzees] are more problematic. They may not respond to you, but they may redirect their frustration to other members of their troop."