A couple of visitors at the Memphis Zoo ruined one of the exhibits for everyone else… for the time being.
At this point, we all just trust that the glass in certain exhibits at the zoo are built to withstand an attack or escape attempt by the animal being held. None of us would willingly go to the zoo to see our favorite animals (usually with our families) if we thought there was any potential danger, right?
It’s always fun to see the large primates walk around in their artificial habitat (especially if a goose lands inside), and zoo goers that were recently at the Memphis Zoo got the shock of their lives when a bonobo ape charged at the barrier of its exhibit and broke the glass.
According to a statement from the Memphis Zoo, they believe the bonobo was provoked before it attacked the glass:
“Disruptive behavior at exhibits does not just damage property. It has meaningful consequences for the animals’ daily routines and wellbeing, which is why respectful conduct is essential.
The habitat is constructed with multiple layers of reinforced safety glass that meet rigorous safety standards. The additional layers remained fully intact, and there was no breach of the habitat.”
Fortunately, only a layer of the reinforced glass broke when the ape charged at full speed and launched itself into the see-through barrier.
It’s truly terrifying to watch, and as you might imagine, the footage of this incident (which took place last Thursday) went viral online shortly after it happened. That’s no surprise, because this kind of accident doesn’t happen all of the time… or at least you hope it doesn’t.
Check it out:
@wmcactionnews5TAKE A LOOK: This exclusive video shows a bonobo ape crack the glass at its exhibit at the Memphis Zoo on Thursday. The area is temporarily closed while the interior is replaced.
Thank goodness the glass was a) multiple layers thick and b) reinforced.
Unfortunately, the “bad apples” that provoked and messed with the ape got the exhibit closed for the foreseeable future. The Memphis Zoo isn’t entirely sure when they’ll be able to open the bonobo exhibit back up, only because the reinforced glass piece that’s used as a barrier between the animals and the zoo’s visitors is a “specially fabricated item.”
They are currently expecting a prolonged closure of the exhibit, but the Memphis Zoo is still encouraging the masses to come and visit. They’re just asking that zoo goers refrain from any sort of activity that could rile up the animals within the zoo and cause another scene like the one above:
“The bonobos will have limited access to portions of their outdoor habitat, which directly affects their ability to fully utilize their space. We welcome families and guests of all ages, and we ask everyone to be respectful when visiting exhibits. That means not striking the glass, shouting at animals, taunting them, or crowding exhibit barriers.”
Lesson learned… hopefully?
