Animal Secrets Zoos Don’t Want You To Know - Summary

Summary

A zookeeper shares lesser-known facts about various animals, revealing their often-surprising and humorous personalities. Some examples include:

* Zebras are responsible for the most injuries to zookeepers due to their unpredictability.
* Foxes have a strong odor that can linger on skin, hair, and clothes.
* Rhinos are friendly and gentle, despite their size and strength.
* Anteaters can be aggressive and have even attacked zookeepers.
* Tortoises are dim-witted and may try to mate with objects, including buckets and rocks.
* Orangutans are intelligent and mischievous, with some even learning how to pick locks.
* Meerkats are aggressive and territorial, known to attack and even kill each other.
* Chimpanzees are considered "kill on sight" in many zoos due to their aggressive nature.
* Walruses are known to masturbate, often in front of crowds.
* Tigers are affectionate and playful, often showing affection to their favorite zookeepers.
* Elephants, primates, and parrots can become lonely during the winter months when there are fewer visitors.

The zookeeper also shares stories of visitors who have been injured or killed by animals, often due to their own reckless behavior. These stories highlight the importance of respecting animals and their habitats.

Lastly, the zookeeper expresses frustration with visitors who disregard safety rules and warnings, causing stress and danger for both the animals and zoo staff.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. Zebras are responsible for many injuries to zookeepers due to their unpredictable behavior.
2. Foxes have a strong and unpleasant odor that can stick to hair, clothes, and skin for weeks.
3. Rhinos are known to be friendly and gentle, despite their large size.
4. With ducks, it's recommended to have 4-6 males for every female to prevent aggression.
5. Anteaters are known to be mean and can attack without warning.
6. Tortoises are known to be stupid and have been observed trying to mate with inanimate objects.
7. Orangutans are intelligent and can steal items, but will return them in exchange for food.
8. Koalas are difficult to handle and can be aggressive, despite their cute appearance.
9. Aquariums use artificial insemination for dolphin breeding programs due to the difficulty of transporting the animals.
10. Members of the camelidae family (including llamas and camels) can spit stomach contents mixed with saliva when annoyed.
11. Turkey vultures are known to be affectionate and form strong bonds with their keepers.
12. Meerkats are considered to be one of the most aggressive and violent animals in zoos.
13. Chimpanzees are considered to be kill-on-sight animals in many zoos due to their strength and aggression.
14. Blocks can be vicious and inflict nasty injuries on animals and people.
15. Tortoises can be stubborn and block enclosures, making it difficult for zookeepers to enter or exit.
16. Pandas are expensive to rent and care for, with a annual cost of over $1.5 million.
17. Zebras can be traded for other animals, such as penguins or lion cubs, in the zoo animal trade.
18. Zookeepers often work long hours and may have to sleep at the zoo to respond to emergencies.
19. Many animals in captivity become worse parents due to stress and other factors.
20. Walruses are known to engage in masturbation, using their flippers or mouths.
21. Vulnerables will often wait for a crowd to gather before masturbating in front of an audience.
22. Tigers can't purr, but they show affection by slow blinking.
23. Tigers share 95% of their DNA with domestic cats.
24. Many animals in zoos get lonely during the winter months due to fewer visitors.
25. Some zoos have used Facetime or other video calls to keep animals company during times of low visitor numbers.
26. In 2009, a woman jumped into a polar bear enclosure at a Berlin zoo and was mauled by four bears.
27. In 2007, three men taunted a Siberian tiger at a San Francisco zoo, leading to an attack that killed one man and injured two others.
28. In 2017, a man was mauled by three big cats after scaling a 10-foot wall to get into a zoo.
29. In 1987, two boys were killed by polar bears after climbing into an enclosure at Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn.

Note: These facts are based on the text and may not be verified or accurate.