I wonder if anyone knows how to read anymore? We are such a visual generation with so much TV and video games. We are used to eye-catching visual stimuli that when we come across a simple sign we disregard it.
Today we went to the Honolulu Zoo. Yes, I shelled out $2.50 for parking in the zoo parking lot. (Don’t let me get started on the rate increase at the zoo parking lot…that’s a post in itself.)
Little One and I were enjoying the monkeys and lemurs since they were putting on a show for everyone. They were very active and noisy today. It was pretty funny, even Little One was laughing at them. As we walked around that area, I noticed a family standing in front of the lemurs. The father had a bag of bread in his hand and was tearing off pieces and throwing it at the lemurs and the fish in the pond. I couldn’t believe it! Didn’t he read the numerous signs asking people NOT to feed the animals because they are on a specialized diet and that human food can make them sick? By the way, he was not a tourist.
I happened to see this family again in the African Savanna. They were walking right in front of me. The same father stopped in front of a plant and started breaking off branches. He threw a couple of them on the ground. At first I thought he was breaking off pieces that were sticking out and were posing a danger to people walking by. NO! He finally broke off a piece of branch that had some flowers on it and he stuck it in his child’s stroller. Later I heard him say to his daughter, “…don’t touch it because it’s grandma’s plant.” Interesting! Is it okay to take plants or cuttings of plants from the zoo? Maybe I can give him the benefit of the doubt since there wasn’t a sign posted that said, “Don’t take or break the plants!”
Everytime we visit the zoo, we always go to the Keiki Zoo. It never fails that I see at least 1 person eating or drinking in the Keiki Zoo. Sometimes it’s a tourist but most of the time it’s not. I can see why tourists might make that mistake but I have little sympathy for the “locals” who eat/drink in the keiki zoo. There is at least 1 or 2 signs posted at the Keiki Zoo entrance asking people not to eat or drink in the Keiki Zoo. There is also a sign with rules for everyone entering the Keiki Zoo. Have you read them? Today I saw 2 different families eating/drinking in the Keiki Zoo. One of the zoo keepers had to talk to the mommy and she apologized and left the Keiki Zoo. The other family “hid” their child’s drink as the zoo keepers walked by.
All I can say to these people is “AUWE!”
I think it’s pretty sad that my fellow kama’aina can not follow the rules. The Honolulu Zoo is a great place to visit for kama’aina families as well as tourist. You would think that “we” would want to take care of this familiy destination.
Remember children learn what they live. They learn from our example. So what are we teaching them when we don’t follow posted rules or we steal plants? We are teaching our children to not respect rules and to not be good citizens.
Then we wonder why our children behave the way they do.
Just a thought.