We got locked in the Zoo - would you complain?

[sharklet]

We went to stay with my parents last weekend and they decided it would be nice for DD to visit Paignton Zoo. I used to go lots when I was a kid and its one of my favourite zoos.

Anyway we were heading up to see the Elephant's feeding time and as we walked up the slope towards the Elephant House one of the keepers saying "If you go into the Elephant House now..." We thought he was ushering people in to see the Elephants feeding. We walked in and the Elephant House was packed with families. We went to look at the Elephants through the glass and the next thing we knew someone said "they just locked the door!!!"

No-one came to tell us anything. There was no member of staff inside with us. No seating, no radios or telephones, no toilet and all the exits (fire exits as well) had been bolted and locked. We stayed this way for almost an hour. At one stage a member of staff turned up and stood by the door. After much hammering on the door by very worried people she opened it and said - "Can I help?" as if surprised people were getting upset. She explained a peccary (a kind of a wild boar) had escaped and was being darted in the Elephant enclosure. She then left again to take a little boy to the toilet and locked to door behind her. She seemed to see no problem with leaving 200+ people locked in a confined space with no way out and standing room only. Oh I also forgot to mention there were no fire extinguishers visible either.

When we were eventually let out they showed no remorse and seemed shocked that people were so angry at being locked up for nearly and hour with no explanation. I am still livid and my mind keep spinning on what could have happened. Luckily everyone stayed relatively calm but had panic broken out it woud have been a nightmare. We were very glad that we had my Gran's new zimmer frame walker that can double as an occasional seat in stad of her usual walking frame otherwise she would have had a funny turn without a doubt.

I am trying to fashion a really evil letter of complaint any ideas? Does anyone know what they legally have to provide in a space they locke peopel in like that? I appreciate it was for our safety. But the peccary had been loose some time befoe they were ready to dart it ans in that time they could have called the police and had them present - or even just a member of staff with the key and a radio telling us what was goin on.

What do you think?

God at least if they'd have told you what was happening from the very start it perhaps wouldn't have been quite so bad. But that sounds awful, definitely a letter needed!

Blimey, that really is no way to treat people. They really could have told you and as you say, the health and safety implications are frightening. Definitely a letter at the very least. Good luck.

what about the tannoy system? did no one think to do an emergency amnnouncement

absolutely shocking way to treat people. I would ring and ask to speak to the manager if I were you, as a pre-cursor to writing. also write to the local paper etc
False imprisonment.
breach of health and safety regulations
breach of fire regulations
ask to see their policies for dealing with emergency situations

yes, they definitely need a policy review. If they don't take your response seriously enough, post an email link here, and I'll send them an email about my concerns!

The whole thing is a shambles. And you'd have thought you'd even get an apology about an escaped animal too - a pretty serious scenario for a zoo at the best of times! Shocking

It's illegal to lock people in! I'm surprised there wasn't a rush for the exit when the little boy went out. Unbelievable. I have claustrophobia and this would have really, really upset me.

It's illegal to lock people in! I'm surprised there wasn't a rush for the exit when the little boy went out. Unbelievable. I have claustrophobia and this would have really, really upset me.

It's illegal to lock people in! I'm surprised there wasn't a rush for the exit when the little boy went out. Unbelievable. I have claustrophobia and this would have really, really upset me.

I'm speechless. Outrageous!

i replied on BW

Myu friend was locked in the soft play area- it sounds as if she knew what was going on- but it was a complete nightmare as they couldn;t communicate that to their autistic dd (who was screaming the place down and biting herself/everyone around her). My friend seemed to think the locking in was unavoidable- although certainly you should have been told what was happening. I doubt they could have done much about locking you in- but complain about lack of communication

I still don't think they have the right to lock you in. Ask you to stay put, yes, lock you in, no.

aloha- peccary's are dangerous!

If they're that dangerous how the hell did they manage to let it escape in the first place, ffs! It's an extreme failure of care for both the animal and the visitors, in my opinion, and inexcusable that they didn't even offer a feeble apology.

I know peccarys are dangerous. But it wasn't running loose around the zoo. It lives next to the Elephant enclose and had escaped into the elephant enclosure. The Keepers had it cornered there even before they began to lock people into buildings.

The reason they locked everyone in (they confined every zoo visitor into the nearest building) was that theywanted it all done smoothly with no problems (they had to dart the animal and take it back to its cage)

I agree they had to do something, but locking you in when there are staff to keep you informed and staff who have a key to get out is one thing. We were locked in by someone who walked off with the key and only returned on a few occasions over the time we were locked in. Thats what makes me cross. Had something happened, say a fire from all the nervous smkoers cigarettes, we would have had to break out with no idea if it was safer inside or outside.

Hey Jimjams was that you? Sorry your friends DD got caught up in it and it spoiled her day. What a shame as its such a lovely zoo.

Yes, Jimjams, but I still don't think they have the right to actually imprison you. It would have totally freaked me out. And I would be extremely angry. I think I would be thinking along the lines of a solicitors letter. How DARE they?
Also, as you say, very dangerous to lock people in a confined space and simply go away. God, I shall certainly never visit Paignton Prison...oops, I mean Zoo.

sharklet I do agree that they should have communicated what happened. My friend had a terrible time because her dd totally freaked, but she knew what was going on so there wasn't the worry of everyone kicking off. She just had to deal with a trapped tantrum. (TBH it's put me off going with ds1 because he would have ben headbutting the windows and clawing at the doors- and the elephant house would have been worse- the smell is bad- and well tbh we've had enough disasterous Paignton zoo trips without that _.

My friend said there were loads of keepers walking round with guns etc. The elephant enclosure is quite open isn't it? Doesn't it just have wide fencing? I can't remember. I do think they probably did have to confine people to buildings (you know how dozy joe public is - and imagine if someone was darted), but yes you should have been told what was going on and a keyholder should have been manning the doors.

Very shocked to read this, perhaps it was safest to confine people to buildings. This its self is not the problem.
If this is how "escapes" are dealt with there should be set procedures in place where each building is looked after by a designated person, while a specific group is detailed to deal with animal. There is no way every member of staff had to be involved in the capture. The most important part of crowd safety is communication. The staff should have made clear and regular announcements to inform and reassure everyone and identified anyone who needed extra assistance. Personnelly I would have got you all singing songs like nelly the elephant and the animals went in 2 by 2 whilst draging out hay bales, buckets or anything else that the infirm could have sat on.

I'm going to ask my friend today what happened in the soft play bit- will report back so you can compare.

Where do the peccaries live normally? Are they opposite the elephants with the red river hog thingies- or are they on the same side as the elephants (I thought the elephant and giraffe enclosure was surrounded by paths). If they are opposit then presumably it must have crossed a path to get to the elephants and I suppose keeping people out of the way was necessary, although whatever should still have involved commuication- sounds like they need to ensure that they have a procedure where certain people have the specific job of communicating with Joe public.

it sounds more like dartmoore prison than paignton zoo! I cannot understand why you were not told more, at least.

If the crowd of you had started panicing, or a fire had broken out, it could have frightened the elephants locked in with you. I am not familiar with elephant habits, but I would hate to be locked in anywhere with frightened elephants, glass barrier or not.

I would have thought it would have made more sense for a member of staff to stay in there with you so that in case of emergency they could let you out / summon help. Sounds like ropey procedures on their part - not good from a health & safety point of view IMO . I suppose their side of the story was it was a balance of risk between you being outside with the escaped animal (although it sounds ilke it wasn't actually 'loose') and the risk of locking people inside a building. They will probably claim it was for your own safety.