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Original poster

Couldn't believe how stupid this man was at the Zoo yesterday with his 2 DDs.....

33 replies

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 16:36

Hello. This probably won't sound as bad as what it actually looked as when my Sis told her DP I thought it didn't sound anywhere near as bad.

Anyway. Went to the Zoo yesterday and they had like a large enclosure that you can walk through with the Lemers (small monkeys). There were big signs to say NO FOOD as the monkeys would try and get it etc.

This bloke walks in with his 2 DDs about 3 and 4ish at a guess, carrying them both. They both have an ice cream and cornet in their hands. So these monkeys came over looking at the food as they naturally would. The man, instead of walking away, watches his DDs tease one monkey in particular and the monkey is getting wound up. He then puts them down on the ground so they can get closer. The monkey by this stage looks like he might scratch the children to get the food and lots of people looking worried and somebody said that there was no food. I managed to make eyes with a member of staff who was wondering over this way. The man then gets ice cream on his hands and lets the monekey eat it. The monkey is now trying to climb on the 3 year old and the Dad is saying "it is following us now, get off you little basdard" to the monkey. Still hasn't tried to move away and is still allowing his DD's to have the ice creams and waving it near the monkey.

The monkey was litterally about to scratch the child's face before the staff came over and helped and told the man that is why there is no food etc. The girl is screaming but not actually hurt. The bloke still laughs at the monkey and although leaves, he still didn't seem to see what the problem is.

Is it just me or is this so stupid? He was putting both his DDs at risk and wasn't even bothered. Took absolutly no notice of all the warnings and was just so oblivious to any danger. How would he have felt if the DD got hurt? Maybe even complain about the zoo?

OP posts:

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Original poster

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 16:37

Sorry just realised it was a bit long. Also meant to say, early on he was saying "naughty Daddy" and "nobody is looking" so he obviously knew he wasn't meant to be feeding the monkey.

OP posts:

singyswife · 28/09/2008 16:39

Stupid man, was this edinburgh zoo???? (i am a member there so I know they have a walk through lemur enclosure/

janeite · 28/09/2008 16:40

Pillock.

Have you read Bill Bryson's "A Walk In The Woods" which tells of the moronic mother who smeared honey on her baby's hands, for a bear who had come down to a picnic site?

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Original poster

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 16:42

No, not edinbourgh it was Wipsinade (sp)

OP posts:

MrsTittleMouse · 28/09/2008 16:42

Actually, it does sound as bad as it looked. The idiot was encouraging a wild animal to potentially scratch or bite his preschool child. Plus it is really cruel to the monkey to taunt them with food. Plus it will encourage the monkeys to go up to other small children, in the hope that they have food too, so he's putting everyone else at risk.

Original poster

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 16:44

Exactly MTM. And he is teaching his children this is ok to do this to animals!

OP posts:

cupcakesinthesnow · 28/09/2008 16:45

Yes, and no doubt had the lemur hurt his child he would have complained. What a idiot.

Chequers · 28/09/2008 16:45

Yeay, a bona fide opportunity to judge someone else's parenting.

He sounds like a conplete tit.

3littlefrogs · 28/09/2008 16:52

A bit like the man who was rootling about in the boot of his car for ages yesterday while his small children ran about in a busy main road.

He then proceded to stop and wipe small boy's nose - still in the middle of road, while small girl wandered about.

He let them both out of his car on the road side, not the pavement. Idiot.

Original poster

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 17:02

I have let a child out on a roadside when needed but been really careful, stood by them and done it when no cars are around and held hand till on pavement sort of thing. But the man you talk about littlefrogs sounds like an idiot just like the one in the Zoo!

OP posts:

sarah293 · 28/09/2008 17:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BabyBaby123 · 28/09/2008 17:05

god what an arse - i can't stand people like this

Original poster

chloemegjess · 28/09/2008 17:10

I was just worried about his kids! I was trying not to look as I could just see something going wrong!

OP posts:

Blu · 28/09/2008 17:12

Monkeys bite really badly.

The staff should carry stun guns for ineidents like this.

To fire at the parents - obviously.

And the lemurs could be made ill being offered sugary food.

StayFrosty · 28/09/2008 17:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wannaBe · 28/09/2008 17:21

what a prize twat.

Sorry to be pedantic though but.. lemers are not monkeys. they are primates but not monkeys.

wannaBe · 28/09/2008 17:22

and I bet he would be quick to sue if one of his dd's had been bitten.

BouncingTurtle · 28/09/2008 17:24

at idiot dad!
Glad you didn't try to intervene CMJ - he sounds like the type to go off it at the slightest provocation...

misdee · 28/09/2008 17:25

what a twonk!

have been in with the lemurs plenty of times with the dd's at whipsnade, and there are loads of signs saying no food, and not to touch the lemurs. you can get really close to them, one walked right past where i was standing near the fence, and i had to take my hands off the fence to allow it to pass. have taken loads of close up pics of the lemurs over the last two years there, as its an amazing experience. but idiots like this man spoil it.

hippipotami · 28/09/2008 17:29

janeite - yes I read that, sounds like this dad should too!

What a complete adn utter twonk. And he will be teh type to sue the zoo the minute one of his dd's gets scratched by the monkey.

Urgh, people like that make my blood boil!

hippipotami · 28/09/2008 17:29

Sorry misdee, I appear to have stolen your word 'twonk'.

Love the word, may I keep it please??

BabyBaby123 · 28/09/2008 17:50

lol, I wonder if any Mumsnetter's dh/dps were at Whipsnade yesterday with two dds, if so they will be getting a grilling atm!!

misdee · 28/09/2008 18:22

twonk is such an under used words, and should be used daily IMO

TheSmallClanger · 28/09/2008 18:24

Idiot, idiot, idiot.

If the lemur had bitten or scratched the child trying to get at the food, not only would the child have been frightened or injured, but the lemur would probably have been destroyed.
Normally, there are staff patrolling walk-through pens, who will remove idiots like this and chuck them out of the zoo if they kick off about it. The keepers should have spray bottles to distract the lemurs from people, as well. If you see it happening again, please report it.

Simplysally · 28/09/2008 18:29

Idiotic man. What an example to set his children as well - no one is looking so it's ok to disobey rules set for a good reason?

Bet he wouldn't torment the big cats in that way .

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