Human Zoo

[Guest guest]

Crowds go ape over 'humans' zoo exhibit

Scantily clad homo sapiens act natural in London zoo enclosure

Aug. 26, 2005

 

LONDON - Caged and barely clothed, eight men and women monkeyed

around for the crowds Friday in an exhibit labeled "Humans" at the

London Zoo.

 

"Warning: Humans in their Natural Environment" read the sign at the

entrance to the exhibit, where the captives could be seen on a rock

ledge in a bear enclosure, clad in bathing suits and pinned-on fig

leaves. Some played with hula hoops, some waved.

 

Visitors stopped to point and laugh, and several children could be

heard asking, "Why are there people in there?"

 

London Zoo spokeswoman Polly Wills says that's exactly the question

the zoo wants to answer.

 

"Seeing people in a different environment, among other animals ...

teaches members of the public that the human is just another

primate,"

Wills said.

 

The exhibit puts the three male and five female "homo sapiens" amid

their primate relatives. While their neighbors might enjoy bananas

and

a good scratch, these eight have divided interests, from a chemist

hoping to raise awareness about apes to a self-described actor/model

and fitness enthusiast.

 

For others, the aping around is just another forum for rampant

exhibitionism and self-promotion.

 

Pointing at one heavy muscled and gleaming body on the ledge, one

visitor joked that the zoo should consider a breeding program.

 

"You can tell why some people came here, like the big muscly men who

clearly like parading around in thongs," said Damien Largey, 23.

 

Melissa Wecker, 21, was disappointed that the humans were wearing

swimsuits beneath their fig leaves. "They're not doing anything. It

looked lots better on the news," she complained.

 

Tom Mahoney, 26, decided to participate after his friend sent him an

e-mail about the contest as a joke. Anything that draws attention to

apes, he said, has his support.

 

"A lot of people think humans are above other animals," he told the

Associated Press. "When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of

reminds us that we're not that special."

 

Mark Ainsworth, 21, heard about the Human Zoo on the news.

 

"I've lived in this country for nine years and have never come to a

zoo," said Ainsworth. "This exhibit made us come to the zoo. Humans

are animals too!"

 

Like the rest of their caged neighbors, the humans had a variety of

toys to keep them entertained - board games, music, paints, and

balls.

 

They are being treated as animals, complete with keepers, but are

allowed to go home each night at closing time.

 

When visitor Peter Bohn, 42, saw the "animals" juggling, he stopped

and had a good laugh.

 

"It's hilarious," he said. "It turns everything upside down. It makes

 

you think about the humans in relation to the animals."

 

After three hours, Mahoney was still having fun, except for when the

wind picks up. But, he added, "I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy

it."

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

It doesn't address the fact that animals shouldn't be in zoos.

 

Jo

 

-

zurumato

veganchat ; Vegan_Animal_Rights

Saturday, August 27, 2005 6:59 PM

Human Zoo

 

 

 

Crowds go ape over 'humans' zoo exhibit

Scantily clad homo sapiens act natural in London zoo enclosure

Aug. 26, 2005

 

LONDON - Caged and barely clothed, eight men and women monkeyed

around for the crowds Friday in an exhibit labeled "Humans" at the

London Zoo.

 

"Warning: Humans in their Natural Environment" read the sign at the

entrance to the exhibit, where the captives could be seen on a rock

ledge in a bear enclosure, clad in bathing suits and pinned-on fig

leaves. Some played with hula hoops, some waved.

 

Visitors stopped to point and laugh, and several children could be

heard asking, "Why are there people in there?"

 

London Zoo spokeswoman Polly Wills says that's exactly the question

the zoo wants to answer.

 

"Seeing people in a different environment, among other animals ...

teaches members of the public that the human is just another

primate,"

Wills said.

 

The exhibit puts the three male and five female "homo sapiens" amid

their primate relatives. While their neighbors might enjoy bananas

and

a good scratch, these eight have divided interests, from a chemist

hoping to raise awareness about apes to a self-described actor/model

and fitness enthusiast.

 

For others, the aping around is just another forum for rampant

exhibitionism and self-promotion.

 

Pointing at one heavy muscled and gleaming body on the ledge, one

visitor joked that the zoo should consider a breeding program.

 

"You can tell why some people came here, like the big muscly men who

clearly like parading around in thongs," said Damien Largey, 23.

 

Melissa Wecker, 21, was disappointed that the humans were wearing

swimsuits beneath their fig leaves. "They're not doing anything. It

looked lots better on the news," she complained.

 

Tom Mahoney, 26, decided to participate after his friend sent him an

e-mail about the contest as a joke. Anything that draws attention to

apes, he said, has his support.

 

"A lot of people think humans are above other animals," he told the

Associated Press. "When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of

reminds us that we're not that special."

 

Mark Ainsworth, 21, heard about the Human Zoo on the news.

 

"I've lived in this country for nine years and have never come to a

zoo," said Ainsworth. "This exhibit made us come to the zoo. Humans

are animals too!"

 

Like the rest of their caged neighbors, the humans had a variety of

toys to keep them entertained - board games, music, paints, and

balls.

 

They are being treated as animals, complete with keepers, but are

allowed to go home each night at closing time.

 

When visitor Peter Bohn, 42, saw the "animals" juggling, he stopped

and had a good laugh.

 

"It's hilarious," he said. "It turns everything upside down. It makes

 

you think about the humans in relation to the animals."

 

After three hours, Mahoney was still having fun, except for when the

wind picks up. But, he added, "I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy

it."