surprising?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6231539/Wellington-toddler-faces-down- massive-lion

"He uploaded the 45-second clip to YouTube after the January 4 visit to the zoo and it has since received hundreds of views."

281 so far. It's a small world after all!

I was expecting ANYTHING to happen. So subby is correct: when absolutely nothing happened, I was surprised.

Geez, kids stay toddlers for an awfully long time in New Zealand.

Also, methinks the paper has the concepts of "brave" and "knows the lion can't get her" confused with one another.

That was oddly depressing.

/hates zoos

I don't get the "oh man we need to back away, come away" stuff. It's not gonna crash through the glass, man.

Taunting a wild animal who is undoubtedly stressed and just wanting to eat it's food is not amusing.

Moonraper: That was oddly depressing.

/hates zoos

Same here.
Granted, they are probably very well taken care of, but I couldn't help thinking that he would rather be someplace else.

URAPNIS: Granted, they are probably very well taken care of, but I couldn't help thinking that he would rather be someplace else.

I think that the "someplace else" is likely very close by. Within just a couple feet probably.

zoos ftl!

FTFA: She doesn't seem fazed by the whole thing.

Duh. She's, what, 3? The whole point of parenting is to explain certain things, like "antagonizing an apex predator is a bad idea." No, the parents are amused, the kid's curious, and the lion's pissed.

FTFA: She's a very strong and adventurous character.

Duh, She's what, 3? She's too clueless to be afraid, and too curious to listen. When she hits 15 and runs away with a biker named Zeus, call us and tell us how "very strong and adventurous" worked out for you.

Headso: zoos ftl!

No argument there. The idea that you can go up to a glass pane and antagonize a lion doesn't say "zoo" so much as "wild animal torture park." I'm all for zoos that allow humans to observe animals with little or no stress to the animals - there are quite a few zoos designed for just that purpose. This, apparently, isn't one of them.

does not approve

ModernPrimitive01: Taunting a wild animal who is undoubtedly stressed and just wanting to eat it's food is not amusing.

That was neither funny nor cute.

I can almost feel the frustration of the lion.

/Real question- Why do the zoo's allow the animals to see the visitors? I understand people wanting to see the animals but... why let the animals see the folks behind the invisible barrier?

Maybe this is similar to the tigers? that got to escape and kill a couple of teens a while ago?

As with most of the contributors on this site, I rooted for the tigers? that finally got one of the taunting freaks.

The only thought going through that lion's head is "WHERE IS THE MAYONNAISE? SOMEBODY GET ME SOME FARKING MAYONNAISE! DAMMIT! HOW CAN THEY EXPECT ME TO EAT THIS SHIAT WITHOUT MY FARKING MAYONNAISE!"

the worst part is, if by some miracle a kid did fall in (or more realistically, climb over a fence "to touch it) than die. The lion gets put to sleep. Fark you children, fark you zoos.

Thanks! Wayne 985!

Surprising results:

The lion backs down and walks away with it's tail between it's legs

or

The lion breaks through the glass and kills half the people in the room.

Not surprising result:

The lion tries to eat the girl and fails as hard as this video.

Hey Stubby. You know what would have been more surprising than this? Anything.

"What's he telling me?"

What your parents should have, sweetie: get the Hell away from the window and leave the lion in peace to eat his freakin' dinner.

"Hey c'mon sharky. You call yourself the king of the jungle?"

FormlessOne: Headso: zoos ftl!

No argument there. The idea that you can go up to a glass pane and antagonize a lion doesn't say "zoo" so much as "wild animal torture park." I'm all for zoos that allow humans to observe animals with little or no stress to the animals - there are quite a few zoos designed for just that purpose. This, apparently, isn't one of them.

then little Suzy went to a national park and tried to feed the bears and having learned absolutely no sense of fear of things that can eat her, was promptly eaten.

darkvstar: then little Suzy went to a national park and tried to feed the bears and having learned absolutely no sense of fear of things that can eat her, was promptly eaten.

And nothing of value was lost.

CSB

About 7 years ago, I took my then 9 year old cousin to the Tallahassee Natural History Museum, while they had a lion exhibit visiting from Alabama. At one point, I picked up my cousin and tickled. Naturally, he squealed and giggled... and one of the lionesses zeroed in on him *instantly*. Every ounce of her attention came down to finding a way out of that enclosure to get at him (I'm sure his bright yellow rain jacket helped). After watching this for about 30 seconds, and looking at the plexiglass that she was thinking of jumping through, I grabbed him and said "We're outta here, dude."

/CSB
//Also, before we got to the enclosure, we were hanging out by another display, and the lion roared. Everything that could climb a tree did.

Fake as hell. The lion really ate her.

Okay engineers, how do you figure out how much glass is needed, and then how do you (humanely) test this?

/difficulty: no transparent aluminum

FormlessOne: Headso: zoos ftl!

No argument there. The idea that you can go up to a glass pane and antagonize a lion doesn't say "zoo" so much as "wild animal torture park." I'm all for zoos that allow humans to observe animals with little or no stress to the animals - there are quite a few zoos designed for just that purpose. This, apparently, isn't one of them.

Lion could have gone off to a different part of the enclosure if he didn't want to interact with the visitors. Sure he does not have the concept of glass, but at least it gives him something to do other then sitting around all day bored.

Also, it's an animal in a zoo, it's only there to entertain and educate visitors. Humans > Animals.

RoyBatty: Okay engineers, how do you figure out how much glass is needed, and then how do you (humanely) test this?

/difficulty: no transparent aluminum

Speed of lion x weight of lion. Add a little. Hit glass that hard. No break,then it's strong enough.

Erg did you think they did, shoot real lions out of cannons at it?

Smackledorfer: Erg did you think they did, shoot real lions out of cannons at it?

Frozen lions, but yeah.

Still, I'd want the glass manufacturer to guarantee the longevity of this glass over the years through repeated heat / freeze cycles and other forms of abuse including the lion repeatedly charging it.

RoyBatty: Still, I'd want the glass manufacturer to guarantee the longevity of this glass over the years through repeated heat / freeze cycles and other forms of abuse including the lion repeatedly charging it.

Cheaper to settle when the lion breaks through. Plus, free publicity and save on lion food.

Moonraper: That was oddly depressing.

/hates zoos

Zoos are going to be the main way that many exotic species don't go extinct. If you think that going extinct is better than being in captivity then I can't sway your thinking, but don't doubt their importance.

Smackledorfer:
Speed of lion x weight of lion. Add a little. Hit glass that hard. No break,then it's strong enough.

Erg did you think they did, shoot real lions out of cannons at it?

Well if it works for bridge testing

did they declaw him? why werent there any scratching sounds?