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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rosbifs" data-source="post: 3407676" data-attributes="member: 35084">Things are vastly different now but as a child I always escaped the attentions of my parents - to the extent that they put me on a lead. Imagaine my fathers suprise when I waved at him from the inside of a Snowy Owl enclosure at Colchester zoo (I think) at the age of 4 or even the middle of the island where the geese or ducks were.My daughter has showed the same initiative, to the extent that we got her a lead, when she dissappeared at East Midlands airport at the age of 3. I was on my own, we both stopped to buy mummy some perfume, which she chose, I literally asked the price and she was gone. Shear fear and panic but when I found her at the front desk I was made to feel like such a bad parent - not capable of looking after my child. Which, frankly, was true but I had my eye off her for less than 10 seconds... But at the same time, I would doubt that ANY parent has got a 5/6 year old where they haven't lost sight of their child at some point.This is not to make light of the instance but at our local animal park I am horrified by the ease that I, even as a as a 4 year old, could climb in with Bears, Vultures, Wolves etc. Particularly as in two sections you are encouraged to climb over similar looking fences to feed the goats or Marmottes! School parties visit here with maybe one parent/teacher for say 6/8 children. When all said and done this sort of incident would have been covered in 'health and safety' briefings of staff as I'm sure will have to be the practice at zoos throughout the world. The scenario might even have been practised but either way I don't see it as 'unforseable'. I am assuming that the zoo staff acted within their guidelines. To try and second guess what could have happened is not really in their remit and nor should it be. Presumably the zoo can't point to their guidelines - kid falls in, press this button, animal within 10ft kill it.What reaction would have been provoked if the gorilla felt the pain of a dart? What reaction if someone entered the cage with it? You can't ask the zoo keeper to second guess this when someones life is at stake, whoever at fault, and nor should you. Everyone has heard the dog owner say 'thats the first time he's ever bitten anyone'.</blockquote>

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