/ 25 September 2013

Zoo outlaws animal-print clothing

The animals are scared by visitors wearing leopard print clothing.
The animals are scared by visitors wearing leopard print clothing. (AFP)

"We have announced an animal-print ban. This follows confusion amongst our 'Zufari: Ride Into Africa!' animals," Chessington World of Adventures said in a statement on Wednesday.

The park-wide prohibition was introduced after the launch of a new ride, Zufari, in which visitors come face to face with giraffes, rhinos and other animals as they drive around in off-road trucks.

When the animals encountered a visitor wearing a print similar to their own they acted a little "over-friendly", said a spokesperson for the zoo, located southwest of London.

"If they were wearing a pattern similar to a predator, they would get scared and run away," he told Agence France-Presse.

The zoo said that anyone wearing animal prints would be able to borrow clothing to cover up while on the ride. – AFP