Don't stare at the apes, zoo tells visitors

Most people visit zoos to see the animals - but visitors to Antwerp Zoo in Belgium are being told not to look at the apes.

Instead, visitors are now confronted with signs telling them that making prolonged eye contact with the apes leaves them sad and withdrawn. Zoo staff reckon staring can result in the creatures becoming less sociable.



A spokesman said: "We are saying to visitors that, if our apes hold eye contact with them, then they should look away for a bit or take a step back. Our evidence shows that chimpanzees and other apes who have a lot of contact with visitors apparently tend to isolate themselves from their companions over the course of time."

Dirk Woldt, a teacher visiting the zoo with his family, said: "When we saw the signs, we thought it was a joke.

"The next thing you know, they'll be having to counsel the apes."