Reader: Zoo has some responsibility for drunk woman who got into elephant exhibit

Melanie Asmar's post about a drunk woman who got into an elephant exhibit at the Denver Zoo notes that new signage is intended to prevent something like this from happening in the future. In the view of one reader, though, the Zoo shouldn't be considered off the hook for what...

By Michael Roberts

January 9, 2014

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Melanie Asmar's post about a drunk woman who got into an elephant exhibit at the Denver Zoo notes that new signage is intended to prevent something like this from happening in the future. In the view of one reader, though, the Zoo shouldn't be considered off the hook for what could have been a dangerous incident.

bylagoon writes:

When the Zoo sells alcohol they have to assume some degree of responsibility.They should be on alert that an inebriated person could get into prohibited animal areas when you sell alcohol. New trespassing signs will not make a difference.If drunk people read signs she would not have found her way into the elephant area and touched a electrical wire in the first place.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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