Orangutan Splash Zone Warning

Text on the meme

If you’re standing here… YOU MIGHT GET WET! HOW? The orangutans have a button in their exhibit that they can choose to press, giving anyone in the “splash zone” a short shower of WATER! WHY? Enrichment is an important part of any animal’s experience here at The Toledo Zoo. Our enrichment programs offer stimulation to all of the animals’ senses. First, the orangutans learn to manipulate the BUTTON— your reaction provides them with visual stimulation. This feature lets our great apes interact with visitors in a whole new way! The orangutan shower project was generously funded by George and Judy ...

What it means

A zoo sign warns visitors that orangutans can press a button to spray water into the splash zone. The joke is the unexpectedly elaborate explanation for why visitors may get soaked, framing the orangutans’ enjoyment of visitors’ reactions as educational enrichment. It is sent as a reaction to situations where an absurdly direct consequence is explained with excessive official seriousness.

Who

orangutan / орангутан

Objects

zoo sign / вывеска в зоопарке wooden post / деревянный столб orangutan face / лицо орангутана zoo enclosure / вольер зоопарка button / кнопка splash zone / зона брызг water spray / струя воды walkway / дорожка trees / деревья wooden structure / деревянная конструкция glass window / стеклянное окно visitor / посетитель