A Texas zoo has pledged to take visitors’ concerns into account after a petition accused it of displaying Halloween decorations too frightening for young children.
The Change.org petition, launched October 31, alleged that the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler had installed simulated mutilated body parts, headless figures, menacing characters hanging from trees and towering skeletons with glowing red eyes.
“Parents have reported children leaving in tears, expressing fear at bedtime, and asking anxious questions about death and dying after seeing the displays,” the petition’s authors wrote.
In an update Monday, organisers said the petition had gathered more than 500 signatures and that they had been in contact with the zoo’s president and chief executive.
The zoo said in a social media post Monday that it was aware of concerns that some decorations “were too much for small children.”
“We want you to know that your opinions are heard and will be taken into account for future events,” it said.
