Full Breakdown
Chester Zoo’s “Child Predator” Tour Naming Error Goes Viral
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Misnamed Tour Sparks Outcry
Chester Zoo in Upton-by-Chester advertised a 90-minute bus tour under the label “child predator tour,” with a parallel “adult predator” option. The promotion, intended to showcase Sumatran tigers, lions, rhinos and Komodo dragons, listed tickets at £25 for children and £30 for adults. Within hours of the online listing going live, visitors mocked the wording on X (formerly Twitter), prompting the zoo to rename the options to “Child Tour” and “Child Tour & Admission.”
Zoo’s Explanation and Corrections
The zoo’s website now displays a neutral description of the experience and has removed the word “predator” from the booking page. The corrected listing simply offers adult, child and carer tours, and the zoo confirmed the change was implemented promptly after the mistake was identified.
Public Reaction on Social Media
Social-media users ridiculed the blunder, with one commenter writing, “I hope this has been cleared by Cheshire Police – seems a bit dangerous.” Others expressed disbelief, asking how such a label could have been approved. The viral screenshots and jokes highlighted the sensitivity of the term “predator” when paired with a child-focused ticket.
Zoo Profile and Tour Details
Founded in 1931 by George Mottershead, Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s largest zoological parks, covering 51 hectares and housing over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. In 2024 the zoo was named the best zoo in the United Kingdom.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hope this has been cleared by Cheshire Police - seems a bit dangerous.” — Another
- “The error was due to our default naming convention in our system.” — spokesperson