Ringtail lemur body language?

[Zoo Nanny]

Actually there is very little fully "restricted" contact in most zoos. It would be impossible to properly care for an animal or train them. The first zoo I worked at was still full contact with the elephants and the majority of the animals. The only animals there that were non contact were the snow leopards, peccary, ostrich, moon and polar bears and the gibbons. There was limited contacted with the cheetah for catch ups with a minimum of two keepers in with press board. There was also limited contact with some of the larger hoof stock as far as not having a barrier between you and them like the giraffe, zebra and some of the large antelope. A couple of the animals I kept as non contact per my choice like the camels. The second zoo I worked at was a little more restrictive with no contact with large cats, wild dogs, hippo, gorilla and a couple of others. There was minimal contact with most of the animals during training sessions as far as how close your hand was to them or touching them.
I have worked with quite a few exotic animals in the zoos. Bobcat and Lynx both were confiscations by Fish & Wildlife and both were still very wild and dangerous. Ocelot also left to be wild so no direct contact. Contact was limited to training sessions through the chainlink of their holding areas. Coyote, Red Fox, Artic Fox, Grey and Red Wolf I have been in the enclosures with them for cleaning. Most of these animals are very timid and do not approach keepers. One of the coyotes would follow me and she one time came up and sniffed my back actually touching me. It was incredibly exciting. African Wild Dogs are no direct contact, training through the chain link only. Although we did have otter at one zoo I did not work directly with them. They are also a limited contact animal. There are still some animals at the zoos though even though aggressive keepers still go in the enclosures with them. If you see a keeper holding a mop under their arm and using a rake or broom then the animal is aggressive. Mops are used to keep some animals out of reach. This can be anything from large cranes/storks to smaller crocodiles.
In the zoos I worked at some of these animals were being used as breeders for reintroduction programs so keeping them wild was imperative. All of the wolves, ocelot, some of the macaws and cranes were involved in breeding programs.
The uprising is just around the bend!!!! Gorilla intelligence is scary to say the least. Keepers MUST be on their toes at all times.

[Akuma223]

Thanks so much for sharing all that Zoo Nanny. Its unfortunate about the bobcat and lynx being confiscations. If people just did what they were supposed to it'd be better for the animals and the rest of us who want to keep exotics. I've heard that bobcats can be absolutely amazing when bottle-fed properly.
Have you prepared the bunker? We need to hurry before its too late!

[Zoo Nanny]

No bunker, I have connections!!!
Kidding aside though I do have to say that I do not agree with keeping many exotics as pets. There is no way that the average person can offer the proper diet and secure space that most of these animals need. This includes all primates, bears, canids and felines. People do not take in to consideration the what ifs in life when taking on exotic animals. If the person screws up and the animal gets loose or attacks someone it's the animal that pays the ultimate price not the person.