Zoo bans 'damaging' bunny outfit

Published on Saturday 23 April 2011 13:53

A TEENAGER suffering from cancer was barred from visiting Edinburgh Zoo because she was dressed as an Easter bunny.

Laura Gibson and her friends, who were wearing bunny and chicken costumes, were told by bosses that their costumes would cause the animals "deep psychological damage".

The 15-year-old, who has been receiving daily chemotherapy treatment at the Sick Kids' Hospital for Hodgkin's lymphoma, had been encouraged to go out as a treat because her immune system had improved.

But when the group, including Laura's father and brother, showed up at the gates yesterday in all-in-one bunny suits they were refused entry by a zoo manager.

A zoo spokeswoman confirmed that they had turned the visitors away because it has been proven that costumes can cause "psychological damage".

She said: "It is zoo policy not to allow people wearing costumes to enter the zoo. We have to put animal welfare first. It does very much distress the animals if they go up to the enclosure. The chimpanzees in particular get very distressed."

Laura, who is from the New Town and attends the Mary Erskine School, said: "We are all absolutely gutted, having this planned for a while.

"We were given the bunny onesies as an Easter gift by our parents and were so keen to go to the zoo in them and get pictures."

She added: "People go galavanting around the zoo in masks or with their faces painted and we can't wear innocent bunny costumes. It's ridiculous."