Do Not Feed The Animals

"Do not feed the animals" is a term that originated in zoos but has expanded into popular usage both as a warning and as a humorous display.

The signs are used to discourage visitors from giving any food to the animals. In a zoo this is due to the strict dietary controls in place. The sign is also common when asking people not to feed animals in a public place – some animals are considered to be a pest and would leave the area if the food was not available. One reason for this is that the animals can start aggressively seeking out food from people, sometimes leading to injury. In some cases there are laws to enforce such rules.

Some zoos, particularly petting zoos, do the opposite and actively encourage people to get involved with the feeding of the animals. This, however, is strictly monitored and usually involves set food available from the zookeepers or vending machines.

The term has been adapted for Internet culture and turned into Do not feed the trolls. This is in relation to the idea of responding to an Internet troll (a person who posts inflammatory messages) – the more attention the troll's activities draw from users, the more persistent the troll's behaviour in the forum.