Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Belgium zoo bans staring at apes BRUSSELS, April 16 (UPI) -- The visitors to the Antwerp Zoo in Belgium are being faced with a new challenge, which is not making eye contact with the apes. Advertisement The zoo's patron's are faced with signs telling them that if one of the apes makes eye contact then they should look away, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday. The staff said they think eye contact can result in the creatures losing their sociability. "We are saying to visitors that, if our apes hold eye contact with them, then they should look away for a bit or take a step back. Our evidence shows that chimpanzees and other apes who have a lot of contact with visitors apparently tend to isolate themselves from their companions over the course of time," a spokesman for the Antwerp Zoo told The Daily Telegraph. Advertisement But, some of the zoo's customers wonder if the signs aren't taking animal welfare a step too far. "When we saw the signs, we thought it was a joke," said teacher Dirk Woldt, who was visiting the zoo with his family. "The next thing you know, they'll be having to counsel the apes." New York switches from real to fake grass NEW YORK, April 16 (UPI) -- New York plans to spend about $150 million installing 100 synthetic playing fields in parks across the city over the next five years. The artificial turf, which is supposed to be spongy enough to prevent most injuries, is cheaper and easier for Parks Department workers to maintain, the New York Post reported Monday. The Parks Department started installing synthetic fields in 2002 and there are already 74 of them in parks across the city. The turf, consisting of plastic grass on a bed of crushed old rubber tires, saves the city about $15,000 a year per field in maintenance costs, said the Post. It also provides "a softness and sponginess that's more like real grass," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Manhole cover thieves strike in St. Louis Advertisement ST. LOUIS, April 16 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old girl fell into a manhole in St. Louis after thieves reportedly stole 15 to 20 manhole covers to sell as scrap metal. Lance LeComb, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Sewer District, said the covers have been replaced with concrete manhole covers, the St. Louis Dispatch reported Monday. "Obviously, the cement covers don't have the scrap-metal value of the cast iron covers," said LeComb, adding that the concrete covers do have more technical problems. He also reported there were arrests made Friday night because of people tampering with manhole covers, but on Saturday night, the thieves struck again. "We found out when the girl fell in," said LeComb. KTVI-TV in St. Louis reported the girl was not seriously injured. Each of the 20 or so manhole covers weighed 85 pounds, said LeComb. "They're not easy to lift and manhandle," he said. "And when they're over the hole, they're difficult to get out without a specialized tool." British company makes Kevlar hoodies LONDON, April 16 (UPI) -- A British protective clothing company has taken its market to young people on the streets with a new Kevlar-lined hoodie. The hoodie, which is marketed by Bladerunner as stab-proof, is lined with the ultra-strong Kevlar, which is the material used in the body armor for Britain's troops, The Sky News reported Monday. Advertisement Bladerunner is selling the protective hoodies for $130 each. The head of the company, Adrian Davis, also has claimed to be in discussion with schools about putting Kevlar linings into school uniforms "It's all in development but we're at an advanced stage," he said. "We've sent examples of school jumpers to the manufacturers and we're waiting for the costings. I really believe it's needed." Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that is very light but can be spun into sheets that are stronger than steel.
