A woman took to social media to complain about a giraffe handler’s attentiveness at a Utah zoo.
Jana posts her travel adventures on TikTok under the name @tryintothriveover55, but it was a recent trip to Hogle Zoo that has gone viral.
The 57-year-old shared how she spent $10 for six pieces of lettuce to feed giraffes in the video that has racked up more than 890,000 views.
While holding a toddler, Jana is trying to feed a giraffe when a zoo worker steps in, places a protective arm between the animal and the pair, and instructs her to re-position, warning that the hungry beast could nip.
“In her natural habitat, the Karen carefully guards the lettuce, ensuring no fun goes unmonitored. A truly rare sighting,” Jana originally captioned the post.
“I know she meant well, but sheesh can you just give us some space to feed the giraffes?” she continued to her viewers. “Am I overreacting or does this zoo volunteer bug you too?”
Her question prompted dozens of people to weigh in, with many defending the zoo employee as someone simply doing her job.
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“As someone who literally just fed giraffes myself this morning, this is her job,” one person commented. “She knows these animals and what they are and will be capable of doing and is just making sure no one gets hurt and they are fed properly.”
She added: “Not a Karen at all.”
Another pointed out: “She was so sweet! She’s trying to help you and your children properly feed the giraffe and she was very nice about it. Why you call her a Karen?”
A third person agreed: “That’s not a Karen, that is an employee doing what she been trained to do – her job while also being kind. Last thing they want is parents freaking out because a giraffe bit their child.”
A fourth commenter noted: “I fear this video did not go in the direction you were going for.”
Jana has since changed her caption to read: “When your giraffe snack costs more than your lunch.”
She also added her own message that sits at the top of the comments section that read: “Yes I get it. I understand that viewpoint totally,” in reference to the giraffe handler ensuring the safety of zoo visitors.
However, Jana added cheekily: “She really just had an abundance of caution.”
