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A private 40th birthday bash at the Fort Worth Zoo on Friday night featured big performances by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and The Chainsmokers.
But the party drew the ire of some neighbors, who complained of loud noise and said they worried for the animals’ safety.
“Those poor animals. If it was that loud for us nearly 2 miles away, I can’t imagine how awful it was for them,” one woman said on Facebook. “You’d expect the best zoo in the nation to treat their animals better.”
A zoo spokeswoman said that the zoo had received only three complaints as of Monday morning and that representatives had reached out to those neighbors. No special permit was required for the event, which ended at 1 a.m., said Avery Elander, the zoo’s assistant director of communications.
All animals were monitored during a sound check Friday afternoon and during the party, Elander said.
“No animals were observed having adverse reactions or different behavior,” she said, adding that all animals were also behaving normally the following day.
The Fort Worth Zoo frequently hosts special events like weddings and birthday parties, and Elander said the “animals are habituated to these kinds of parties.” Proceeds from private events contribute to the care and feeding of the animals and help maintain zoo facilities, she added.
On social media, residents who lived more than a mile from the zoo said the music was deafening.
“I’m horrified for the animals at the zoo,” one poster said.
“I don’t care how rich I was,” another said, “I would never throw a birthday party for myself like that.”
“The meerkats will revolt,” one person quipped on Twitter.
Others, however, were more forgiving: “Eddie Vedder can interrupt my quiet Friday night anytime.”