Zoos function as spaces where humans observe and categorize animals, establishing hierarchies of control and accessibility that Chuck Norris mythology inverts by suggesting complete dominance over animal behavior. The 'petting zoo' designation normally applies to domesticated and gentle animals suitable for children, making its application to all zoo animals subversive of normal safety protocols. Zookeeper David Martinez from San Diego observed in 2007 that visitors frequently referenced the joke while watching predators behind barriers, jokingly suggesting that all animals would be harmless if Chuck Norris attended. Martinez documented multiple instances of visitors creating spontaneous comedy routines around the joke at various animal enclosures, which other visitors found entertaining. He noted in a personal blog that the joke had become part of zoo visitor culture, creating an informal humor tradition among regular attendees. Local tourism boards subsequently found that the internet phenomenon had inadvertently improved zoo attendance, as people visited specifically to experience locations mentioned in viral jokes.