no flash photography?

I don't understand a lot of things. Here's one of them: the zoo. 


It is an awesome and arduous place where you can take a pleasant stroll in scorching weather and take refuge in the air conditioned nocturnal animals house...

eat disgusting junk food flavored with the natural aroma of hundreds of animals pooping...

and of course see a plethora of animals in lovely man made habits mimicking the natural environments they once called home...

Now with all of these things we can enjoy at the zoo, why would they restrict the most basic of 21century social networking right, the right to take a pretty picture with flash?


I mean, Chi's hamster has spent most of its life in front of lights of some kind, and its just fine. 

How would a little flash kill a panda that's just sleeping anyways?

I'm mystified as usual.