LONDON (AFP) - A British zoo said on Wednesday it has banned visitors from wearing leopard or zebra print clothes because they are confusing the animals.

"We have announced an animal-print ban. This follows confusion among our 'Zufari: Ride Into Africa!' animals," Chessington World of Adventures said in a statement.

The park-wide prohibition was introduced after the launch of a new ride, Zufari, in which visitors come face to face with giraffes, rhinos and other animals as they drive around in off-road trucks. When the animals encountered a visitor wearing a print similar to their own they acted a little "overfriendly", said a spokesman for the zoo located south-west of London.

"If they were wearing a pattern similar to a predator, they would get scared and run away," he told AFP.

The zoo said anyone wearing animal prints would be able to borrow clothing to cover up while on the ride.