How did this place even start?

DejaVuKatz

DejaVuKatz

Active Member
OK so i've been viewing the photos here and decided to create a user name a while ago and just kinda was a silent member till recently. I'm don't claim to know anything and always willing to learn. Hell if anyone was perfect they would be pretty dull, in my opinion.

But any who.. i was flipping through photos and I don't think i've seen any posted prior to 2007 or 2006. Something like that. Anyways it got me thinking how on earth did zoo chat come about and just who started it??? We have some vocal people on here like Arizonadocent, Sun Wukong (whos been involved with some colorful debates), teamtapir and epic travelers like geomorph ( amazing review on Shedd aq btw) and our beloved snowleopard ( whos been caught in some photos while i was photo rummaging like the dolphin dome, standing next to free movement golden lion tamarins, and chillin with leafy sea dragons in a column aquarium.), but I don't think they started this site. So who did? Have any major personalities just fallen off the grid?

Where pictures always available as they are now or has this place evolved and will it evolve again and in what way? Does this place need financing or is it just run off someones home made server and why was this place started? Was it originally for zoo staff or did they come later? Do zoos actually bother to come here for feed back, because that would be an intelligent idea?

I am personally here on a quest to figure out what works in zoos/aq and what doesn't. I study all of your photographs, one zoo one photograph at a time, and try to dissect enclosures to figure out how animals use them, why they use them the way they do, how best to view some animals, what is ascetically pleasing, what species are even out there, as well as what species have been kept together. You all never cease to amaze me on animal knowledge both collectively as a whole while scrolling through threads and as individuals, especially when all of you jump on me for mislabeling something. I am amazed at the level of detail many of you show about specific animals, it astounds me. Zoo chat is definitely a place to learn from perspective, even if I get schooled the hard way sometimes. errrr most of the time? :rolleyes: <3
 
It was started way back in October 2003 in Sydney, Australia by Sim', the Zoochat Administrator, a professional computer whiz and, luckily for us, a zoo enthusiast.

At first it was mainly used by Aussies and New Zealanders about their local zoos, but as it broadened out, so to speak, it became popular worldwide. Photos came later.

I think we all owe Sim' a vote of thanks for this site. Until I stumbled upon it I thought I was the only zoo nut out there. Now I know there are lots of us!
 
@Ara. Agree and well said (or written). So from my side thanks to Sim (and his Team) too for his excellent job here.
 
Ara said:
At first it was mainly used by Aussies and New Zealanders about their local zoos, but as it broadened out, so to speak, it became popular worldwide. Photos came later.
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When I first used it, there were about twenty regular contributors, nearly all of them from Australia + New Zealand and the only topics were the Zoos in those countries.

I wonder how many of those original early posters still survive(on here that is).
 
DejaVuKatz said:
Does this place need financing or is it just run off someones home made server
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Hi matey,

Zoochat is indeed an amazing collective of ideas, facts. images and discussion all revolving around zoos. As ARA has mentioned l also thought l was alone in my passion for zoos.

With regard to financing, you can become a supporter of this site l think around $25.00 per year. I think that Sim appreciates this support as there is definitely ongoing costs associated with this site.

I believe that if all those people who use zoochat regularly paid this very modest amount zoochat could be improved dramatically.

Its just a shame that many many regular uses here can justify not contributing financially. As l think if they did Sim may be more inclined to allow the uploading of video!

I think video would be the next step in the evolution of zoochat however the cost is substantial in comparison to the storage of photos.
 
And it used to be called something else but I'm not sure if I remember it properly. Maybe it was called zoobeat but that could be wrong. I'm amazed at how quickly I've forgotten.
 
PAT said:
And it used to be called something else but I'm not sure if I remember it properly. Maybe it was called zoobeat but that could be wrong. I'm amazed at how quickly I've forgotten.
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Zoobeat is correct.
 
Pertinax said:
When I first used it, there were about twenty regular contributors, nearly all of them from Australia + New Zealand and the only topics were the Zoos in those countries.

I wonder how many of those original early posters still survive(on here that is).
Click to expand...
the ones from before you joined that are still here, in order of membership: Sim, jay, boof, Zooish [Singapore], ZYBen, Kifaru Bwana [Netherlands], Monty, nicholas [Europe], Jarkari and then Pertinax
 
zooman said:
With regard to financing, you can become a supporter of this site l think around $25.00 per year. I think that Sim appreciates this support as there is definitely ongoing costs associated with this site.

I believe that if all those people who use zoochat regularly paid this very modest amount zoochat could be improved dramatically.

Its just a shame that many many regular uses here can justify not contributing financially. As l think if they did Sim may be more inclined to allow the uploading of video!
Click to expand...

I didn't realise that it was that little - the cost of a few beers. Done! Come on folks, I aint loaded, but I can spare $25, and so can you I am sure.

So when will I get the cool "zoochat supporter" avatar? :D
 
lol I dont think ive ever seen sim post anything. but who knows. im glad i asked. im a little strapped now, college student and gotta save up for book cost for next semester and class cost. once thats payed for im in.

I want to give a big ::HUG:: to Sim. like many i kinda thought i was alone. <3 thank u all who posted to tell me the history of this place. LOL maybe we should make this more of a permanent thread or start a new one saying how much donation is and a little about the history for future new people. and for older fokes to see how much the donation is.
 
I was looking at the stats and the users page. Did you guys realize about 100 people a month join the site???? its the bottom chart.
 
Chlidonias said:
the ones from before you joined that are still here, in order of membership: Sim, jay, boof, Zooish [Singapore], ZYBen, Kifaru Bwana [Netherlands], Monty, nicholas [Europe], Jarkari and then Pertinax
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Thanks Chlidonias. You saved me the trouble.:D

From those very early days the other people I also remember who are no longer associated, for various reasons; Patrick, Mark, ZooPro, Glyn, ZooBoy, maybe Bongo(UK).

What a contrast to Zoochat now!
 
Pertinax said:
Thanks Chlidonias. You saved me the trouble.:D

From those very early days the other people I also remember who are no longer associated, for various reasons; Patrick, Mark, ZooPro, Glyn, ZooBoy, maybe Bongo(UK).

What a contrast to Zoochat now!
Click to expand...

I think a couple of them are still here, but different names.
 
glyn posted just in the last few days and has reappeared on the list of original users since I made my post yesterday. Writhedhornbill made a post several weeks ago, but his name hasn't reappeared on the list yet. Bongo is still listed.

For Monty, Patrick/phoenix isn't around (his posting style was too obvious for him to be incognito as another person), Mark just vanished (!), ZooPro and Zooboy don't seem to be here either under any name.
 
I would just like to boast that I am one of the original members, I miss Patrick, he was volatile but always had good points to raise and was an interesting read. Very passionate too. One early user who I am still in contact with is Nigel from NZ.
Mark dropped out because of personal issues at home I understand. (Health?)
I'm glad Ara still pops up every now and then
 
Thanks jay - I joined in June 2007 - my first post back then was a depressing one; reporting the death of Kua, at that time the only Indian Rhino in Australia. Those who responded to my post were jay, glyn, patrick and Zoo_boy. (I too miss patrick - his verbal sparring, particularly with Sun Wukong was very entertaining and thought provoking!) I'm glad jay and glyn are still here.
 
Ara said:
Thanks jay - I joined in June 2007 - my first post back then was a depressing one; reporting the death of Kua, at that time the only Indian Rhino in Australia.
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I just looked up when I joined, it was 6.12.2006 so you (Ara) came in only a few months later. I do remember at first asking only about Australian zoos as there were no other categories!
 
Ara said:
Thanks jay - I joined in June 2007 - my first post back then was a depressing one; reporting the death of Kua, at that time the only Indian Rhino in Australia. Those who responded to my post were jay, glyn, patrick and Zoo_boy. (I too miss patrick - his verbal sparring, particularly with Sun Wukong was very entertaining and thought provoking!) I'm glad jay and glyn are still here.
Click to expand...


There was already one GOHR. kua was destined to be his mate (dora).
 
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