Chester Zoo News from visits 2012

[Mr T]

The logic behing trying to engage with the users of this site was to try,and stop the speculation and guessing about why the zoo did some of the things they did,and to show that just because they didn't annouce very death or animal departure from the zoo that they were not hiding anything.As for it only been for the select few that could attend that is true,but if anyother user that couldn't attend then they could always ask me to ask the question for them,and in a few cases I did when people asked.At times on the walk and talks things could be said that were said to people off record,but it was always very clear when the discusssion was off-record.Alot of the speculation about Chester did stop but late last year,a bit did start to reappear on here that and the fact,that a few things been posted in here,like certain animals paying their neighbours a visit that wasn't public knowledge on to this site didn't help matters!!

Unfortunately as a forum, speculation is part of the nature of the beast. People are always going to discuss things and speculate as to what is going to happen. You mention things being spoken about as being 'off the record'. How many of those 'off the record' discussions were mentioned on here? If they were then maybe you should be having a word with the people who were on the walk and talk with you. I still feel that keepers should not be discussing anything that they don't want to public to know with members of the public, after all that is what the people who attend the walk and talk sessions are.

As a member of the public, I would assume that anything I am told by keepers or presenters at a zoo is open for public knowledge. If I walk up to a keeper and ask some specific information and he/she said, 'well I shouldn't really tell you this but...' I would probably respond with 'well if you aren't supposed to be telling me this then why are you?'. Surely they should be responding with 'sorry but I can't answer that question'.

 

[zoogiraffe]

Unfortunately as a forum, speculation is part of the nature of the beast. People are always going to discuss things and speculate as to what is going to happen. You mention things being spoken about as being 'off the record'. How many of those 'off the record' discussions were mentioned on here? If they were then maybe you should be having a word with the people who were on the walk and talk with you. I still feel that keepers should not be discussing anything that they don't want to public to know with members of the public, after all that is what the people who attend the walk and talk sessions are.

As a member of the public, I would assume that anything I am told by keepers or presenters at a zoo is open for public knowledge. If I walk up to a keeper and ask some specific information and he/she said, 'well I shouldn't really tell you this but...' I would probably respond with 'well if you aren't supposed to be telling me this then why are you?'. Surely they should be responding with 'sorry but I can't answer that question'.

We have had a couple of things posted that were off the record has been posted on here,in both cases they were both removed by the users that posted,the comments within about 6 hours of them been posted,both times after a polite request from myself asking,if they could remove the comments which they very kindly agreed to do.
As for keepers/presenters I will agree if they are giving a talk to the public then what they siad should be regarded as public knowledge,and have no problem with that been posted as fact.But if I have a one to one chat with a keeper/presenter then to me that is a private chat and not for posting on here,if i posted everything that I was told in chats like that I can guarantee that I would get told nothing from any of the staff I know at Chester or anyother collection that I know people at.

 

[SMR]

The fact that after 2 years of Chester been more than happy to do this for people,on this site they have now backed away from doing for various reasons...

As someone who has organised more of these events than anyone else, I'd like to see some actual evidence of that. In fact, in my opinion posting that Chester Zoo's relationship with enthusiasts of this site has tarnished is doing more harm than most of the speculation on here ever could.

 

[zoogiraffe]

As someone who has organised more of these events than anyone else, I'd like to see some actual evidence of that. In fact, in my opinion posting that Chester Zoo's relationship with enthusiasts of this site has tarnished is doing more harm than most of the speculation on here ever could.

Well I can only post what I'm getting told from people at the zoo,I very much hope what I'm getting told is wrong and on that note I'm backing out of this discussion because I agree its not doing any good.

 

[Mr T]

But if I have a one to one chat with a keeper/presenter then to me that is a private chat and not for posting on here,if i posted everything that I was told in chats like that I can guarantee that I would get told nothing from any of the staff I know at Chester or anyother collection that I know people at.

Well I guess we are going have to agree to disagree on this one then. For me there is no difference in asking a question in a keeper talk to asking a question as you bump into a keeper. If it is not for public knowledge then they should not say anything. Being on familiar terms with a keeper does not mean they should be telling you information that should be kept secret.

 

[mazfc]

Well I can only post what I'm getting told from people at the zoo,I very much hope what I'm getting told is wrong and on that note I'm backing out of this discussion because I agree its not doing any good.

The whole point of the discussion on here is about not posting what people at the zoo tell us isn't it?

 

[Yassa]

The logic behing trying to engage with the users of this site was to try,and stop the speculation and guessing about why the zoo did some of the things they did

Okay, that was bound to fail since the walks only involved very few members of a board with hundreds of participants! The possibility to ask questions through you (which I didn`t know about, for example) is no fix for that problem. However, I felt it was a great idea for other reasons and hope for those in the area that there will be other events.

 

[Pertinax]

Okay, that was bound to fail since the walks only involved very few members of a board with hundreds of participants!

Very true. I don't see how Zoos can frown on Zoochat too much anyway, since these forums are yet another function of the Internet, a system which they all use to publicise themselves in several ways (websites, facebook ,twitter etc).

 

[Waddi]

Whats the point of a discussion forum if there's no discussion. My main reason for joining this forum was to share and learn snippets of information that wasn't public knowledge with sensible like minded people.
I would suggest that what is learnt through ZooChat, should stay on ZooChat, i.e not reposted on the likes of facebook for the general public that doesn't really know or understand how the zoo world works. I understand that there are certain members that are told things privately because they know some of the keepers and I respect that, but the majority are just general members of the public to the keepers, and anything we are told is as a general member of the public and should not be seen as "secret" and there should be no problem with posting that.
Something I have seen a lot of on these boards which fuels speculation is members saying "I know something but can't really divulge at the moment."

 

[SMR]

Okay, that was bound to fail since the walks only involved very few members of a board with hundreds of participants!

One important factor of the walk-and-talks was that although they are open to all, they primarily attract the most active an vocal enthusiasts and those most interested in the specific collection. Far from "failing", by sharing the zoo's plans with this user demographic, the relationship between the zoo and the forum improved greatly.

 

[Mr T]

Something I have seen a lot of on these boards which fuels speculation is members saying "I know something but can't really divulge at the moment."

I could not agree more and there are certain 'well respected' members of this forum (who should know better) who do this frequently. If you can't say it then don't say anything. I think some of these people do it to fuel their own egos with a 'look at me, I know something you don't know'.

 

[adrian1963]

Here we go again speculations will always appear on a forum at one time or another, I would like to ask a question though how is it people can speculate or even in some cases have a right go about a zoo (Twycross, Dudley, Noahs Ark, Borth to name a few) but when it comes to Chester why is it different.

EDIT - Not having ago at anyone bit can understand people trying to defend thier regular zoo. Any updates for my visit next week please.

 

[karoocheetah]

One important factor of the walk-and-talks was that although they are open to all, they primarily attract the most active an vocal enthusiasts and those most interested in the specific collection. Far from "failing", by sharing the zoo's plans with this user demographic, the relationship between the zoo and the forum improved greatly.

I'd agree 100% - a combination of attending walk & talks and members events have led to me getting to know a fair few members of staff well enough that they will stop and have a chat when they can and they know that a private chat is just that and won't be seen on any forum anywhere.
It works both ways too as they also know that they can approach me for something if they wanted too and they have so I'm more than happy that it's a respectful 2 way street and I for one would be unhappy to think that the walk and talks would stop for any other reason that staff hours - as has been said having a keeper or a curator acting as a guide for any length of time takes them away from their day job - someone has to pick up the slack somewhere so I'm acutely aware of how much time & effort it takes not only to organise one but to also stage it.
I honestly think that these events have only improved the reputation of the forum in the eyes of the zoo - OK there have been the occasional slip up but nothing like the level of open speculation that abounded when I first joined Zoo Chat - now I agree that it's fun to speculate in conversation with friends and like minded people but since this is a public forum essentially that's not for this kind of thread - the Zoo Cafe part of the forum on the other hand abounds with lots of "what if...." kinds of threads and that's perfectly OK - as long as you're clear what you are saying and that nobody is going to run off and quote your words in any other context that what they were intended as.

I've rambled on a bit.....

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Here we go again speculations will always appear on a forum at one time or another, I would like to ask a question though how is it people can speculate or even in some cases have a right go about a zoo (Twycross, Dudley, Noahs Ark, Borth to name a few) but when it comes to Chester why is it different.

EDIT - Not having ago at anyone bit can understand people trying to defend thier regular zoo. Any updates for my visit next week please.

I have to agree with you there, even though I have previously speculated I think we should put the matter aside and get back on the news and updates- does anybody have any tips for my visit too? I'll be visiting on the 31st.

 

[Pootle]

I have to agree with you there, even though I have previously speculated I think we should put the matter aside and get back on the news and updates- does anybody have any tips for my visit too? I'll be visiting on the 31st.

Yes Jordan,

Ask the staff and keepers loads of questions, get some information then post it on zoochat that you know lots of exciting things but can’t say anything about them because you where told in confidence. That should do nicely for a while.

Going this Saturday hey? - my tip is get their early.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Yes Jordan,

Ask the staff and keepers loads of questions, get some information then post it on zoochat that you know lots of exciting things but can’t say anything about them because you where told in confidence. That should do nicely for a while.

Going this Saturday hey? - my tip is get their early.

Thanks Pootle.

Plan is to get there around half an hour before opening time and be one of (hopefully) the first ones in!- I'll post any information which I am allowed to, but as you say some things can't be said. It was like the arrival of the Iberian Wolves and Giant anteaters at Blackpool, I knew that was happening but kept the news quiet. It allows a better relationship with Zoochat and the keepers with yourself.

 

[Yassa]

Well Jordan, I think the point Pootle is trying to make is that if you know something and can`t tell, then DON`T TELL ANYTHING AT ALL!!!! No teasing that you know something!!!!!

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Well Jordan, I think the point Pootle is trying to make is that if you know something and can`t tell, then DON`T TELL ANYTHING AT ALL!!!! No teasing that you know something!!!!!

Yassa, I think zg will already know almost everything going on at Chester.

 

[zoogiraffe]

Yassa, I think zg will already know almost everything going on at Chester.

I wish but I don't!

 

[Cheetah fan]

I could not agree more and there are certain 'well respected' members of this forum (who should know better) who do this frequently. If you can't say it then don't say anything. I think some of these people do it to fuel their own egos with a 'look at me, I know something you don't know'.

Hit the nail on the head there. From the regular members I know and talk to that know this site there opinion which I initially ignored is that alot of the members here are stuck up. If I hear things walking around so be it but I tend to find I don't need to ask questions at the zoo as the answers to any possible questions is usually found on here.