Another zoo question
- Thread starter jusko88
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nanoboy
Well-Known Member
I have no idea!
But, here in Australia, the Werribee Open Range Zoo just (i.e. last weekend) concluded their "Wild Nights" programme which was modelled on Singapore's Night Safari.
Alot of zoos are open at night for special events (especially for Christmas lights). At Brookfield Zoo during Christmas time you could go to the zoo late at night and see the animals. Most of the exhibits are to dark to see very well except for Tropic World and some other indoor exhibits. It is cool to see the polar bears at night because the bear was right up to the glass sleeping in it's den and the amazing wolf woods was very cool to see at night.
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
At Werribee Zoo in Australia, visitors were encouraged to bring their own torches to spotlight the animals. They were asked to cover the torch with red cellophane so that the animals would not be blinded by yellow or fluorescent light. In addition, there were guides/keepers stationed at each animal enclosure with powerful torches to illuminate the animals if visitors did not have torches. Visitors were also encouraged to shine their torches into the trees to see wild ringtail and brushtail possums, owls, and tawny frogmouths.
For an extra charge, visitors were taken out into the lower savannah on the back of an open-air ute (Yanks would probably call it a 'truck', Poms would probably call it a 'pickup') with a keeper to spotlight the zebras, antelopes, giraffes, rhinos etc.
There were also conservation-oriented comedy plays to get the 'fighting extinction' message across to kids, as well as fire dancers and marshmallow roasting. I think that the idea was that the zoo had to offer something more than the ability to see the same exact animals at night that you would see during the day.
Night zoos are a great idea, I think, to maximise the earnings from the fixed assets at the zoo. Visitors seem to love the idea of bringing out their kids for a 'night out'.
For an extra charge, visitors were taken out into the lower savannah on the back of an open-air ute (Yanks would probably call it a 'truck', Poms would probably call it a 'pickup') with a keeper to spotlight the zebras, antelopes, giraffes, rhinos etc.
There were also conservation-oriented comedy plays to get the 'fighting extinction' message across to kids, as well as fire dancers and marshmallow roasting. I think that the idea was that the zoo had to offer something more than the ability to see the same exact animals at night that you would see during the day.
Night zoos are a great idea, I think, to maximise the earnings from the fixed assets at the zoo. Visitors seem to love the idea of bringing out their kids for a 'night out'.
When the Trails of Africa is completed at Birmingham (AL) they will be hosting night safari's on the trails. I assume that means the Zoo will be open until dark and slightly after.