Colchester Zoo Colchester- Zoo with a difference.

[Goretex]

One thing which Colchester hasn't done much of is using tape commentries for background information for various animals. I think they did use some for Siberian Tigers when they had a pair that lived where Sasha is now?

I wonder why they have never really used it?

 

[ZooLeopard]

mainly because the modern public dont have anytime to listen. People just want to move quickly around zoos nowadays (not any zoochatters obviously)

 

[Goretex]

mainly because the modern public dont have anytime to listen. People just want to move quickly around zoos nowadays (not any zoochatters obviously)

yes your right and I guess if you want to hear than you'd make a special visit to the talkes (although then its more crowdered).

On my last visit to Banham I did hear a similar taped commentry near the Maned Wolves. I think it was the same man narrating probably from a similar time when produced.

 

[Maguari]

One thing which Colchester hasn't done much of is using tape commentries for background information for various animals. I think they did use some for Siberian Tigers when they had a pair that lived where Sasha is now?

I wonder why they have never really used it?

Taped commentary is something I find particularly distasteful - if you were a regular visitor, would you really want to listen to that every time? The Twycross Tropical House has the 'next best thing' with their ludicrously over-rehearsed tour of the house and that is enough to drain the life and soul from the cheeriest of zoo visitors.

For this reason I haven't been through the house on my last 4 visits to Twycross. Just can't face it, however nice it would be to see the bats and chachalacas and turtles and sloths.

 

[Dan]

My God........ musical "soundtracks" at Colchester and "taped commentries" at Twycross...

Is this a British perversion... oops I meant "phenomenon" of course, or does it exist in zoos in other countries?

Unheard of p) to me, but then I have not been to nearly as many zoos as most of you forumsters have...

 

[Maguari]

My God........ musical "soundtracks" at Colchester and "taped commentries" at Twycross...

Just to clarify - the Twycross tour isn't taped but delivered by a guide - it just might as well be taped, given how rigidly they stick to the script.

 

[gentle lemur]

The taped commentaries are hardly new. I recall are the ones Desmond Morris did for Regents Park, I guess in the late '60s.

Alan

 

[Shorts]

The Twycross Tropical House has the 'next best thing' with their ludicrously over-rehearsed tour of the house and that is enough to drain the life and soul from the cheeriest of zoo visitors.

Spot on, I visit Twycross regularly (at least half a dozen times a year) and haven't been in the Tropical House for over a year for the reasons you mention.

 

[cracker]

It makes you wonder if many zoos ask their visitors for feedback on their visit and if they do, do they take much notice?
I have not heard the talk at Twycross but if it's bad enough that regular zoo visitors actually avoid going into the tropical house then they should consider how they could change or improve it.
Does anyone ever get asked to make comments/suggestions at many of the UK zoo's?
Zoochat itself would be a good way for zoos to get feedback on many of the talks they do - if many zoos used or read it.

 

[ZooLeopard]

Colchester have stopped their terrible taped recordings from the babirusas (Yippee!) and are now just playing repeated african style sounds and drumming in the Kingdom of the wild. To regular visitors this is so frustrating but is a nice addition to a family day out. Can you imagine if the tape got stuck though May force people to go insane!

 

[Roz]

At colchester there is also theme music played in Worlds apart and the noise of crickets chirping in Snakes and Lizards (which doesnt actually house lizards but Star Tortoises instead!
I remember last year a taped commentary was used on the Tanganyika road train for a while and one is also always used on the Umphapha train!

 

[zoogiraffe]

It makes you wonder if many zoos ask their visitors for feedback on their visit and if they do, do they take much notice?
I have not heard the talk at Twycross but if it's bad enough that regular zoo visitors actually avoid going into the tropical house then they should consider how they could change or improve it.
Does anyone ever get asked to make comments/suggestions at many of the UK zoo's?
Zoochat itself would be a good way for zoos to get feedback on many of the talks they do - if many zoos used or read it.

It`s not so much the tour thats the problem with the Twycross Tropical House it`s which member of staff that you get giving the tour,I know exactly which member of staff Maguari means if you get that member of staff guiding you round it will put you off from ever going round it again,that said it is only 1 member of staff that has that effect on people.

 

[Goretex]

I actually think that a taped commentry is a good idea as it tells you information on the various animals. Although only if theres a button to press. I presonally would like to see them make a come back at Colchester and to get rid of some (or all) of their music.

 

[GillP]

Continuing the Colchester 'musak' theme, beware anyone who's thinking of going in the run up to Christmas as all the old seasonal 'favourites' are blaring out in different parts of the zoo (or at least they were on Sunday). These included Cliff Richard's Misletoe and Wine, and Saviour's Day , Boney M and Mary's Boy Child, and that well known festive tune ...... errr ....... Delilah by Tom Jones.

At least I could move on ..... I pity any animals close enough to a speaker to have to listen to that lot (probably on a loop) all day !

 

[Pertinax]

. Although only if theres a button to press. I presonally would like to see them make a come back at Colchester and to get rid of some (or all) of their music.

Please, no more buttons to press at Colchester- there are too many already!!

 

[Pertinax]

At least I could move on ..... I pity any animals close enough to a speaker to have to listen to that lot (probably on a loop) all day !

Colchester really is quite unique in this respect, I don't know any other UK zoo that plays Musak on this level.