Finally, hello!

ifesbob

ifesbob

Well-Known Member
I've had an account for a while, I just didn't really use it. Don't know if that'll change, but I figured I'd make an introduction post now.

I'm ifesbob, I'm in college right now and I live in Wisconsin. I probably had the normal exposure to animal stuff that non-animal children do, so, regrettably, I can't claim that I've been on this train for very long. I think I started really getting interested in animals in high school, so I started learning more than. Before then, I remember visiting the Calgary Zoo around 2015, which was nice.

My home zoo is Henry Vilas Zoo, and for a long time I always found it kind of boring, but I started to find it a lot more interesting when I met one of my friends (who also has an account here).

I've only been to Henry Vilas, Shedd Aquarium, Calgary Zoo, and Milwaukee, at least in my memory. I hope to increase the numbers of zoos I've visited, and I may see what kind of damage I can do on the 2023 challenges.

I have an interest in doing something with wildlife, I don't know in what capacity yet, but I know I want a career related to animals. Anything will do, I love it all.

That's all I have. Hello!!!!!
 
Welcome to Zoochat. You are in the right place if you want to do some exploring of the zoos of the world.
 
ifesbob said:
My home zoo is Henry Vilas Zoo, and for a long time I always found it kind of boring, but I started to find it a lot more interesting when I met one of my friends (who also has an account here).
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Making zoos more interesting for people is my superpower, I swear :p.
In any case, (sort of) welcome to Zoochat, my friend!
 
Corangurilla said:
Making zoos more interesting for people is my superpower, I swear :p.
In any case, (sort of) welcome to Zoochat, my friend!
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Part of it was also that I hadn't been since I was a small child and I remember not really being able to see any animals a lot of the time, and to me it was just like.... oh boy, the zoo I grew up around! Like I said I've grown to appreciate it, but it was specifically Henry Vilas for some reason, I (ironically) remember think the Milwaukee zoo was much better, as was Calgary. I think mostly they were just bigger and paid!!!! and I was a child. And the Calgary Zoo is. in Canada.
 
Welcome to the forum! I relate to your lack of experience and desire to travel more, haha. Always good to see more midwesterners.
 
ifesbob said:
Part of it was also that I hadn't been since I was a small child and I remember not really being able to see any animals a lot of the time, and to me it was just like.... oh boy, the zoo I grew up around! Like I said I've grown to appreciate it, but it was specifically Henry Vilas for some reason, I (ironically) remember think the Milwaukee zoo was much better, as was Calgary. I think mostly they were just bigger and paid!!!! and I was a child. And the Calgary Zoo is. in Canada.
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I do think Milwaukee is better than Henry Vilas. To be honest I would agree with you that Henry Vilas is somewhat boring, as it is quite generic for the most park - Wisconsin Heritage is really carrying it.
 
birdsandbats said:
I do think Milwaukee is better than Henry Vilas. To be honest I would agree with you that Henry Vilas is somewhat boring, as it is quite generic for the most park - Wisconsin Heritage is really carrying it.
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In fairness, Henry Vilas is sort of in a different category of zoo than Milwaukee and even other free zoos. They could be doing more impressive stuff with the space they have, but honestly "small and generic" is precisely the kind of zoo Henry Vilas is. It's always going to have a special place in my heart, though, regardless.

Worth noting that the main reason it's somewhat ironic that as a kid I thought Milwaukee was better is because @Corangurilla doesn't like it much, for reasons that are fair enough. Unfortunate because it's the best opportunity to see a fair number of specific animals around these parts (especially in light of challenges).
 
ifesbob said:
In fairness, Henry Vilas is sort of in a different category of zoo than Milwaukee and even other free zoos. They could be doing more impressive stuff with the space they have, but honestly "small and generic" is precisely the kind of zoo Henry Vilas is. It's always going to have a special place in my heart, though, regardless.

Worth noting that the main reason it's somewhat ironic that as a kid I thought Milwaukee was better is because @Corangurilla doesn't like it much, for reasons that are fair enough. Unfortunate because it's the best opportunity to see a fair number of specific animals around these parts (especially in light of challenges).
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I get it, I find Henry Vilas nostalgic, too. But I've seen lots of small zoos that are not generic at all and manage to have so some really interesting exhibits and/or species. Henry Vilas is not one of those and it's a bit disappointing. NEW is a great example of this in Wisconsin.
 
birdsandbats said:
I get it, I find Henry Vilas nostalgic, too. But I've seen lots of small zoos that are not generic at all and manage to have so some really interesting exhibits and/or species. Henry Vilas is not one of those and it's a bit disappointing. NEW is a great example of this in Wisconsin.
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Yeah, I don't think it would stand out in my mind at all if not for it being my local zoo. It could be a lot better than it is with the resources they have available, but it is what it is. NEW doesn't really impress me, but then, all I've seen is the website.

One thing I genuinely don't know is if factoring in the free-ness and small land area, it still underwhelms, from the perspective of zoo nerds. Nostalgia and hometown pride are clouding my judgement for sure, but I just like seeing any animals at all.
 
ifesbob said:
Yeah, I don't think it would stand out in my mind at all if not for it being my local zoo. It could be a lot better than it is with the resources they have available, but it is what it is. NEW doesn't really impress me, but then, all I've seen is the website.
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Sorry, but if you have only seen a zoo's website you cannot accurately judge how a zoo feels. I'm sure you would see what I mean if you visited, or took a look through NEW's gallery.
ifesbob said:
One thing I genuinely don't know is if factoring in the free-ness and small land area, it still underwhelms, from the perspective of zoo nerds
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I can't speak for all, but for me, yes it is still very underwhelming. I've been to lots of small zoos and lots of free zoos and most do more than Henry Vilas manages to.
 
birdsandbats said:
Sorry, but if you have only seen a zoo's website you cannot accurately judge how a zoo feels. I'm sure you would see what I mean if you visited, or took a look through NEW's gallery.

I can't speak for all, but for me, yes it is still very underwhelming. I've been to lots of small zoos and lots of free zoos and most do more than Henry Vilas manages to.
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Oh yeah don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing Henry Vilas Zoo is better, and I definitely want to visit NEW. But what about small and free zoos?

Henry Vilas is kinda just there. It's not bad per se, but it definitely doesn't impress overall.
 
ifesbob said:
Oh yeah don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing Henry Vilas Zoo is better, and I definitely want to visit NEW. But what about small and free zoos?

Henry Vilas is kinda just there. It's not bad per se, but it definitely doesn't impress overall.
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Even most small, free zoos tend to do things less generic than Henry Vilas.
 
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