Inclusivity in Zoo Design

[Batto]

Sexual orientation? (which I'd just like to argue is at least a little relevant in this context, without getting too deep into it)

Why should sexual orientation, gender, sex etc. be of particular relevance in a zoo? As far as I know, homophobia / transphobia etc. is only relevant among human societies, not animals. As for the topic of animal sexuality, the zoo in question might establish a special exhibition on that, but I doubt that the majority of visitors would highly appreciate it. Especially not in conservative countries.
As for ethnicity: this might mainly be an economic aspect to widen your visitor demographic. I remember a German zoo poll a couple of years ago asking Turkish and Arabian zoo visitors what they would like to have changed in a zoo to feel more welcome (large public BBQ places and special group ticket accounts for huge families were the most common answers). However, just as MRJ suggested, I guess cartering to one specific ethnic group might alienate all the others.

 

[Scottish Wildcat]

I wasn’t meaning in relevance to zoos themselves, just in relevance to the actual demographics of zoochat membership, because there is something to note about how it affects every aspect of your life, and for me at least that manifested in an early childhood of understanding and ‘getting’ animals better than other people, so I wanted to spend more time at the zoo and that just spiralled from there. I would just be curious if anyone had the same experience.
You’re right that it shouldn’t come up in an actual professional environment at all (unless if there was an issue of workplace discrimination of course, no more likely to happen in a zoo than in an office or retailer). Especially not ‘animal sexuality’ I didn’t reference that at all, which is an interesting subject but not exactly appropriate for zoos which are largely (and I’m sure we’d all agree, wrongly) seen as specifically ‘for kids’. (And I think specifically highlighting the sex lives of animals might attract the uh...wrong customers)

 

[15399]

Without getting into all That, at a first glance at this thread's title I thought it would be more about inclusivity in the sense of accessibility for disabled people, or (for lack of a better term) 'safe spaces' and accessibility for kids with sensory issues, for whom the zoo is often a big and rewarding, but potentially daunting and difficult event. I think that's a discussion that might have more...relevance.

I don't need the aid of a wheelchair or crutch myself, but I have noticed a couple of time when for example the whole park is built on an incredibly steep hill (yes I am looking at you Edinburgh), or you can't get to a certain enclosure/into a certain building without going over some steps with no obvious elevator nearby, or when a certain area has a distinct lack of benches, rest spots, etc.

And, not that I think that this should be done because it would open a whole pandora's box, but I would be interested to see at least some estimation of the zoochat 'demographics'. Just from a cursory glance at usernames and threads from being on the forum three-or-so years, I'd guess that it's a majority male, but within that: age-ranges? Ethnicity? Region? Sexual orientation? (which I'd just like to argue is at least a little relevant in this context, without getting too deep into it) Which age-ranges are more likely to visit which sections of the forum? (I would be interested to see how young fantasy zoos go lol, I'm in my late teens but that used to be basically the only part of the site I would visit). Are Europeans more likely to upload pictures than Americans? etc etc. Again, would probably cause the site to go up in flames and is a singularly bad idea, but interesting to think about.

I think there was a gender and ages of zoochatters thread somewhere (possibly in the zoo cafe?)

EDIT- found the thread Gender and Age of Zoochatters

 

[Zooplantman]

How timely. @AKhan you might want to attend this event

 

[AKhan]

@Zooplantman that looks really interesting, thanks for the heads up! I’ll be there