If I've got it right this should be my 5000th post on Zoochat/Zoobeat!!! It ought to be about my favourite Gorillas perhaps, but instead I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts on how 'Zoochat' has changed since I first joined it.
I remember my very first post was to ask something about the Gorillas at Melbourne Zoo. When I came across Zoobeat(as it was) it was principally an Australian site and to start with I talked mostly to our Australian friends about Melbourne and Taronga zoos (in particular). The only UK threads were for London and Chester Zoos whereas now we have threads for virtually all the main UK Zoos as well as the European and American ones, and posters now come from all over the World.
I would like to thank and congratulate Sim for the way he has developed a truly International site which he continually updates and improves. It is certainly the foremost English-speaking one. At the same time I hope that nobody feels duty bound to pay for this unless they wish to do so, as I strongly believe the exchange of 'zoo' information should continue to remain free to all and sundry and I believe that Sim agrees too.
I've also noticed in recent weeks that the UK threads have become a little 'sluggish' probably reflecting the fact we are entering the Winter period here in the UK when zoo visiting (and subsequent news) is less frequent, even for members of the Forum. Hopefully they'll pick up again, they will if we keep posting.
Anyway, I hope to continue exchanging zoo information with many of you out there, so happy zoo visiting and please continue posting.
Now, about those Gorillas....
I remember my very first post was to ask something about the Gorillas at Melbourne Zoo. When I came across Zoobeat(as it was) it was principally an Australian site and to start with I talked mostly to our Australian friends about Melbourne and Taronga zoos (in particular). The only UK threads were for London and Chester Zoos whereas now we have threads for virtually all the main UK Zoos as well as the European and American ones, and posters now come from all over the World.
I would like to thank and congratulate Sim for the way he has developed a truly International site which he continually updates and improves. It is certainly the foremost English-speaking one. At the same time I hope that nobody feels duty bound to pay for this unless they wish to do so, as I strongly believe the exchange of 'zoo' information should continue to remain free to all and sundry and I believe that Sim agrees too.
I've also noticed in recent weeks that the UK threads have become a little 'sluggish' probably reflecting the fact we are entering the Winter period here in the UK when zoo visiting (and subsequent news) is less frequent, even for members of the Forum. Hopefully they'll pick up again, they will if we keep posting.
Anyway, I hope to continue exchanging zoo information with many of you out there, so happy zoo visiting and please continue posting.
Now, about those Gorillas....