Personal Records/Notes of Zoo Visits

zooboy28

zooboy28

Well-Known Member
So, I was wondering what sort of notes (if any) people take when they visit zoos. Do they write lists of species (common/scientific names?), number of individuals, exhibit type, mixed species, etc. I would like to make some notes, especially when I visit zoos that will have many species I am not familiar with, I'm unlikely to visit again for many years, and will have trouble remeberig later, whether or not I have taken photos of the species.

Does anyone take a little note book with them when they go to zoos? What would you recommend I note down? Any other ideas/tips/advice?
 
I don't normally. I make lists of species for the express purpose of posting on Zoochat if I think it will be of interest (usually if its an obscure zoo that no-one else here will probably ever visit but which has uncommon inhabitants), and I make notes of what I'm specifically photographing (so I know which enclosure is which, for example), but that's it.

I do know there's people on here who keep lists of every species in every zoo they visit, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. It certainly comes in useful on here if someone wants to know which species were kept in February 1962 in the Small Furry Animal House at Broderstocken Zoo (although probably not so much in the real world outside of Zoochat :D).

Really its just whatever makes you happy in what you do. If in doubt, keep lists! You may find them useful one day or you may not.

If I was into listing zoo inhabitants I'd probably include species (common and scientific name, especially the latter for more obscure critters), numbers you see (obviously not a totally accurate reflection of numbers actually in the collection), and then just any interesting observations (including perhaps mixed exhibits, unusual exhibit design, anything like that which happens to take your fancy)
 
Thanks Chlidonias, I thought it would be a good idea so that I can a) remember what I've seen, b) work out what that animal I've taken a photo of is, and c) add the species to my 'life lists'. Its not a big deal in NZ, where its easy to remeber everything, but when I head overseas its not going to be so easy to remember the names, especially of groups I have not seen before.
 
after I posted what I did I sort of thought "I wonder if that was actually any use at all", so good you did think so :D

The best way to make sure you know which animal is which, is to write them down as you take the photo. Then afterwards when labelling them you can just compare the order of the list to the photo sequence. Alternatively take a photo of the signage after a photo of the animal.

You're quite right about the NZ thing. I can list off the top of my head every species at Willowbank for example, but try doing that at somewhere like Jurong! Not a chance!
 
Chlidonias said:
I don't normally. I make lists of species for the express purpose of posting on Zoochat if I think it will be of interest (usually if its an obscure zoo that no-one else here will probably ever visit but which has uncommon inhabitants), and I make notes of what I'm specifically photographing (so I know which enclosure is which, for example), but that's it.

I do know there's people on here who keep lists of every species in every zoo they visit, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. It certainly comes in useful on here if someone wants to know which species were kept in February 1962 in the Small Furry Animal House at Broderstocken Zoo (although probably not so much in the real world outside of Zoochat :D).

Really its just whatever makes you happy in what you do. If in doubt, keep lists! You may find them useful one day or you may not.

If I was into listing zoo inhabitants I'd probably include species (common and scientific name, especially the latter for more obscure critters), numbers you see (obviously not a totally accurate reflection of numbers actually in the collection), and then just any interesting observations (including perhaps mixed exhibits, unusual exhibit design, anything like that which happens to take your fancy)
Click to expand...

In case anyone is curious, the Broderstocken Zoo had in their Small Furry Animal House in 1962 the following species.
- Fluffy Headed Armadillo
- Big Eyed Cuddly Lemur
- Mogwai
- Piebald Eewok

and a few others I haven't been able to track down yet. :D
 
I didn't think you were that old Ituri! I do note you are using the older form of Ewok (the double E as in Old English). I believe the Mogwai were only in the Small Furry Animal House for a brief period before they had to be moved to the Evil Animal Pavilion. The Broderstocken Zoo phased the species out of their collection shortly after due to some rather regrettable deaths.
 
Were the causes of this "regrettable deaths" accidents in a microwave?:)

(I like your kind of humor)
 
Ituri said:
In case anyone is curious, the Broderstocken Zoo had in their Small Furry Animal House in 1962 the following species.
- Fluffy Headed Armadillo
- Big Eyed Cuddly Lemur
- Mogwai
- Piebald Eewok

and a few others I haven't been able to track down yet. :D
Click to expand...

OOHHH MMYYYY GOOODDDDD!!!!!!
(They ate her, and now they're going to eat me...)

I have to say, I wish they let us import Piebald Eewoks into Australia!
 
Guys, I just woke up so maybe my brain isn't quite functional yet, but Broderstocken Zoo is fictional, right? :D
 
Note-taking is actually a new thing to me; it was only during my USA tour last authumn that I took serious notes for the first time, but not every species and not the numbers, as often not all the specimens are on exhibit, they may be hiding, etc, so the numbers I have noted down would be worthless.

As I uploaded my photos soon after the USA tour, I was able to correctly idendify the majority of the species and exhibits; but when I uploaded my lot from the 7 previous years, without any notes and a leaky brain on top of that, Maguari, Ituri, Zooplantman and many others found themselves almost in a full-time job correcting me! :D
 
Chlidonias said:
I didn't think you were that old Ituri! I do note you are using the older form of Ewok (the double E as in Old English). I believe the Mogwai were only in the Small Furry Animal House for a brief period before they had to be moved to the Evil Animal Pavilion. The Broderstocken Zoo phased the species out of their collection shortly after due to some rather regrettable deaths.
Click to expand...

I'm not that old, I just have a good guidebook collection. :cool:
 
In 1984 I did my first big zoo trip through Europe - about 18 zoos. I had a foolscap writing pad with me, and I made notes about species kept inside buildings (in most cases too dark to photograph and can't use flash). I recorded common name, latin name if necessary, numbers on display, and my opinion of the exhibit/display. Often this was backed up with descriptions of the enclosure - approx. sizes and materials, sometimes even sketches. Outdoor enclosures were photographed.

When I got back home I planned on showing my slides, and accompanying the presentation with printed copies of my handwritten notes, so I typed them out and photocopied them at work. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to to give the presentation. The several hundred slides have sat in two lever-arch folders, and the handwritten and printed notes have sat in a plastic bag for the last 27 odd years, doing nothing.

A few years ago I bought a scanner that scanned slides, and I scanned in the best of my slides. And they have sat on my computer (actually three different computers) for some years, occassionally being viewed.

Then I joined this site. I uploaded the photos, happy that people around the world might see what many missed seeing back in 1985. And then most were purged last year.

After some comments in one of the threads, I dug out my notes from Bristol Zoo and transcribed them into a thread - http://www.zoochat.com/38/bristol-zoo-impressions-1984-a-186561/ and judging by the views, I'm guessing a few hundred people may have found the notes interesting, 27 years later!

Nowadays I just photograph everything: labels, enclosures, fixtures, innovative novelties, dead mice, bad things or anything just plain wrong. I can add comments to the photo as well if needed.

Hope this helps answer your questions Zooboy28.

:p

Hix
 
The world would be a better place if there were Ewoks in zoos :p Would also cast my votes for Dewback, Tauntaun and Rancor enclosures :D


Joking aside - I keep meaning to take notes but forgetting. I'm in the process of IDing my photos from Blackbrook (taken back at the start of Feb). Also, last Saturday I was kind enough to be told the family relationships of Chester's Sumatran orangs and wished I had pen and paper (the annoying thing is I did in my camera bag, but I didn't realise at the time). Now I remember most of it I think, but the middle young I'm not sure if I have the right way around. I have:

Young of Emma x Puluh
Padang
?
Indah

Young of Subis x Puluh
Jambi
?
Kirana

so it's just Budi and Utara. If anybody knows a complete history of Chester's keeping of orangs (both species) it would come in very handy :p
 
Budi is Subis's and Utara is Emma's. Kirana's eyes look like Budi's, Indah is bigger.

Jambi has a daughter called Moira so your fave orang is a grandad!
 
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OrangePerson said:
Budi is Subis's and Utara is Emma's. Kirana's eyes look like Budi's, Indah is bigger.
Click to expand...

Thanks OrangePerson - it's how I thought but I was only guessing so confirmation is appreciated :)

Also, do you have any information on Emma and Subis' parents, their dates of birth etc?

I believe there was a male Sumatran named Charlie? (or something like that) - is he their father/grandfather or any other relation? Thanks :)
 
Javan Rhino said:
Thanks OrangePerson - it's how I thought but I was only guessing so confirmation is appreciated :)

Also, do you have any information on Emma and Subis' parents, their dates of birth etc?

I believe there was a male Sumatran named Charlie? (or something like that) - is he their father/grandfather or any other relation? Thanks :)
Click to expand...
Chester used to have a Sumatran called Oscar that is the father of Emma and Subis,there mother was called Ramona,who used to think she had done her bit once she had given birth!!
 
zoogiraffe said:
Chester used to have a Sumatran called Oscar that is the father of Emma and Subis,there mother was called Ramona,who used to think she had done her bit once she had given birth!!
Click to expand...

Thanks ZG and OrangePerson :).

It was Oscar I was thinking of - no idea where I got Charlie from lol. Trying to get a family tree going so all this info is great :)
 
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