You do indeed
there are untapped depths of venomous and poisonous fish awaiting; along with stuff like stonefish, lionfish and pufferfish, even a simple display of reef fish would allow discussion of ciguatoxin!Welt der Gifte Greifswald (Closed) Welt der Gifte Greifswald - News and Discussion (2017-2019)
- Thread starter Batto
- Start date
- Status
You do indeed
there are untapped depths of venomous and poisonous fish awaiting; along with stuff like stonefish, lionfish and pufferfish, even a simple display of reef fish would allow discussion of ciguatoxin!
Ciguatera is already covered in the tour, along with several other maritime toxins (including a Hitchcock reference) and a lifelike museum quality replica of a stonefish. Live reef fish, lion- and stonefish can be observed at the public aquaria in Stralsund. I was thinking more along the lines of freshwater stingrays, clownfish and dwarf lionfish for the next steps of a future expansion in another facility.
The NDR short [in German] is online (starting at 10:07):
Nordmagazin
Nordmagazin
Thanks to local holidays, visitor attendance is at a new height. Most dates are booked out in advance.
I might get a new species no European zoo currently keeps this September.
And the funniest thing happened today: I was contacted by a marketing agency that is working for Ferrero. They would like to integrate WdG in their upcoming national anniversary campaign for the brand Kinderschokolade / Kinder Chocolate. Children participating in the contest can win a special WdG tour. Sounds like a good option for free nationwide PR.
I might get a new species no European zoo currently keeps this September.
And the funniest thing happened today: I was contacted by a marketing agency that is working for Ferrero. They would like to integrate WdG in their upcoming national anniversary campaign for the brand Kinderschokolade / Kinder Chocolate. Children participating in the contest can win a special WdG tour. Sounds like a good option for free nationwide PR.
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm thinking a mammal with a toxic bite might be nice -- loris or shrew perhaps? The only possible bird would be a Pitohoui, not sure if they have ever been kept. Platypus would be nice, but a lot of work even if you could get them....
Last edited by a moderator:
Today's special was interesting: I invited the EMPs of the local university clinic to my exhibition for two special (free) tours. My ulterior motive: to get to know the people who could save my life in the case of a bite/sting accident.
About 20 came, including the head of the clinic. The rest was busy tending the injured of a huge car accident that had happened just up the road to WdG.
Very interested audience, good questions. Looking forward to seeing them again - outside of the clinic, of course.
About 20 came, including the head of the clinic. The rest was busy tending the injured of a huge car accident that had happened just up the road to WdG.
Very interested audience, good questions. Looking forward to seeing them again - outside of the clinic, of course.
This is a great read. The expertise and knowledge shines through in the writing. I hope the project builds into a huge success story.
I don't think so @animal_expert01.
Today, another bunch of people is going to participate in the beginner's course. This should be fun, once again teaching and training with venomous critters in a tweed jacket.
One of my previous "graduates" was allowed to handle the Inland Taipan under my supervision during maintenance work at its enclosure last week. Before, she was a petit 5' 4''; afterwards, she was at least 10' tall & full of confidence.
A local therapist and his patient have started training sessions to overcome ophidiophobia last week. Since the outcome so far has been promising, this will be continued on a regular base.
And my first grammar school / college class is going to visit the facility next week as part of their biochemistry class.
Last but not least a funny little story, dating back to the last weekend: a young friend of mine who's assisting me at WdG now and then passed the venue on his way back home. Having drunk a little bit himself, he, well, heard nature's call and went to the back of the building. Returning, he suddenly faced the police. But when he started to explain that he actually works for the WdG (which he only does once in a while, the little rascal ^^) the cops smiled, congratulated him how positively WdG contributes to the local community, and let him go...
Today, another bunch of people is going to participate in the beginner's course. This should be fun, once again teaching and training with venomous critters in a tweed jacket.
One of my previous "graduates" was allowed to handle the Inland Taipan under my supervision during maintenance work at its enclosure last week. Before, she was a petit 5' 4''; afterwards, she was at least 10' tall & full of confidence.
A local therapist and his patient have started training sessions to overcome ophidiophobia last week. Since the outcome so far has been promising, this will be continued on a regular base.
And my first grammar school / college class is going to visit the facility next week as part of their biochemistry class.
Last but not least a funny little story, dating back to the last weekend: a young friend of mine who's assisting me at WdG now and then passed the venue on his way back home. Having drunk a little bit himself, he, well, heard nature's call and went to the back of the building. Returning, he suddenly faced the police. But when he started to explain that he actually works for the WdG (which he only does once in a while, the little rascal ^^) the cops smiled, congratulated him how positively WdG contributes to the local community, and let him go...
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
When I was in London Zoo's spider walkthrough I overheard a gentleman telling the volunteer he had been 'cured' of his arachnophobia by a special program that Bristol run. I think this is a very good thing for zoos to be doing.
Last edited:
To be fair, he *had* just finished dealing with an urgent problem pertaining to a "snake"
That's why I'm supporting it by offering them this option. The therapist actually keeps a tarantula for local anti-arachnophobia sessions at his office, but has mentioned that he would alsolike to take his clients to WdG for additional sessions. The benefit of WdG's current status is that I can give both patient and therapist the time on their own that they need, with no other customers or staff disturbing or judging them.
@TLD: Your last post might soon be replaced by [This post has been deleted due to containing dangerously infantile humor that might trigger peoplekind]
School classes ranging from the age 6 till 17y, sport clubs, local hardware store staff and labour unions on an outing, families, university students, young and ancient couples, farmers and a young migrant scholarship program group - there's quite a diversitx among the visitors of the last and the next week , but all are unified in their enjoyment of the WdG. So far, so good. ^^
Last edited:
Have you got any international visitors yet?
Funny that you should ask that today; I just finished a special tour today with students from the START Stiftung.
Startseite
Among others, today's group included youngsters from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Ukraine. Add that to the previous visitors from:
- Austria
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- France
- Gaboon
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- Poland
- Russia
- Switzerland
- Uganda
and the aforementioned sole visitor from the UK, and I dare to say that this is quite a nice international diversity for such a novel business in a rather remote part of Germany.
Last edited:
Hello Batto, I didn't read the entire thread, nor did I translate the species names but do you keep or intend to keep any European species of viper or adder? As a non-herpetologist, I believe that such animals can show Europeans that their lands also have something that is as mighty as a viper or a rattle snake.
Also do you intend to or already keep cone snails?
Also do you intend to or already keep cone snails?
As listed on page 3 of this thread and on ZTL, specimens of Vipera ammodytes and V. berus are a (popular) part of the exhibition.
Selected cone snail shells that the visitors can touch are part of the educational concept.
BTW: adder = viper and rattlesnake = (pit) viper (Crotalinae).
Selected cone snail shells that the visitors can touch are part of the educational concept.
BTW: adder = viper and rattlesnake = (pit) viper (Crotalinae).
Kakapo
Well-Known Member
Aquariums don't tend to keep alive cones, they are too expensive to feed and usally pass the day hidden in crevices or partially buried in the sand, plus are very slow-moving and hence visitors would not have interest in see them. I wonder if the fish-eating species can eat dead fishes or they need alive fishes, if they can feed on dead ones or pieces of fish meat, they could be more easy to suminister food. Urchin-eating and snail-eating species are something to forget. Also they cannot be kept in communitary tanks, hence visitors would have even less interest in keeping them. Empty clean shells (that shows the shell colour much better than an alive snail covered by dirt and algae as most cones tend to be) is what visitors would have a bit interest in.
Why are they expensive to feed? I've seen them being fed quite easily on pieces of squid.
And personally I'd be a lot more interested in watching live cone shells and seeing how they feed, than looking at just a bunch of empty sea-shells.
Somebody gets it. A feeding would show children that not all snails are boring garden pests or sea whelks
- Status