Zoo signage for directions to animals

[adrian1963]

On one or two of my zoo visits to different zoo's last year I noticed that some of the directional signage to take you aroud the zoo's was out of date or even sent you completely in the wrong direction.
I was just wondering if other people had noticed this and here is our chance to let other people know of the ones that are slightly out of date.
Also there are signs on enclosures which actual describe the wrong animal within that enclosure if you have come across any of these I would like to know and this will help others so they are aware
So why not post them and let us all know
(by the way this is not knocking or ment to knock any zoo or zoo staff)

If humans weren't around which animal would ruin the world!!!!?

 

[HuxleyPig]

On the Marwell Map, it says Servals are where the Oryx are. That's literally the only thing I can think of.

 

[karenZOO]

Not saying there was anything wrong with the signage but we got totally lost trying to follow the map/signs at Paignton in the summer there did not seem to be a logical route to follow but that was fine with us lol It was fun exploring although afterwards we realised we had missed out everything before the restaurant to the left of the entrance

I blame it on all the trees and greenery we are not used to

 

[Midlan]

Not saying there was anything wrong with the signage but we got totally lost trying to follow the map/signs at Paignton in the summer there did not seem to be a logical route to follow but that was fine with us lol It was fun exploring although afterwards we realised we had missed out everything before the restaurant to the left of the entrance

I blame it on all the trees and greenery we are not used to

I was exactly the same when i went, I just wandered around and finally saw everything

Aswell, how come your not used to greenery?

 

[Maguari]

Aswell, how come your not used to greenery?

I'd have thought for a Colchester regular anything other than glass or mock rock would come as a bit of a surprise!

[/stirring!]

 

[karenZOO]

Midlan as pointed out above lol my home zoo is Colchester which unfortunately lacking in a lot of natural landscaping in places (tut Maguri thats how you put it nicely lol jj)

 

[Maguari]

OK, I'll behave!

 

[Midlan]

Well I cannot comment as I have never been to Colchester, I know, you all hate me now, nahh im kiddin.

 

[karenZOO]

You should pay Colchester zoo a visit sometime Midlan

Colchester on Zoochat is the marmite of zoos

I love it, but then again I have been going approx *cough* 40 years and don't notice its flaws just the good times i've had there lol



Back to zoo maps/signs I found Dudley zoo's map (as stated before) very complicated/overcrowded and was outdated! They had attempted to update the feeding/talk schedules by sticking more layers over the map!

I think if they followed Colchester map style - produced usually at beginning of season and including any future development. Then as needed they have cheap handouts to include feed times, special events etc.
They also have bins by the exit for people to recycle their maps that can then be used again.
Having separate maps also means they can produce a species guide/guidebook that doesn't date quite so quickly.

Also have a marked route (yellow arrows) at Colchester helps the less adventorous/disabled/pushchairs find an easy route around the zoo rather than signs.

 

[glasgowanimal]

what you find with many larger zoos is communication & timing plays its part

the animal section may move animals around without long term planning so therefore not allowing the interpretation/graphics team to keep up!

some animals are moved between enclosures/paddocks many times, especially hoofstock animals due to grass quality, fighting etc.

on the whole I would assume most zoos encounter these issues

 

[adrian1963]

On the Dudley Zoo map I totally agree with Karen it is outdated by about 15 years as they've used the same map it could clearly do with updating.
Will be visiting Colchester later in the summer along with 12 Other zoo's some still to be decided.
Any one got a list of best zoo's for photography and I don't mean the big 5 as they will have visitors in the frame most of the time.
I would also like to see a few of the best sign fowl ups on this thread or in the galleries but please let me know which galleries.