Hello friends, acquaintances, fellow ZooChatters.
Nearly 10 years ago now, in 2013, former member @filipinos expanded on the idea by @Shorts to host a game where ZooChat members would compete to see the most of a selected animal group within a one year period. This game, as opposed to the original UK version, aimed to be open to members of the wider community. Thus, the global challenge was born. Following that year, @filipinos gifted the running of the challenges to me, which I proceeding to manage solely for the proceeding 6 years. In 2020, I took a step back from ZooChat for a time as aspects of my life changed significantly while the world grasped with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the running of the challenges passed onto @ZooBinh, who did a great job both that year and this past year as I silently guided in the background. Finally, here we are, the 11th entry and 10th anniversary of one of the longest running series in zoo forum history!
This year's entry is one I have been planning for a long time, so @ZooBinh has graciously allowed me to step back into the spotlight to shepherd in what I hope to be the most spectacular game yet... as well as my last. While I still hope to always participate in the games to some extent, after this year I plan to fully step away from my tenure as the head of this game. It is my hope that @ZooBinh, or someone, continues the legacy. But for now, let's just let the games begin...
So what is the 10th anniversary special challenge?
Primates
Parrots
Cartilaginous fishes
All animals
Just as @Coelacanth18's North American challenge this past year introduced the idea of 'mini-games' to that game, the 2023 global challenge will be doing something similar. This year comes with a fun twist, however: All the games are inspired by the challenges of years' past!
Before I dive into the mini-challenges themselves, first let's recap the rules as follows:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. All entries must be presented in numbered list form, with scientific names included where necessary (simply to make it easier to keep track of and to avoid uncountable species being slipped in due to vagueness). Obviously species do not need Latin names included, but this is not an avenue to slip in inadmissible species with vagueness;
4. You have to see the animal via normal public access (zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes do not count) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would;
5. Any severely limited opening or private collections don't count for this challenge. Controversial yes, but see previous point and it isn't fair to include a handful of days these collections might be open to the public as this might logistically disadvantage a large number of people;
6. Only public zoological collections, museums, public park displays, etc. count, animals seen at farms or pet stores do not count;
7. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
8. Where open-ended challenges are concerned, only one subspecies per species can be counted;
9. Controversial entries due to splits will be discussed on a case-by-case basis;
10. Domestics do not count, the animals must be in a wild form. You can count a species that's been domesticated just as long as the animal you're looking at isn't;
11. Hybrid animals do not count;
12. Wild animals do not count, all species must be seen in captivity under all the conditions listed above;
13. Anyone caught severely violating any of the above rules and/or participating in extremely unsportsmanlike conduct on or even off the forum is subject to disqualification (these are made for fun, by all means take them seriously but please do not ruin the fun for anyone else. I do not expect to have any problems, but I've added this in just in case);
14. Any issues with any of the above rules is open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final;
15. Apart from the unlikely event that someone gets to see all the species potentially viewable by 12/31/23, the winner will be deemed to be the person who's seen the most at that date.
Now for the game itself...
Nearly 10 years ago now, in 2013, former member @filipinos expanded on the idea by @Shorts to host a game where ZooChat members would compete to see the most of a selected animal group within a one year period. This game, as opposed to the original UK version, aimed to be open to members of the wider community. Thus, the global challenge was born. Following that year, @filipinos gifted the running of the challenges to me, which I proceeding to manage solely for the proceeding 6 years. In 2020, I took a step back from ZooChat for a time as aspects of my life changed significantly while the world grasped with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the running of the challenges passed onto @ZooBinh, who did a great job both that year and this past year as I silently guided in the background. Finally, here we are, the 11th entry and 10th anniversary of one of the longest running series in zoo forum history!
This year's entry is one I have been planning for a long time, so @ZooBinh has graciously allowed me to step back into the spotlight to shepherd in what I hope to be the most spectacular game yet... as well as my last. While I still hope to always participate in the games to some extent, after this year I plan to fully step away from my tenure as the head of this game. It is my hope that @ZooBinh, or someone, continues the legacy. But for now, let's just let the games begin...
So what is the 10th anniversary special challenge?
Parrots
Cartilaginous fishes
All animals
Just as @Coelacanth18's North American challenge this past year introduced the idea of 'mini-games' to that game, the 2023 global challenge will be doing something similar. This year comes with a fun twist, however: All the games are inspired by the challenges of years' past!
Before I dive into the mini-challenges themselves, first let's recap the rules as follows:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. All entries must be presented in numbered list form, with scientific names included where necessary (simply to make it easier to keep track of and to avoid uncountable species being slipped in due to vagueness). Obviously species do not need Latin names included, but this is not an avenue to slip in inadmissible species with vagueness;
4. You have to see the animal via normal public access (zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes do not count) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would;
5. Any severely limited opening or private collections don't count for this challenge. Controversial yes, but see previous point and it isn't fair to include a handful of days these collections might be open to the public as this might logistically disadvantage a large number of people;
6. Only public zoological collections, museums, public park displays, etc. count, animals seen at farms or pet stores do not count;
7. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
8. Where open-ended challenges are concerned, only one subspecies per species can be counted;
9. Controversial entries due to splits will be discussed on a case-by-case basis;
10. Domestics do not count, the animals must be in a wild form. You can count a species that's been domesticated just as long as the animal you're looking at isn't;
11. Hybrid animals do not count;
12. Wild animals do not count, all species must be seen in captivity under all the conditions listed above;
13. Anyone caught severely violating any of the above rules and/or participating in extremely unsportsmanlike conduct on or even off the forum is subject to disqualification (these are made for fun, by all means take them seriously but please do not ruin the fun for anyone else. I do not expect to have any problems, but I've added this in just in case);
14. Any issues with any of the above rules is open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final;
15. Apart from the unlikely event that someone gets to see all the species potentially viewable by 12/31/23, the winner will be deemed to be the person who's seen the most at that date.
Now for the game itself...
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Got a great zoo planned for January 1st so this will be exciting.