Happy new year ZooChat!! I apologize for the delay in posting this year’s challenge, especially to those waiting in the more Eastern time zones.
This year’s challenge? Predators. The fearsome hunters which dominate the food chains of the earth, seas, and skies. They have razor sharp talons, teeth, and claws— perfect for swiftly bringing demise to any poor unfortunate prey. Of course, I couldn’t make the challenge so large as to include every predatory species out there, so the eligible taxonomic groups are as follows:
Mammals-
.
Rules are 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 encouraged (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. Please also provide updates in a legible, numerical order. See how @Kudu21 or @CGSwans provided updates throughout the year for some guiding examples;
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 the 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. There is no official deadline to join; however, please try to update within a timely manner. Long, sudden entries submitted at the very end of the year may be subject to disqualification under my discretion. In other words, I see how poorly this rule was perceived last year, and thus it is gone, but I will reserve the privilege to bar someone in the unlikely case they dump their entire year’s worth of visits into one update on December 29th, for example;
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 are 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 12/31/24, the winner will be deemed to be the person who's seen the most on that date.
If any aspects of this year’s challenge potentially need to be changed, updates will be posted within the week.
Alright, that’s enough from me. Enjoy the hunt, and have a wonderful new year!!
This year’s challenge? Predators. The fearsome hunters which dominate the food chains of the earth, seas, and skies. They have razor sharp talons, teeth, and claws— perfect for swiftly bringing demise to any poor unfortunate prey. Of course, I couldn’t make the challenge so large as to include every predatory species out there, so the eligible taxonomic groups are as follows:
Mammals-
- Order Carnivora (Carnivores)
- Order Accipitriformes (Birds of prey)
- Order Strigiformes (Owls)
- Order Falconiformes (Falcons)
- Suborder Serpentes (Snakes)
- Order Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
- Order Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
- Order Heterodontiformes (Bullhead sharks)
- Order Hexanchiformes (Cow and frilled sharks)
- Order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks)
- Order Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)
- Order Pristiophoriformes (Sawsharks)
- Order Squaliformes (Dogfish sharks)
- Order Squatiniformes (Angel sharks)
.Rules are 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 encouraged (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. Please also provide updates in a legible, numerical order. See how @Kudu21 or @CGSwans provided updates throughout the year for some guiding examples;
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 the 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. There is no official deadline to join; however, please try to update within a timely manner. Long, sudden entries submitted at the very end of the year may be subject to disqualification under my discretion. In other words, I see how poorly this rule was perceived last year, and thus it is gone, but I will reserve the privilege to bar someone in the unlikely case they dump their entire year’s worth of visits into one update on December 29th, for example;
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 are 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 12/31/24, the winner will be deemed to be the person who's seen the most on that date.
If any aspects of this year’s challenge potentially need to be changed, updates will be posted within the week.
Alright, that’s enough from me. Enjoy the hunt, and have a wonderful new year!!
. Please submit entries in numerical lists— it makes moderating and tracking this challenge much easier 