ZooChat: favourite threads of 2013

sooty mangabey

sooty mangabey

Well-Known Member
As we nudge towards the end of the year, our thoughts might wander back over the past 12 months, and the high (and low) lights they have brought.

There have been some great threads on ZooChat this past year. While the news threads ("A vervet monkey was born, but Bert the mara has died") are interesting to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the interest one has in the zoos that they cover, there are some threads which transcend such parochial concerns. My favourites follow - I'm sure others will have others to celebrate.

Any list of favourites is of course subjective, and there is also the "hazy memory about things from 12 months ago" factor. Nonetheless, in reverse order, the five threads that I have enjoyed most these past 12 months are:

5. Hix does Uganda http://www.zoochat.com/1679/hix-does-uganda-330394/
Although he cheated (!) by going on an organised tour, this was a great thread for many reasons - (1) Great country with wonderful wildlife (and a genuinely interesting zoo). (2) Hix seems like a really decent bloke. (3) The serendipitous coming-together of two ZooChat regulars on one trip!

4. Devilfish's various trips http://www.zoochat.com/19/devilfishs-asian-adventure-308174/ - http://www.zoochat.com/327/brief-czech-visit-339085/ - http://www.zoochat.com/172/devilfish-portugal-2013-a-345925/
The enthusiasm and generous-spirited nature of these threads is what makes them so appealing - as does the fact that they inspire envy in any reader (does Devilfish ever do any work? Or is he always jetting off on another fairly lengthy zoo trip?).

3. List of species on exhibit at San Diego Zoo http://www.zoochat.com/22/list-species-exhibit-11-26-13-a-347320/
Geomorph's painstaking list is brilliant, and is everything that is good about this site. Lovingly put-together information, that is fantastically nerdy, and fantastically wonderful. The discussion about which bird is in which aviary and so on makes me really want to visit San Diego...

2. jbnbsn99 & ituri go to Arizona http://www.zoochat.com/22/jbnbsn99-ituri-go-arizona-345816/
Not a massively lengthy Snow Leopard style road trip, and not very adventurous either. And the zoo reports were pretty half-hearted. But this made me laugh quite a lot, and also made me think that the two protagonists were thoroughly interesting, knowledgeable and good-humoured fellows, whose adventures were more than worth sharing.

1. Chlidonias goes to Asia, Part 3 http://www.zoochat.com/19/chlidonias-goes-asia-part-3-2013-a-328982/
At the time of writing he's been on the road for about six months, and the thread has had nearly 17,000 views. It's been the best thing on ZooChat all year - maybe ever! - with its combination of unusual zoos, great wild wildlife, and self-deprecating humour. I sort of feel that he is spending hours on uncomfortable buses, staying in revolting-sounding hostels, getting sick and often not seeing a great deal, so that we don't have to. Thank you, Chlidonias!

...and thank you to all those who post interesting, well-informed, constructive, thoughtful things here. Here's to an excellent 2014!
 
In no particular order.....

Chlidonias goes to Asia, Part 3
http://www.zoochat.com/19/chlidonias-goes-asia-part-3-2013-a-328982/

As Sooty notes, one of the best examples of the kind of thing the users of this site can contribute; the combination of travelogue, discussion of weird and wonderful zoos, and the joys and griefs of wildlife watching - ably assisted by regular banter between Chlidonias and the many, many people whom he has made jealous! - makes this (and the prior two iterations, actually) a must-read for anyone who wants to get a grip on the sense of humour, in-jokes and culture of this site.

2013 ZooChat UK Challenge
http://www.zoochat.com/38/2013-zoochat-uk-challenge-302956/

Another great example of the combination of camaraderie, banter and light-hearted competition which makes this site so great - not to mention something providing a hefty kick for anyone in the UK who has put off visiting any number of collections far too long :p

Visits to zoos that doesn't exist anymore
http://www.zoochat.com/2/visits-zoos-doesnt-exist-anymore-337755/

There were a few threads like this one started this year - this is more or less a nomination for them all. It is, I feel, just as important to recall what we have lost as it is to discuss what we still have.

Zoochat 2013 Big Year
http://www.zoochat.com/65/zoochat-2013-big-year-304885/

Another thread which promotes a healthy sense of competition, camaraderie and community; although I have not posted in this year's thread I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Sure I will be able to think of a few more given time :)
 
sooty mangabey said:
1. Chlidonias goes to Asia, Part 3 http://www.zoochat.com/19/chlidonias-goes-asia-part-3-2013-a-328982/
At the time of writing he's been on the road for about six months, and the thread has had nearly 17,000 views. It's been the best thing on ZooChat all year - maybe ever! - with its combination of unusual zoos, great wild wildlife, and self-deprecating humour. I sort of feel that he is spending hours on uncomfortable buses, staying in revolting-sounding hostels, getting sick and often not seeing a great deal, so that we don't have to. Thank you, Chlidonias!
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and thank you to you!

The bold bit in the quote is the exact reason I did the trip. I actually couldn't care less about animals, but I know everyone else on the site does so I thought they could live vicariously through my wanderings :D

Also (re one of your other listings and comment), Hix is a top bloke! I would have asked him for payment for saying that but Australian money is worthless.

I will come back to this thread and leave my own list but I am about to go off on a train ride to a new destination.....
 
The two major outstanding blogs for me were Hix does Uganda and Chlidonias in Asia. Both excellently written and hugely informative. Congratulations.:)

There are just so many Zoochatters doing so much stuff its impossible to keep tabs on a lot of it, so I have missed some of the other threads mentioned above entirely.:(
 
Pertinax said:
There are just so many Zoochatters doing so much stuff its impossible to keep tabs on a lot of it, so I have missed some of the other threads mentioned above entirely.:(
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Hopefully you'll have more time to read what people are up to nowadays :p
 
Chlidonias said:
Also (re one of your other listings and comment), Hix is a top bloke! I would have asked him for payment for saying that but Australian money is worthless.
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Almost as worthless as New Zealand money!

Thanks for the compliment - and I haven't forgotten you said something similar to Orangeperson prior to our meeting in Africa, which I also appreciate.

And thanks to everyone who enjoyed my writings. I only hope 2014 proves to be just as rewarding!

:p

Hix
 
Pertinax said:
The two major outstanding blogs for me were Hix does Uganda and Chlidonias in Asia. Both excellently written and hugely informative. Congratulations.:)

There are just so many Zoochatters doing so much stuff its impossible to keep tabs on a lot of it, so I have missed some of the other threads mentioned above entirely.:(
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Yeah these were top threads. I love reading about the story behind the story.

The Zoochat 2013 Big Year thread, although an inanimate collection of long lists, was very inspirational for me. It has turned my wife and I into crazy birders. I look forward to 2014's thread.
 
Chlidonias said:
It is funny how the most popular threads seem to be largely non-zoo related.
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I suspect that's because they are mostly travelogues, embracing experiences others would like to share in, even if only vicariously.

The Zoo threads are still the nitty-gritty of the site of course, but tend not to contain quite such absorbing subject matter e.g. 'Chimp born at Monarto' doesn't have quite the cachet of e.g. seeing Tragopans in the wild.:D
 
Chlidonias said:
It is funny how the most popular threads seem to be largely non-zoo related.
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This is true - and I regret leaving the Madagascar one (possibly too new!) and Australia one (too intermittent) off my list.

However, there hasn't really been an enormous zoo-focused trip covered this year. If there had been, I am sure people would be referring to it here. Time for Snow Leopard to head out across America again.....
 
sooty mangabey said:
However, there hasn't really been an enormous zoo-focused trip covered this year. If there had been, I am sure people would be referring to it here. Time for Snow Leopard to head out across America again.....
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Well, since my 2008, 2010 and 2012 road trips are 3 of the most popular threads ever on ZooChat (according to the "Stats" page) then I feel that I need to hit the road again. In 2011 I spent a month visiting zoos in California and Arizona but that road trip thread does not crack the top 20 all-time list simply because it was too short. The long trips are the best, just like Chlidonias's rambles across Asia. Does that individual even work?:) Ha!

Anyway, as a select few already know there are tentative plans for a short blast across America in the summer of 2014 (after the World Cup ends). The schedule is already set and it calls for 40 zoos/aquariums in 18 days, as many of the facilities are really tiny ones that I've never been to before and if I leave my wife and 3 little kids at home I'll be able to easily tick off 2 or 3 small establishments in a single day.
 
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