Zoophoria

GraysonDP

GraysonDP

Well-Known Member
As some of you know, I have just started a blog called Zoophoria: Your Connection to the Modern Zoo, which aims to entice people to visit zoos, excite them about the experiences and animals found there, and raise awareness for what the world's best zoos are doing for animal welfare, conservation and education. It also will be used as a platform to share my zoo writing with others. The first post went up today! zoophoria
 
I like the idea and the effort that is behind this site!
If I can offer one thought on the zebra post. It might be that my interests are not the demographic that you are aiming for with this site, as at times I feel that the post is overly corporate. Some of the write ups come off as something that you find in the marketing from the zoos. Combined with using photos provided by the zoos, it comes off as a combined marketing pitch for the zoos.
There is nothing wrong with that, I personally would just find more value in a more personalized write up, such as what you experience when you walk into each exhibit. Tips or tricks from your own visits that could be used by a future guest would help. I think using your own (or other guests provided) photos would also help as that would be more indicative of the experience a reader would get if they were to visit.
I hope this does not come off as overly critical as I am impressed by the site and think it is a worthwhile endeavor.
 
m30t said:
I like the idea and the effort that is behind this site!
If I can offer one thought on the zebra post. It might be that my interests are not the demographic that you are aiming for with this site, as at times I feel that the post is overly corporate. Some of the write ups come off as something that you find in the marketing from the zoos. Combined with using photos provided by the zoos, it comes off as a combined marketing pitch for the zoos.
There is nothing wrong with that, I personally would just find more value in a more personalized write up, such as what you experience when you walk into each exhibit. Tips or tricks from your own visits that could be used by a future guest would help. I think using your own (or other guests provided) photos would also help as that would be more indicative of the experience a reader would get if they were to visit.
I hope this does not come off as overly critical as I am impressed by the site and think it is a worthwhile endeavor.
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Thank you so much! The problem I am facing with that is I want to work in zoo public relations so am wary of saying anything that is controversial and polarizing. In the future, there will be things such as reviews and videos I take from the zoos I visit which I feel should give a more personal edge. But I will try to talk more about the experience of going to each exhibit! As for the pictures I haven't been to all the zoos and not all the ones I have been to I have pictures of but I try to use my own as much as possible!
 
Great idea for a site and very nicely done! Personally I like the brief posts (they're not too commercial for my tastes) and I like the professional photos. Well most of the photos. The photo from El Paso Zoo and Rio Grande Zoo are blurry, but otherwise everything is great.

Just one minor correction on Dallas Zoo. The observation towers you describe (and seen in photo) do NOT allow guests to observe the zebras. Those towers are for staff use only. The visitors are on the opposite side (the side the photo was taken from) on a regular (though expansive) overlook.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Great idea for a site and very nicely done! Personally I like the brief posts (they're not too commercial for my tastes) and I like the professional photos. Well most of the photos. The photo from El Paso Zoo and Rio Grande Zoo are blurry, but otherwise everything is great.

Just one minor correction on Dallas Zoo. The observation towers you describe (and seen in photo) do NOT allow guests to observe the zebras. Those towers are for staff use only. The visitors are on the opposite side (the side the photo was taken from) on a regular (though expansive) overlook.
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Thanks for the correction! I have been there and was not meaning to refer to the observation towers used by staff but the overlooks the guest use looking out on the savanna. I'll change it to viewing stations to make it more clear.
 
Thanks for creating such a terrific site and the zebra and chimpanzee articles are wonderful. Keep up the great work Grayson! :)
 
I definitely wouldn't rate Omaha so high, due to the extreme fakeness of their outdoor walk-through, and the fact that of the several times I've visited, it's always been closed. Also, it's not the only walkthrough for lemurs in America, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has one for ring-tailed lemurs. Omaha's indoor enclosures are kind of bad as well, except the one for aye-ayes. I do think the professionality (is that a word?) for all the posts could be taken down a notch, though. Otherwise, they're well written.
 
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GraysonDP said:
I want to work in zoo public relations
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This blog is OK as a portfolio in you job application, but a little difficult to read. Some may need a snow shovel to swipe away all the corpo-talk and get to the content.;)

But you may also want to write other kind of posts. Interesting personalized narrative about a particular animal (especially hand reared) in a local newspaper, or a story about conservation in the wild are as effective for the zoo marketing as an exhibit ad.

BTW, watching your blog on my mobile I cannot find links to older posts.
 
Jurek7 said:
This blog is OK as a portfolio in you job application, but a little difficult to read. Some may need a snow shovel to swipe away all the corpo-talk and get to the content.;)

But you may also want to write other kind of posts. Interesting personalized narrative about a particular animal (especially hand reared) in a local newspaper, or a story about conservation in the wild are as effective for the zoo marketing as an exhibit ad.

BTW, watching your blog on my mobile I cannot find links to older posts.
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More different types of posts are coming up!
 
I thoroughly enjoyed going through your blog and look forward to reading more of your posts. I would recommend leaving out the list at the end of each post about "other great zoos for..." since it adds nothing to the conversation if you just put out claims without addressing them. Additionally, it would be appreciated if you refrain from posting comments about your blog on the Zoochat media, it spams the "recent activity" section, making it difficult to view any new comments that people have posted.
 
I just read the one on cheetahs and I agree completely with your selections. The only one I might add would be Fossil Rim. Also just one spelling error for you to fix: it should be fifty cents, not fifty sense. Other than that, great job.

I will disagree with the poster above regarding new posts on this thread. I have no problem with you using this thread to update us on new blog posts.
 
I also see you have a tab at the top for "interviews" which I assume will be coming. I think that's a great idea and would be of interest to all ZooChat members (perhaps even more than the blog posts).
 
Falcosparverius said:
I thoroughly enjoyed going through your blog and look forward to reading more of your posts. I would recommend leaving out the list at the end of each post about "other great zoos for..." since it adds nothing to the conversation if you just put out claims without addressing them. Additionally, it would be appreciated if you refrain from posting comments about your blog on the Zoochat media, it spams the "recent activity" section, making it difficult to view any new comments that people have posted.
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I have reframed- sorry about that! I'll be keeping all future posts about the site on this thread and possibly one for international audiences as well. As for the other great zoos, my reason for putting that on the site is more for visitors who are less familiar with zoos and might want to see if they can find good exhibits for their favorite animal near them that might not mak
Arizona Docent said:
I just read the one on cheetahs and I agree completely with your selections. The only one I might add would be Fossil Rim. Also just one spelling error for you to fix: it should be fifty cents, not fifty sense. Other than that, great job.

I will disagree with the poster above regarding new posts on this thread. I have no problem with you using this thread to update us on new blog posts.
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Thank you! The only reason Fossil Rim didn't make it is isn't really a zoo as much as a wildlife park. I kind of think of places like Fossil Rim and the Wilds as apples and oranges to zoos.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I also see you have a tab at the top for "interviews" which I assume will be coming. I think that's a great idea and would be of interest to all ZooChat members (perhaps even more than the blog posts).
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It is indeed! I'm trying to track a few people down to be interviewed on the site. More to come soon.
 
Just one more piece of constructive criticism; I hope you don't mind. As a photographer this is something I notice. Each photo should have small type in the corner (either on the photo or underneath) listing the photographer name (eg copyright Nick Nichols) or photo source (eg courtesy Phoenix Zoo). Not only is this common courtesy, in some cases it is a legal requirement. In fact you really cannot repost any photo without first getting direct permission (unless it is specifically listed as public domain). In the age of the internet few follow this law (and it is a law) and it is extremely unlikely that any zoo will go after you for using their photo on a blog that is promoting them. But at the very least you should name the source.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Just one more piece of constructive criticism; I hope you don't mind. As a photographer this is something I notice. Each photo should have small type in the corner (either on the photo or underneath) listing the photographer name (eg copyright Nick Nichols) or photo source (eg courtesy Phoenix Zoo). Not only is this common courtesy, in some cases it is a legal requirement. In fact you really cannot repost any photo without first getting direct permission (unless it is specifically listed as public domain). In the age of the internet few follow this law (and it is a law) and it is extremely unlikely that any zoo will go after you for using their photo on a blog that is promoting them. But at the very least you should name the source.
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It is visible when you scroll over the photo (a dialogue pops up that says, for example, (c) Kansas City Zoo, or Public Domain). That being said, I agree that there should be text on the page itself.
 
Oh, now I see it - thanks. (You have to leave the cursor on top of the photo for one full second before the pop-up name shows).
 
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