Are zoos and aquaria perceived by the outside world as sufficiently different to one another?
If not, do we lose out of area visitors and funding potential, because we are seen as having little to offer that is part of the particular authentic ‘flavour’ of that part of the world?
The fact is, from within the zoo world, it is obvious that no two zoos are alike. However the public and the media tend to speak of ‘the city zoo’, as if the content (”lions, tigers, elephants, etc…”) is interchangeable wherever you go in the the world.
I am sure that most organisations could do more to project some kind of unique story ( around star animals, around human characters, some special piece of organisational heritage, distinctive architecture, some tie in with charismatic native fauna…?) that would help drive traffic and allow the zoo to be seen as somehow essential to the distinctive regional or local identity. Jersey certainly did this in through the iconic personality of Gerald Durrell, and Bristol ( in a very different sense) through the semi-fictional Johnny Morris. I confess I have never been to either the Biblical Zoo in Israel and the Nahavo Zoo in Arizona. but both of these must punch above their weight because of the ‘must see whilst in area’ packaging they have cleverly enveloped themselves in.
How many different ways could a given zoo, aquarium or similar organisation add to their mystique, mythos, glamour? How many different ways can they shine a searchlight into sky and say ‘I am here, and in this sense I am unique in all the world’..?
Best
John
