Speakers: Krista Lawley-Maynard, Toronto Zoo Member. Liane Fonseca, Toronto Zoo Guest. Ashley, Toronto Zoo Guest. Cassandra Raposo, Toronto Zoo Guest. Patricia Miller, Toronto Zoo Guest. Brenda Deskin
Liane Fonseca: zoolife really added to the zoo experience as a whole. It makes it, it translates it from being at the zoo to even watching the animals on the way back way back home. He could, he had kept his interest alive in the animals for the next couple of days as well and it made him more eager to want to come back to the zoo again at a different date.
Cassandra Raposo: After watching zoolife for a week and all the different habitats that were available. and all the different habitats that were available. It was really neat going to the zoo and seeing the habitats in person that you've been watching all week and getting to see them with my own eyes and seeing the animals in real time.
Krista Lawley-Maynard: Having access to zoolife has made such a difference to us. It took over a year for me to be able to see Wally in person between pavilion closures or different orangutans being in the habitat during my visits. With zoolife, I've been able to watch him grow and With zoolife, I've been able to watch him grow and develop into a mischievous and independent orangutan. Having access to zoolife has also given me the chance to watch animals that are sometimes really hard to see in person like the bats. For example, I can get a great view of Jessie and the other straw coloured fruit bats from the zoolife camera. coloured fruit bats from the zoolife camera. But in person, it's hard to get the right angle to see the bats, you know, from dotty or the ibis or even near the meerkats. zoolife also gives me the chance to participate in events that happen during my regular work day. Like listening to the talk on World Giraffe Day. Without zoolife, I would miss out on these types of talks miss out on these types of talks.
Ashley: So when you go to the zoo, sometimes you don't really get to see the animals. sometimes you don't really get to see the animals. They're not necessarily doing much or they're in an area of their enclosure where they're not visible. or they're in an area of their enclosure where they're not visible. So having access to zoolife, I've gotten to see close up animals like lions. So having access to zoolife, I've gotten to see close up animals like lions. So having access to zoolife, I've gotten to see close up animals like lions. I wouldn't have the chance to necessarily get those views if I were visiting in person.
Patricia Miller: We are still able to see the animals live and see how they're doing and any changes with them. So I always feel a bit more connected to the animals and my kids also love it as well. They will like remember them and they get so excited all over again, almost like we're visiting the zoo again. So that's my reason why I love zoolife so much.
Cassandra Raposo: I loved being able to see the animals in real time because if you go to the zoo in the middle of the day and they're sleeping, you don't get to see them walking around and stuff. you don't get to see them walking around and stuff.
Krista Lawley-Maynard: We love having access to zoo life. I've been a member at the Toronto Zoo for basically my whole life. So, of course, I love getting to watch some of my favorite animals from home. But zoo life also gives me the chance to see animals from other zoos animals. I might not have the chance to see, you know, like platypus or dingoes. I didn't realize how much I like bats until I started watching them on zoolife until I started watching them on zoolife. One of my favorite things to do with zoolife is to have it running on a couple of extra tabs during my work day, hearing the animal noises in the background, especially during stressful work days is so comforting and it helps to make the day a little bit less stressful. And if I'm lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Wally's little face or watch Charles hanging out in his food bowl, well, then it makes my day and I also love listening to the talks each day, hearing different stories about some of my favorite animals and also hearing from volunteers at other zoos to gain a more personal insight about some of their favorites
Hi, my name is Brenda and I just wanted to say a few words about zoolife It's been great for my son in particular It's been great for my son in particular Michael has severe autism and it's often difficult for various reasons, and it's often difficult for various reasons, and it's often difficult for various reasons, and it's often difficult for various reasons, be it staffing support be it staffing support be it staffing support or weather to always get him to the Toronto Zoo, which is one of Michael's which is one of Michael's absolute favorite places to go. So zoolife is a really nice option for him in that he can, virtually be there really any time he wants night or day. He doesn't sleep well, so often it is night time so often it is night time So it's great that he can see his favorite animals and, while he does have cognitive deficits, actually he's still able to navigate himself around the zoo on zoolife able to navigate himself around the zoo on zoolife able to navigate himself around the zoo on zoolife able to navigate himself around the zoo on zoolife software It's really easy to do and it all looks really familiar to Michael, which is great. which is great. So it gives him a really nice independent activity to do that is very like appropriate and to do that is very like appropriate and to do that is very like appropriate and to do that is very like appropriate and and gives him a lot of joy. and gives him a lot of joy. And what's also great I've noticed is that even when the animals are sleeping, is that even when the animals are sleeping, there are a lot of people who have posted their own videos they've taken previously on the sidebar so he can watch those if there aren't any animals live and awake and active for him to see. awake and active for him to see. So I think it's been a really great add-on to the whole Toronto Zoo membership experience and it's definitely been something that influenced our decision to renew our subscription. It just gives uh that much more value to the membership so that Michael can enjoy the Toronto Zoo all the time, even when he can't be there physically. So, thank you for doing what you do. And it's also been kind of cool to look at other zoos. Michael's enjoyed that as well and he will continue enjoying it. So I hope that the Toronto Zoo continues offering it as an add-on to its membership because it's just been a wonderful feature to have.
