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Maguari

Nostalgic signage at Shepreth 05/04/10

Been a long time since I've seen a 'Chester-style' sign for these.

Nostalgic signage at Shepreth 05/04/10
Maguari, 10 Apr 2010
steveroberts likes this.
    • Maguari
      Been a long time since I\'ve seen a \'Chester-style\' sign for these.
    • European Fauna
      There is actually a lot to be said for these signs.Now that the majority of westerners have ready access to internet , interested visitors can obtain any level of info. they wish for a given species from appropriate sources- Wikipedia, Zoochat of course,individual zoo websites for info. on particular animals , or university studies whether as abstracts or in the original format , or whatever else.No shortage of info. for those interested enough to seek it out.Time during a zoo visit always seems far, far too short and nobody has much time to read long-winded signs with several paragraphs of info.Zoo enthusiasts will be far too absorbed by studying the actual animals and the built environment, while non zoo enthusiasts will not be interested enough to make the effort to read the info. in the first place.The summary is that zoo education departments go to endless trouble to produce all-singing, all-dancing signs and I almost never see any class of visitor giving them more than a passing glance at most.Definitely a case of less is better & for me signs such as the one depicted are a design classic.
    • GillP
      I don't mind these signs either .... for people who whizz through a zoo and regard it more as 'something to do' ( in the same vein as any other 'attraction', like a stately home, a theme park or a day at the seaside ) and who don't have a particular interest in animals, then these snapshot style signs might at least impart some basic knowledge they otherwise wouldn't bother to read if it was presented in more detail.

      Personally, I like reading as much about animals as possible and am far more likely to get frustrated at the lack of information often displayed (or not) but appreciate not everyone's like me. I think a mix of info is best ..... a short, to the point sign and more informative stuff for us enthusiasts.
    • Chlidonias
      every time I see this photo, my first thought is always "that doesn't even look like a crab-eating macaque"
    • pipaluk
      since I first saw this photo I have been wondering how Shepreth came to have this style sign for their macaques, as I would guess it is probably pre-dates the zoo, 1970s I would think.

      At the time I thought it looked like the signs Linton had 30 years ago and when there yesterday I notice the Great Grey Owls still have this style signage. In the 70s/80s possibly longer Linton had a large breeding group of this species in a tiny cage, which recently held toucan & now demolished, did Linton possibly send what was left of there group to Shepreth & the sign went with them?
    • European Fauna
      This is a fascinating possibility. I look forward to any updates on this.
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  • Category:
    Shepreth Wildlife Park
    Uploaded By:
    Maguari
    Date:
    10 Apr 2010
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    1,359
    Comment Count:
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