A Summer of Learning and Fun in the Wildlife Dome at Noah’s Ark Zoo
6th Sep 2024
This summer at Noah’s Ark Zoo, we invited families and curious minds of all ages to embark on a journey of discovery in our brand-new Wildlife Dome. Tucked away in a previously unused area behind the African Lions, the Wildlife Dome quickly became a hub of excitement, where visitors could dive into hands-on activities, engage in conservation efforts, and spark their imaginations.
A Summer of Education and Engagement
Jacob Pask, our dedicated Education and Public Engagement Officer, reflected on the summer's success, saying, "This summer, we aimed to expand our charity initiatives by engaging our visitors with conservation and wildlife-themed games and activities. It was an exciting chance to showcase our new Wildlife Dome, a vibrant space located near our conservation area. The public rarely gets the opportunity to explore this part of the zoo, so it was wonderful to finally open it up for everyone to enjoy."
Among the various activities, Jacob’s personal highlight was the bug hunting. "Watching families dive into discovering beetles and spiders was fantastic—and there were fewer screams than I anticipated!"
Public Engagement and Weekly Themes
Throughout the summer, we introduced weekly themes designed to engage visitors with different aspects of wildlife and conservation.
Week 1: Siamang Gibbon Behaviour Study & Conservation Awareness
Next to the Gibbon house, we set up a simple yet engaging project where the public was invited to observe and record the behaviours of our Siamangs. Visitors also learned about palm oil's impact on habitats with a special stall promoting conservation efforts.
Week 2: Pond Dipping
Families got to explore the aquatic world, catching and identifying small water creatures in our educational pond dipping sessions.
Week 3: Elephant Behaviour Study & Conservation Awareness
Using ‘iPads’, visitors participated in tracking our elephants' behaviour, learning fascinating insights about our four giants. We also displayed artifacts from elephant conservation projects including a tusk, elephant tail hairs and a even a toe nail!
Weeks 3 & 4: Bug Hunting in the Wildlife Dome
Pitfall traps were set each night to find small invertebrates, which children and families identified the following day under staff supervision. Many parents remarked they were inspired to try bug hunting in their own gardens!
One of the standout features in the Wildlife Dome was a Bug Hotel, specially designed by Chris Brookes, our Retail and Enterprise Manager.
The Bug Hotel
Chris shared the inspiration behind the structure: “I wanted to create a themed bug hotel that looked like Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge to support our local conservation efforts. We’re not far from the iconic bridge, and many of our visitors cross it to visit us.” His creation was a hit with visitors, with 4,960 children having the opportunity to see how bug hotels can support local invertebrates.
Chris explained further, "My main reason for building the hotel was to inspire both children and adults to do something for bugs in their own gardens and spaces. Bug shelters can be made really easily, and it’s important for local environments to encourage invertebrates to thrive—they’re fundamental to our ecosystems."
Inspiring Conservation Beyond the Zoo
At Noah’s Ark Zoo, we’re committed to using our platform to inspire and educate. The summer holidays offered the perfect opportunity to immerse families in conservation efforts and showcase the beauty and importance of wildlife. From behaviour studies to bug hunting, our Wildlife Dome became a space of learning, laughter, and discovery.
We look forward to welcoming you back next summer for more exciting adventures!
