MRF Project update

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(1)    What are the TWO most interesting facts / bits of information you’ve come across so far in your research for the project (include an image for each one, please).

What I found most captivating thus far is the extent to how many endangered animals LPZ really does have. By exploring their website, I was able to find dozens, but winded down to focusing on just a few. I selected them by their status as being “critically endangered” rather than endangered.

Thus, this has been swaying my opinion (slightly) of what I feel about zoo institutions. Perhaps there is more good than evil.

Basing most of my research from their website, it took me by surprise how many of these endangered animals belonged in the mammal category, and how few birds there were that were critically endangered. For some reason, I assumed that there would be more of a balance, or perhaps even more birds that were near extinction than mammals.

The animals I choose to do research on are the African Wild Dog, the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher, the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, and the Mexican Axolotl. I choose these to have one species represented for each family of species including a mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian.

The other fact I found incredibly interesting are the noises that Wild African Dogs actually produce- it is bizarre and very high pitched! I also found it interesting that one of the reasons why their population is declining, besides deforestation, is because of diseases brought by contact with domestic dogs, such as rabies. 

 

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(2)    What have you accomplished/completed so far in the in the project (background research, source material acquisition, a first draft, etc?)

I have been working on the sound element, extracting ambient noises of the animals in the wild, combined with facts that I found online. To do this, I created an audacity file and overlapped the animal noise of each specific animal, and overlapped it with my own voice recording different facts of that specific species. Such information states what region they are located in, what they look like, and why they are endangered and the numbers that are left in the wild.

(3)    What are the components that you need to focus on and complete in the next week?

A.    The actual construction of the stuffed animals

B.    Putting the website together (I started a simple blog, to just put basic facts and images and the sound. I think I will name it “Not fossilized yet”.

(4)    What is a still unresolved part of your project that you would like feedback on?

A. QR codes!

I still am not clear about the logistics of making QR codes, so feel a bit lost about making them.

Rather than having the code printed onto the stuffed animal, I am thinking it will be better to attach a tag to each animals ear (like a TY beanie baby) that has the code in the inside of the card, along with the scientific name of the animal and the number left.

Also, the tag on the front can say “Critically endangered collection” or something to that extent.

B.    Display- I am tempted to just leave them in their respective area, right where the display is, on the ground, but don’t want visitors to be startled by them.

Thank you!-Michelle