The Dallas Zoo is dedicated to conservation and saving wildlife and wild places. Named one of the nation’s Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, it is the largest zoological experience in Texas. The zoo has been accredited continuously by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums for 32 years, and features a 106-acre park, thousands of animals, and an education department that offers programs for all ages. This year, using the summer philanthropic internship program we were able to complete a visitor engagement application for those who frequent the zoo each year.
This project was focused on creating an engaging and unique experience for every visit to the zoo while at the same time raising animal conservation awareness as part of the zoo's mission. In addition this application has hopes to increase membership at the Dallas Zoo and encourage repeat visitors in all different age demographics.
The Dallas internship team built an interactive mobile map with a game experience. The app guides visitors on a quest to find mystery animals and solve animal questions throughout the Zoo. Visitors gain experience for completing their daily quest while on their journey to become an “Expert Zoo Keeper” and take the top position on the leaderboard.
Technologies used:
- Xamarin – Cross-Platform Mobile Application Framework for iOS and Android
- Firebase – Realtime Database and Application Analytics
- Contentful – Content Management Service
- Esri ArcGIS – User Location Analytics
Download the application here for when you visit the zoo and learn more about our internship experience below.