The internet for elephants and pandas on line – modern IT is wilder than you think! At the zoo, IT is used to support animals and visitors alike.

by: Tobias Hammar

illustration: Tobias Flygar

WEBCAM Since access to the internet has become generally available, it is easy to visit a number of zoos without moving an inch. Using webcam, you can keep a check on the condition of your favourite animals around the clock. One example here is the San Diego Zoo “panda cam” where you can spend time with pandas round the clock ( http://www.sandiegozoo.org).

ISIS International Species Information System – is an internet-based registration system for more than 650 zoos worldwide. Each zoo lists all the information relating to its animals, both individuals and the entire population. Every zoo has access to the others’ documentation. The registers provides assistance with everything from advice on care and food to “genealogical research” and medication for sick animals. Two different animals can be “mated by computer” to see how well they match genetically, as closely related individuals have a high in-breeding coefficient. At the present time, this database contains more than two million individuals, or more than 10,000 different species, in zoos all over the world (see also http://www.isis.org).

Security Surveillance cameras and well-developed gate and fencing systems guarantee the safety and security of both animals and visitors. Card and code access systems ensure that no unauthorised people can enter the park – and that no hungry animals can escape!

Network Kolmården, the largest zoo in the Nordic region, covers an area of almost 2.5 square kilometres. The entire park is linked by a fibre-optic network, enabling the employees to contact one another by e-mail and other types of data communication, even if they are a long way apart. The park has some fifty entrances and they are linked to a joint server to facilitate economic reporting.