Zoos woo visitors with phone apps

KOCHI (Kyodo) Local zoos have begun providing information about their animals via smart phones in an attempt to increase attendance.

Kyoto City Zoo released a free iPhone application in August with information and quizzes about its animals. The application also provides a map of the zoo that shows where the animals are located when an iPhone user visits.

The application, developed jointly by the zoo and an institute funded by the Kyoto Municipal Government, has been downloaded more than 1,000 times, zoo officials said.

In Kochi Prefecture, Noichi Zoological Park in Konan released a ¥230 smart phone application in November that was developed with a local company. The application for iPhones and smart phones using the Android operating system provides information about the zoo's animals, offers samples of their "talk," and allows animal noises to be used as alarm tones.

"We plan to update the information on the application from time to time so that visitors will be able to enjoy it no matter how many times they visit our zoo," a Noichi zoo official said.

Both zoos, which are run by their local governments, are running on only half their peak attendance.