With the success and popularity of Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas, the Zoo is now launching two free mobile phone apps and an online photo competition for the project.
The apps – one for Android phones and another for iPhones – aim to help as many people as possible enjoy the Wow! Gorillas trail and get more involved in the project.
TheAndroid mobile phone app enables people to see the locations of the gorilla sculptures on a Google map and click the icons to view information about each of the 60 gorillas on the trail.
It also includes an Augmented Reality view of the gorilla’s locations so you can view their direction and distance overlaid on the device camera; take photos of the gorillas and upload them to a free photo sharing server, and tick off each Wow! Gorilla sculpture from a list as the trail is completed. The app is free to download and available via the Android Marketplace at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mubaloo.bristolgorillaar
The iPhone app, which is also called ‘Wow Gorillas’, also allows users to see the 60 gorilla locations on a map, find out more about each gorilla sculpture, take photos and upload them to facebook, and tick off the gorillas as they are found. The app, which has been developed by local zoo supporter, Jason Trask, is also free to download from the iPhone App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/wow!-gorillas/id453299756?mt=8.
Everyone who ticks off all 60 gorillas using either of the two apps will be eligible for one half price voucher to visit the zoo.
The Zoo is also launching a photo competition on Facebook, inviting members of the public to upload their best photo of a Wow! Gorilla and be in with a chance of winning a selection of prizes.
The photo competition runs from tomorrow (Tuesday, August 9) until Sunday, September 4
He added: “Visit www.facebook.com/WowGorillas today and become involved in one of the city’s most pioneering and interactive art events!”
To enter the competition, visit the Facebook page, upload a photo of your favourite Wow! Gorillas sculpture with a caption explaining why it is your favourite.
You can then share and get your Facebook friends to vote for your photo. After the closing date of September 4, the 10 photos with the most votes will form a short list, with the top three winners being chosen by a panel consisting of members from Bristol Zoo, Wild In Art as well as representatives from the prize sponsors.
1st prize: The Bristol Zoo Package. A range of unique experiences to the value of £500.
2nd prize: Overnight stay, dinner, bed & breakfast for two people at the Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre, including Champagne on arrival, donated by Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre.
3rd prize: A two night weekend stay for two people at the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, including breakfast, donated by Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre.
4th prize: £100 gift card to spend at The Mall Cribbs Causeway, donated by The Mall Cribbs Causeway.
“The Facebook competition will give all Wow! Gorillas fans the opportunity to showcase their favourite Wow! Gorillas sculpture, share it with their friends and family and have an opportunity to win some great prizes.”
For more information about Wow! Gorillas, visit the Bristol Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/wow-gorillas or call 0117 9747 300