Alameda Wildlife Park, one of the smallest zoos in the world - based in Gibraltar - has partnered with North East company, n-gage.io, to embark on a digital transformation journey to use technology to modernize and engage better with visitors.
Jessica Leaper, manager at the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park (AWCP), Gibraltar, is on a mission to spread the word on what this unique park does, and what needs to be done to keep it fulfilling its mandate, while also providing hours of enjoyment for visitors of all ages from around the world.
The AWCP, which began in the 1990s, is a small wildlife conservation park and home to a variety of exotic animals, confiscated or unwanted pets and endangered species. It started on a one-acre disused golf course within the greater Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. This was in response to the exotic animals found on container ships passing through the straits that had been confiscated by Gibraltar customs.
To support the park’s many initiatives and objectives such as education on endangered species, they recently partnered with n-gage. io, a company based in County Durham, to develop an innovative audience engagement platform that comes complete with an interactive visitor experience app. Led by entrepreneur Bryan Hoare and incubated by GCV Labs, part of Growth Capital Ventures – n-gage.io aims to transform audience experiences through a highly customisable, data insight driven SaaS platform with an integrated mobile-web application.
Jessica believes the n-gage.io platform will help the park grow much needed awareness as well as increase visits, donations, and other support for this worthwhile venture.
“We are a small park with a big message. A small space, but big ideas and small actions spark bigger results,” she explains of the park’s philosophy and remit to educate and conserve.”
She added: “I’m quite into using technology to make our work more efficient as we are a small team. None of the apps I had looked at over the years did what I wanted them to do,” explained Jessica. But, after meeting Maxine Bradley, the founder of Northumberland Zoo at the BIAZA conference last year, she was encouraged to try the n-gage.io platform which Maxine had deployed. “I was blown away by n-gage’s offering – it was exactly what I was after,” enthused Jessica.
“What stood out most was the app’s ability to do all the things we really struggle to find the time to perform but that are essential for the everyday operations and sustainability of the park. Things like management of memberships and all the background stuff – in other words the admin. It’s easy to find the personnel who want to be with the animals but not the paperwork, so we had to find a way to make that simpler as well as attractive.”
For Jessica, one of the quickest benefits she will reap from implementing the n-gage platform is the ability to follow up on the park’s members and to track whether they are in date or need sending a reminder. This went live on Halloween last year, after only 4-weeks of development and integration, which in terms of app delivers is extremely fast.
Jessica said: “Now that we have implemented the app, we are going to be looking to build on our school and education offerings and campaigns. We will also see how our corporate supporters can play a more meaningful role in what we do and where they can benefit too.
“Our conservation message is paramount to us, and I believe that through this app we will be able to convey this information as well as reach more influencers who can help change the way people see things.”
Bryan Hoare, CEO of n-gage.io, said: “Perhaps one of the more unexpected benefits of the app, is that being digital and the perfect platform for digital content creators and marketers, Jess is now able to attract younger digital-savvy people into the park to help. It’s an ideal place for young volunteers to at once, develop skills and become more aware of the physical world around them – a bonus for Jess, her team, and the animals they are helping to conserve.”