China's Wuhan Haichang Ocean Park (think SeaWorld and you've got it) is offering guests a unique way to get closer to polar bears. The park is charging $145 for a three-hour up-close-and-personal experience with the bears that includes picking up poop. In addition to picking up after the polar bears participants in the program also get to prep food and feed them. The program is run once a week and applications must be submitted a week in advance for a person to be considered.
The goal of Wuhan Haichang Ocean Park's atypical animal experience seems to be two-pronged. Ocean Park employee Chen Ting, who works in marketing, told the South China Morning Post that the goal is "to popularise science and knowledge of the animal for the public good, not for money." The fact that those cleaning the cages snap selfies and share them on social media, thus promoting the park, doesn't hurt either.
What's Driving This Trend
- Animal Interaction Experiences
- Creating unique and hands-on experiences for guests to interact with animals, such as cleaning cages and feeding, to increase public engagement and knowledge.
- Promotion Through Social Media
- Leveraging social media platforms and user-generated content to promote animal experiences and attract more visitors to the park.
- Public Education and Awareness
- Using animal experiences as an opportunity to educate the public about wildlife conservation and encourage environmental consciousness.
Who This Affects Most
- Zoos and Wildlife Parks
- Exploring innovative ways to enhance visitor experiences and increase public interest in wildlife conservation at zoos and wildlife parks.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Integrating unique animal interaction experiences into tourism and hospitality offerings to attract adventurous travelers.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Developing creative marketing strategies that utilize social media and user-generated content to promote animal experiences and attract wider audiences.
