Zoo Story on your fingertips: App that gives you information on Katraj mammals

Currently, the zoo houses 389 animals of 67 species including mammals, birds and reptiles. The Katraj Zoo, on an average, gets 8,000 to 12,000 visitors on weekdays and on weekends, the figure touches nearly 15,000.

Zoo Story has been designed by city-based firm Beatbox Interactive. The team, which includes Dipti Inamdar, Ajit Thombare and Harshal D, didn’t charge the Pune Municipal Corporation or the Katraj Zoo for their services. The team took nearly three months to collect the related information and design the app.
Revealing details about the app, Inamdar says, “We have made it using the technology called Augmented Reality. The app is available on Google store for Android phones and is absolutely free for download. We installed the QR codes (Quick Response Codes) of 18 mammals on the display stands outside the animal cages in the zoo. This will enable the user to view the 3D model of the mammal using the app.”

The app comes with two options – 4D and Learn. “If one selects the option 4D, he can see the selected mammal’s 3D model with movements on the screen. On the other hand, ‘Learn’ option gives theoretical information about the mammal,” adds Inamdar. For instance, when a user selects the option ‘Learn’ for a Four-Horned Antelope, he will be able to view all the information related to its type— weight, colour, life-span, tail length, body length, food, special features and so on.