NC Zoo builds digital audience of thousands with popular Zoo EDventures series

But zoo staff quickly embraced the virtual opportunities that the crisis forced, renaming and expanding an online education series that celebrated its 100th episode earlier this year. Today, Zoo EDventures can draw tens of thousands of viewers via Facebook and YouTube. The videos, which run 30 minutes or so, feature zoo staff and the animals in their care.

"We thought, 'We'll do this,'" said Gerkin, now a star of Zoo EDventures. "We would love to keep the zoo top of mind for people. If the message is important to share with our personal guests, it's important enough to share with our digital guests."

It wasn't easy at first. Because of strict COVID safety measures, Gerkin and his small team couldn't interview keepers in person like they had in the past. So they'd email the keepers to get the stories about particular animals — how they got to the zoo, what their personalities are like and what's required to care for them. It quickly took off.

"The response was overwhelming," Gerkin said. "People were so kind. People were so appreciative."

Teachers and homeschool parents started using the episodes with their students. "To see it being used was amazing, especially early on," he said.

In the beginning, the episodes focused on the stories of particular animals. But as the team got into the 30th, 40th and 50th episode, they needed to expand to other topics. So they started pulling back the curtain to tell the story of how the animals are cared for, conservation efforts the zoo is involved in and how the animals are trained, Gerkin said. The goal for Zoo EDventures is to cultivate an appreciation for the animals so people understand why it's so important to care for them. But it's also to highlight what happens there too.

"It's not just throwing food and water and cleaning up poop," Gerkin said. "There's a lot of science, there's a lot of research going on. And the zoo professionals really care about the animals under their care."

By early June, Gerkin and his team were able to start interviewing zookeepers in person as part of the segments. Staff, he said, stepped up to help where they could. Viewership has fluctuated wildly, depending on the topic and the time of year. The first episode, when we were all stuck in our homes for the first time, was 70,000. Today, there's still 10,000 people watching most episodes, Gerkin said. A recent zoo survey of viewers found that 85% live in North Carolina and half of viewers are adults watching the episodes on their own.

"They're looking for an escape from these crazy COVID times," Gerkin said. "It's a whole other audience that we weren't expecting."

And viewers shared some kind thoughts in the survey too. One said watching the episodes would make their trip to the zoo richer. Another said it encouraged them to buy a zoo membership.

The videos are casual and conversational. While Gerkin and his team have a plan, the episodes aren't scripted. And sometimes there are a few surprises. Some are live. Others are taped ahead of time.

In October, a kudu, who was getting a check up, walked right up to Gerkin to check him out (right around the 26-minute mark).

An in July, an ostrich decided to take a bite out of the camera (just before the 31-minute mark).

Even when the zoo reopens fully, Gerkin said Zoo EDventures will continue in some form. And, he said, it couldn't be done without everybody who is part of it.

"I'm the face, I'm the guy that's there," he said. "But the only reason it's successful is because there are people helping and there are people who believe in what we're doing, including the digital guests."