Chester Zoo has launched a new, augmented reality game that transforms homes and gardens into a jungle. ‘Wildeverse’ allows players to track wild animals with their phones. Users can join wildlife scientists to carry out real conservation challenges, collecting data on apes to help protect them, explore holographic AR jungles and find virtual apes.
To create the AR game, researchers visited the jungles of Congo and Borneo to see the conservation work that is currently taking place, and scout wildlife for the game. Characters in the game, including Flo the orangutan, Aida the chimp, Buka the gorilla and Chilli the gibbon are based on real-life animals.
The free to play app is already being described as ‘Pokemon Go for Wildlife,’ where the characters and messages of what’s at stake are real. Chester Zoo has partnered with Internet of Elephants to bring the game to life, in time for the lockdown of the UK.
Internet of Elephants founder, Gautam Shah says that “conservationists on the ground are fighting an uphill battle with the support of only a handful of people. We are on a mission to turn the 2 billion people playing games today, into wildlife lovers and supporters of conservation efforts.”
Charlotte Smith, head of conservation education and engagement at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re always looking for interesting ways to inspire people to join our mission to prevent extinction and become the conservationists of the future.
“That’s why, for the first time, we’re harnessing the increasing popularity of mobile gaming to encourage people to lead more environmentally-conscious lifestyles and promote the conservation of endangered species.
Charlotte added, “At a time when many of us are staying at home and are more in need of something new and exciting to occupy our time with than ever before, it’s a fantastic way to have wildlife experiences from the comfort of your own home.”
The immersive experience app is free to download now on the apple and google play stores.
