RWS Global and North Carolina Zoo Develop AR Experience
Image: Courtesy of RWS Global
(eap) Full-service provider RWS Global, specialized in live entertainment and experiences, and the North Carolina Zoo are collaborating to develop a new Augmented Reality (AR) experience that will become available to visitors in summer 2026 with the planned expansion of the zoo’s Asia area.
The new offering is designed to place visitors in the role of biologists on a mission to protect wildlife. Using handheld devices and newly developed characters created by RWS Global, guests will be guided to follow virtual animal tracks in the zoo’s real-world environment, uncover hidden clues, and complete conservation-related tasks. Three different storylines will be available, bringing to life the work of biologists as they track predators, scavengers and prey through the landscapes of Asia.
“Our new Asia expansion is designed with guest immersion in mind,” explained Diane Villa, Interim Director of the North Carolina Zoo. “As a leading conservation organization, we fully embrace technologies that empower deeper impact, engagement and understanding. This augmented reality adventure invites guests to walk a mile in our shoes as they join our mission to save wildlife and wild places.”
Veronica Hart, Chief Growth Officer at RWS Global, added: “By merging cutting-edge AR technology with the North Carolina Zoo’s extraordinary new Asia habitats, we are giving guests the chance to learn about conservation while having an unforgettable adventure. This experience transforms a day at the Zoo into a hands-on experience, where visitors step into the story, directly working to protect wildlife.”
Technology-based experiences are increasingly complementing visitor offerings in zoos and wildlife parks: Earlier this year, Zoocade Austin opened what it claims to be the first holographic zoo in the United States, while current examples can also be found in Europe. Zoo Madrid has been working for several months with its AI-based virtual zookeeper “IrenIA,” who informs visitors about the needs and care of the animals. At Leipzig Zoo, guests can use Virtual Reality technology to experience gorillas up close in their natural habitat (c.f. EAP news of July 10, 2024). ■
