Neimen Wild Forest Animal School Sees Declining Visitors; Councilor Offers Solutions

The Wild Forest Animal School in Kaohsiung's Neimen district, a 11.5-hectare facility housing over 120 animals from 17 species, opened in mid-January but is now grappling with a significant drop in visitor numbers. Councilor Zhang Boyang, after a recent inspection, proposed several measures to boost attendance, particularly during weekdays.

The school boasts a diverse range of animals, including capybaras, sloths, meerkats, and wallabies, offering close-up interactive experiences. It also focuses on educating visitors about animal behavior, conservation, and respect for life. Councilors acknowledged the school's efforts in animal care, habitat maintenance, and the quality of interactive programs, noting plans to add new exhibits like small-clawed otters and snowy owls.

Despite these efforts, the school faces challenges. Its hilly terrain can be difficult for the elderly, young children, or those with mobility issues, though a free shuttle service is available. Zhang suggested more family-friendly transport options, such as stroller-friendly paths. The primary concern, however, is the stark difference between weekend and weekday attendance. While the school welcomed over 127,000 visitors from its opening until the end of April, the majority came during holidays. Attendance dropped sharply in April and further in June, highlighting the need to attract more visitors during off-peak times.

To address this, Zhang recommended seasonal promotions, festival marketing, and integrated tourism routes that connect with local attractions like the Neimen Songjiang Battle Array, traditional banquet culture, firefly season, and nearby towns like Cishan and Meinong. Collaborations with schools for field trips, corporate groups, and travel agencies, along with targeted off-season discounts, are also key strategies proposed to ensure the school's sustained operation.

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The park should launch off-season discount plans to attract customers.