The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a nonprofit rescue center, has partnered with streaming startup Zoolife to begin livestreaming its marine critters.
Zoolife is a Toronto-based startup seeking to give subscribers greater access to animals through live broadcasting of conservation facilities. The partnership marks the first aquarium on the platform and the first dolphins available. It is also one of the first partnerships to provide unending, interactive footage of animals to the public.
The service charges $9.99 a month for unlimited access to its livestreams. It is free to access one habitat. The streams also have live chat, camera control options and video events from zookeepers and experts. Zoolife exclusively partners with accredited facilities, and half of its earnings go to fund conservation efforts, according to its website.
Anna Hu, the co-founder and CEO of Zoolife, is also the founder of the sports livestreaming platform Brizi Inc. Both companies use proprietary interactive camera technology to livestream content.
"We're in the realm of elevating forward-looking zoos and aquariums, those who are innovation-focused, that are digital-forward," Hu said. "We're really taking that to a whole other level of how to have the experience even after you leave."
Zoolife has partnered with nine other facilities, including the Toronto Zoo and the Santa Barbara Zoo, and it was a 2022 Techstars New York City accelerator member. Participants of the Techstars program are chosen based on their offerings and how they will alter the industry they engage, according to its website.
Connecting with Zoolife
Anthony Rivera is the COO of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Part of his job is to ensure the operation is innovative in how it cares for the animals and connects them with customers, he said. He was introduced to Zoolife through an industry conference a few years ago, and he realized after joining the aquarium in February there was an opportunity to innovate.
"The dynamic of the audience that's now coming to the forefront of technology, it's important that CMA continues to thrive and push in that direction to build those bonds," Rivera said. "At the end of the day, that's what we're trying to do, to bring people along on the journey with us of the rescue, rehabilitation and release work we do here at CMA."
It's a way to bring customers to the aquarium, but even if it doesn't drive attendance, it garners recognition for the aquarium. The platform will also generate some financial support in the long term, Rivera said.
"We're using innovation to help streamline that a little bit more and help immerse our guests in a more impactful experience," Rivera said.
One dolphin that will be on display at the facility, Hope, was featured in the film "Dolphin Tale 2." Another dolphin, Winter, passed away in 2021 but was rehabilitated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winter was made famous by the book "Winter's Tale" published in 2009, and its film adaptation "Dolphin Tale." The movie featured Winter's prosthetic tail.
The films were a significant support to the facility recently, and the cameras are a way to continue that journey, Rivera said.
