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VideogeniX Helps Franklin Park Zoo Monitor Pregnant Gorilla

Boston, MA - When the Boston-based Franklin Park Zoo needed to constantly monitor Kiki, a pregnant gorilla, VideogeniX came to the rescue.

The high tech company, which focuses on security video in the commercial and government markets donated and installed a complete video system that allowed experts on gorilla pregnancy to observe Kiki's behavior 24-hours a day and determine when she would give birth.

VideogeniX donated the system and services to the Franklin Park Zoo, which included five cameras, power supplies, the company's patent-pending proprietary operating software, software licenses, router, network video server and installation. The company estimated that costs for the complete system ran well over $11,000. Franklin Park Zoo's other option would have been to hire a group of veterinarians for thousands of dollars a day to be at the zoo.

The five cameras were connected to a digital network and then through the zoo's DSL lines to the Internet. Veterinarians logged on to the password protected site and could view one camera or all five on the same screen. The images could be enlarged for detailed examination.

According to VideogeniX president, Lewis Cohen, "We're pleased that we could participate in the birth by not only saving the zoo thousands of dollars but also providing a very unique solution that was easily set up. Video has gone beyond basic security and our systems are so flexible that they are now being used for many other 'practical' applications such as livestock monitoring, golf course management, security for yachts and boatyards, reservoir monitoring, and networked video systems entire towns."

The system used for the Franklin Park Zoo is essentially the same system that Practical Video Solutions sells as a "portable video system in a suitcase," to police departments government agencies and corporate security departments. The suitcase, which includes four cameras, access point, server, router, Digital Video Recorder and batteries, can be set up and on line in less than 15 minutes.

The November 24th 2004 birth was a planned pregnancy recommended by the Species Survival Plan (SSP) that ensures the conservation of genetic diversity and the demographic stability of the population within the bounds of carrying capacity for zoos across the country. Zoo veterinarians had been caring for Kiki throughout her 251-day gestation period stated that both mother and baby (it can take a few months before the sex of a baby gorilla can be determined) are doing well. The baby gorilla weighed 4 pounds at birth and was 18 inches in length.

The Franklin Park Zoo invited the public to celebrate the gorilla birth on Saturday Nov. 27th at 1pm in honor of their newest resident.

VideogeniX has designed its camera systems to be used in diverse environments such as corrosive environments, inside an unmarked police car at a stakeout, at the top of a water tower or inside an “Exit” sign with full wireless Internet video, including the ability to pan, tilt and zoom for better viewing. Existing customers include hotels, warehouse storage facilities, residential and commercial office buildings, catering stores, athletic facilities, police departments and child care centers.

"We are grateful to VideogeniX for their generosity and assistance in this unique opportunity and applaud their community support," said Marshall Judges, Zoo New England's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.