Zoopermercado
ZooParc - Overloon, The Netherlands
Bringing the Amazon to Life at ZooParc Overloon
ZooParc Overloon has opened its brand-new South America themed area, Madidi. Covering almost one hectare, the area is home to more than twenty different animal species. The challenge was clear: how can visitors not only be amazed by these incredible animals, but also learn in an interactive way about the threats facing these species and their natural habitat, the Amazon rainforest? Together with ZooParc Overloon, Lagotronics Projects created an engaging edutainment experience called Zoopermercado.
The Madidi Expedition
As visitors explore Madidi, they discover fascinating facts about the Amazon and come face-to-face with some remarkable animals, including spectacled caimans, tamanduas (lesser anteaters), and golden lion tamarins.
Unfortunately, the Amazon rainforest is under increasing pressure due to deforestation and the expansion of plantations. With Madidi, ZooParc Overloon aims to raise awareness of these challenges while sharing a positive message: there is still hope, and everyone can contribute. Visitors are encouraged to think about the simple choices they can make to help protect this unique ecosystem.
The Interactive Zoopermercado
At the end of the Madidi Expedition, visitors arrive at Zoopermercado, the educational highlight of the experience. Designed to look like a South American supermarket, this interactive attraction invites guests to take part in a fun and educational game.
Using scanners positioned next to two interactive screens, visitors scan products that match the questions displayed. Can they identify vegetarian products? Can they spot the most sustainable choices? Every product scanned provides immediate feedback. If a product is not the best environmental choice, the screen explains why and offers a practical tip for making a more sustainable decision in the future.
After completing the challenge, visitors receive a final score that shows how well they performed.
Through this interactive experience, visitors learn how their everyday choices can have a positive impact on the health of the Amazon rainforest. Combined with authentic South American products and atmospheric regional music, Zoopermercado provides a memorable and meaningful conclusion to the Madidi adventure.
Game Development, Content, Decor and Audio
The interactive scanning game was developed in close collaboration with ZooParc Overloon. Together, we created the concept and developed the educational questions. Lagotronics Projects was responsible for designing and producing both the software and all on-screen content for the experience.
The themed supermarket environment of Zoopermercado was also conceived and assembled by Lagotronics Projects. To create an authentic atmosphere, specially imported South American products were used throughout the set design. In addition, Lagotronics Projects produced the complete audio experience and handled the installation of all equipment on-site.
Edutainment
The ZooParc Overloon project is a great example of edutainment — the combination of education and entertainment. While this approach has long been used in schools, it is becoming increasingly popular in zoos and museums as well. Many modern zoos see it as part of their mission to teach visitors about animals, nature, and conservation in an engaging and enjoyable way.