Colorful bear! Shoushan Zoo unveils a new logo designed by Jay Chiu Architects & AssociatesMichelin Star pâtisserie Bye Bye Blues launches specially made white chocolate candy to mark the momentary occasion
Chou Ling-Wen, Director-General of the Kaohsiung City Government’s Tourism Bureau, remembers the initial establishment of the zoo on July 1, 1978, at Xizi Bay, on the west base of Shou Mountain. It was originally known as the “Hsizuhwan Zoo”. In 1980, the area was transformed into the campus of the Sun Yat-Sen University, so that a new site on the southeastern side of Shou Mountain had been selected for the relocation of the zoo. The Shoushan Zoo finally opened on June 15, 1986. The Zoo was a prime spot for overlooking the sea and the City. In 2021, the Zoo underwent the largest renovation since its establishment. After more than one year of improvement works, the Zoo is going to re-open to the public in October 2022.
Jay Chiu, designer for the Zoo’s new logo and a key member of the Zoo’s promotion movement taskforce, further explains that the creative idea behind the logo design goes back to the Zoo’s contribution in preserving rare and endangered wild animals. In particular, the Zoo has successfully bred new generations of the Formosan Black Bear, so that it is used as the motif graphics. The silhouette strokes of the Black Bear represent the mountain and the sea, highlighting the Zoo’s unique geographical location in Kaohsiung. The colors of the strokes add a hint of the tropical sun and youthful pink, set in grayscale tone that resembles the coolness of a modern city. The childlike painterly strokes add a touch of vibrancy to the Zoo’s new image.
Upon learning that the new logo will have the Formosan Black Bear in its motif graphics, Chiu Shih-Chu, who was once the Zoo’s conservationist, and also an Outstanding Tourism Industry Professional awardee in the past, felt a sense of honor as he has been taking care of the Formosan Black Bears for 37 years, from the early days of the “Hsizuhwan Zoo” through to the Shoushan Zoo. He had also helped to make history for Taiwan’s zoos in the successful natural breeding of the Formosan Black Bears. The birth of the Formosan Black Bear “Hei Pi” made Chiu a household name as the “Super Nanny Papa”. Then there was “Bobby”, the second Formosan Black Bear successfully born by natural breeding, who literally stood to fame. At his retirement in June 2015, Chiu continued to have a big heart for the Formosan Black Bears and stayed in the Shoushan Zoo as a volunteer helper to care for these precious black bears.
World-renowned Guida de L’Espresso prizewinner for the best pâtissier in Italy, Patrizia di Benedetto, whose restaurant, Bye Bye Blues, in Sicily, Italy, won a Michelin Star in 2010 and also received Two Forks from Gambero Rosso, was invited to guest appearances at various restaurants and hotels in Taiwan in 2016. She found in Italians and Taiwanese a shared passion for food and decided to embark on overseas location in Taiwan for her gourmet brand. To celebrate the Michelin Guide’s first-time listing of Kaohsiung into their destinations in 2022, the Shoushan Zoo invited Bye Bye Blues for a collaborative launch of a candy with the new logo of the Zoo to help everyone wave “Bye Bye” to all their “Blues” as they come to visit the Shoushan Zoo.
The Shoushan Zoo is also welcoming animal lovers to get on board and join in for animal adoption. Follow and like Shoushan Zoo’s Facebook and IG to get the latest updates on the daily life of animals! For details, please check the Shoushan Zoo’s Facebook page.
