D-Link Technology at the Dallas Zoo

Most people know and love D-Link as a household name, providing wireless access throughout the home as well as security cameras to protect and watch over the house and family. But D-Link also handles networking and security on a larger, even wilder, level.

The Dallas Zoo, established in 1888, covers 106 acres of land just a few miles south of Downtown Dallas, making it the largest and oldest zoological park in Texas. With over 2,000 animals ranging from rattlesnakes and otters to giraffes and elephants, the zoo has over 2,500 visitors a day that come to see and learn about the vast amount of species and exhibits available. The zoo is now a well-functioning attraction with rides and restaurants, but before it was turned over to private management it had quite a few improvements to make. When the city of Dallas transferred management to a non-profit corporation, a completely new telephone and networking system was needed, since it hadn’t been updated in years, every section was on a different system, it was in no way cohesive. A task as small as phoning the building next door often required using a full 10 digit number or sometimes even calling city hall and waiting to be transferred, which in a situation where you’re dealing with the health and safety of guests and large, exotic and possibly endangered animals, is not ideal. But with the help of D-Link’s product integration and InLine Network Integration LLC, even with a short deadline, the zoo’s networking system was completely transformed.

In the words of Stan McNiel, President and Lead Consultant of InLine Network Integration “D-link provided an affordable solution with more options, better performance, at a better price. That plus the D-link people let us meet the tight deadline for the Zoo project”. With everything on a single voice and data network staff communication and reporting was streamlined making it easier to create electronic reports on animal health and welfare. An additional separate network was added to provide public Wi-Fi access in the restaurant and Giants of the Savanna exhibit as well.

With the zoo continuing to expand D-Link’s network continues to provide a greatly functional and affordable solution. So whether you’re managing a household or a zoo (or a house that seems like a zoo!) D-Link has the products and the functionality you need.