About Bug Zoo

Bug Zoo Inc. – A Note from the Founder

Since 1997, I have dedicated my life to building the Bug Zoo brand from the ground up. In 2014, I licensed the trademark to a business partner with the belief that we shared the same values — integrity, responsibility, and the mission to showcase the amazing world of entomology and arachnology to the general public, in the best possible light.

Unfortunately, that trust was deeply misplaced.

Despite repeated breaches of the trademark licensing agreement, I endeavored to resolve the situation professionally for over 10 years.  As of February 2025, I have now terminated the trademark licensing agreement, and yet, the brand continues to be used without permission. This has damaged both its integrity and my original vision.

To be clear: any use of my trademarked name, brand elements, or reputation outside of this official site and my direct control is unauthorized.

This isn’t just about business. It’s about ethics in business, IP ownership, and the legal right to protect what you've built. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this. I’m taking steps (legal and otherwise) to reclaim what is mine, advance the mission and I’ll keep you updated as things unfold.

Every story has a beginning.... this was ours.

Carol, founder of the Victoria Bug Zoo, smiling and holding a Malaysian Walking Stick insect (Heteropteryx dilatata) in her hand. “Our Origins” is written above the image, with a leafy design in the background.

Meet Carol Maier, Founder & Entomologist

🧬 Biologist. Educator. Explorer.

  • Founder of the Bug Zoo concept — an immersive experience for families, kids, and nature lovers
  • Over 25 years in entomology, museum studies, sharing the value of eco-tourism to show communities around the world that protecting their habitat has inherent and economic value, and to train the next generation of biologists how to care for invertebrates in ways that had not been done outside the hobby industry.
  • Former Alberta Apiary Inspector and graduate of the University of Guelph (Entomology & Apiculture)
  • Background in international agriculture, outreach education, and habitat conservation
  • Featured in numerous media articles, school visits, and public science outreach events  ....and we've only just begun.  Join us, won't you? 🐝🌷

🐞 Bug Zoo Inc. — 创始人寄语

自 1997 年以来，我一直致力于从零开始打造 Bug Zoo 品牌。2014 年，我将商标授权给一位商业合作伙伴，起初我们都相信彼此共享诚信、责任感，并共同致力于以最好的方式向公众展示昆虫学和蛛形纲动物学的奇妙世界。

遗憾的是，这份信任最终被严重辜负。

尽管在过去十多年里，该合作持续违反商标许可协议，我仍努力以专业的方式寻求解决方案。自 2025 年 2 月起，我已正式终止该商标许可协议，但该品牌仍在未经授权的情况下继续被使用。这已经对品牌的完整性和我最初的愿景造成了严重损害。

明确说明：在本网站及我直接控制范围之外，任何对我注册商标名称、品牌元素或声誉的使用，均为未经授权行为。

这不仅仅是商业问题，更关乎商业伦理、知识产权归属，以及保护自己成果的正当权利。感谢所有在这一过程中给予我支持的人。我正在通过法律及其他方式，努力收回我应有的权利，推动 Bug Zoo 的使命，并将持续更新事件进展。

👩🔬 认识创始人兼昆虫学家：Carol Maier

🪲 生物学家。教育者。探索者。

  • Bug Zoo 概念的创始人 — 为家庭、儿童和自然爱好者提供沉浸式的昆虫体验

  • 拥有超过 25 年昆虫学、博物馆学及无脊椎动物照护经验

  • 曾任艾伯塔省养蜂场检查员，毕业于圭尔夫大学（主修昆虫学与养蜂学）

  • 拥有国际农业、教育推广及栖息地保护背景

  • 曾多次出现在各类媒体报道、学校活动及科普公众演讲中