The role of the zoo has been sort of a growth story. We started out as recreation areas, most of them that were parts of park departments, such as Lincoln Park, were primarily the mission of a zoo was a place where people went and had a relaxed time, a good time. And the mission was recreation, good family fun. Happily, that all slowly steadily changed because in the early years, the collection was important but not critical. If an animal died in a zoo, that was sad, but it was replaceable. So that I believe if I recall rightly, at the time I took over this would have been 1962. I could order an animal anywhere in the world, bird, mammal, reptile by letter, by telegram, by phone call, by cable, and we would get it. At that time we thought the reservoir was unlimited of wildlife and it was workable.
