When I was offered the directorship, I was not entirely surprised although John Tee-Vans illness which led to my Ascension was quite unexpected. But I had certainly seen the opportunity to do things and to realize a developing vision, which were impossible as a curator. But I also had a vision as a curator, as things I wanted to do as a scientist. I wanted to work more in the field, a lot more, with the animals that, have become so larger part of my life. But I saw the zoo as a tool and an enabling tool that could address conservation in a way that was not being done anywhere else. Yes, we had a world wildlife fund which had come into being a few years before, and there were a few other conservation efforts. It was the Audubon society, wonderful organization, largely focused on birds. There was no organization that really was dealing directly with wildlife, with its care.
