The relationship between European and North American zoo directors, and these including Australia, are of course to reach in the forefront of zoos. It’s of course mainly, or it takes place mainly during the WZA meetings. But we have had a lot of American colleagues visiting Zurich and afterwards Frankfurt… Read More
And another difference is creating new habitats, which I think is totally different. Read More
Of course, at first, everything was new as the zoo director and I had to learn a lot of things. But the position was very interesting and I liked the position, as before the curatorial position, very much and I wouldn’t liked to have missed both curator nor director positions. Read More
What was the relationship between the American zoos and the European zoos?… Read More
I always think a network of communication and exchange of ideas is very important. And I’m an old-fashioned man so I think the direct contact and knowledge of colleagues helps very much in solving problems or getting exchanges or so on. And I always considered it as one of my… Read More
After a few years on the job as director of the zoo, did the glamor of the job wear off?… Read More
What was it generally like being the zoo director?… Read More
So there’s even a meeting planned on this topic in Switzerland next year. And I think with such a position, you can really help. And unfortunately, just before I started, this position was ended. And I only learned that I could create the position again just shortly before my retirement. Read More
You talk about important. You’ve been involved with the World Zoo Association. Read More
How important is that organization in the development of zoos around the world?… Read More
For the curatorial staff, I think Frankfurt, again, was the first one to create the position of a volunteer curator. That was a position with a very, very low salary that was just for one year. Under special circumstances, one could add a second year but definitely not more. And… Read More
In Germany, the big discussion is now, how do we get new zoo directors, young zoo directors?… Read More
I think nowadays a visitor expects this help, yeah. Read More
When you were talking about training, were you able to upgrade or continue development training for your staff, the keepers, the curators?… Read More
There is an organization, a professional, not a union organization, for animal keepers in Germany. (speaking in foreign language) And we have had board members in our zoo keepers association. And I always very much supported them. They do training work, two days training. And we have had several of… Read More
We gave the volunteer a training of several weeks or months. It was under the education officer. She had to give them the news of the zoo. I think once a month or so, they were assembled and new developments and new exhibits and so on were explained so that… Read More
Were they important to the running of the zoo?… Read More
Did they help with the visitors and the image?… Read More
We have had volunteers, I can’t remember how many. We started it, so it went many, maybe 30 or so. Read More
And you involved them in some training to train them?… Read More