And then we’d put everybody in zoo t-shirts and we’d, you know, we’d fill the gallery with zoo supporters, which is a subtle way of telling them that there’s a lot of support out there. And then, you know, for a couple of mayors who were kind of obstinate, if… Read More
The top ones. Well, I, you know, I, I think are, you know, I mean one of them, I mean, the, the, you know, the fact that we’ve done a number of world-class exhibits that have really changed the perception of Omaha and changed the public perception of not just… Read More
And probably the last one is, you know, as in all the students we’ve handled the education, you know, not. The ripple effect from all of these students that have come through the place is really, you know, really turning out to be really big. And it’s not, you know,… Read More
Although, you know, the dormitory we had to go in and, and for our Asian students, we had to put in special hoods and fire extinguishers over the stoves because of the way they cook. (chuckling) Cause the fire alarms kept going off and the fire department kept showing up. Read More
(chuckling) I know you’ve had some experience with this, but what would you say is the most efficient way to deal with elected officials, which I’m sure you’ve had to deal with, and municipal bureaucrats to develop and manage a zoo today?… Read More
I guess I’m a dinosaur. And I think that’s a lot easier transition then than to bring in a CPA or a lawyer or something who then has to learn the animal side of things. I think you’re more apt to get in trouble if you start out with a… Read More
If I asked you today in three that you’re proudest of, what would those be?… Read More
What would the top be?… Read More
All right, define the changes, I guess. You know, I. Yeah. Read More
Well, let me, let me just kind of say, do you believe in the last 30 years that zoos have made changes in their way they operate as the zoo, and if they have, maybe it’s as Omaha Zoo is transitioned and represents other zoos or not, have there been… Read More
Well, yeah, no, I think, there’s no question zoos have become much more professional at exhibiting animals. You know, our animal exhibits are a much more naturalistic, much more professional. Then, you know, then 40 or 50 years ago, when I first got into this business. From the, you know,… Read More
Well, I think you’re back to, I think you back to, to conservation research and, and in situ conservation, you know, I mean our, of all of the things that we’re doing, I mean, part of it is, you know, is, is influencing public perception and the way the public… Read More
And all of a sudden, you know, we’re getting an 80%, 80% success rate, both on males and females, which is, you know, that’s a huge, huge jump forward from 10% to 80%. And it’s something that you can, that you can do easy. And, you know, it could be,… Read More
That’s kind of shifted. Read More
What do you think about these changes, the pros and the cons?… Read More
Well, I mean, the good thing is, you know, I’ve managed to live for 40 some odd years in an environment that was pretty well free of politics and bureaucracy and all of that. And so in that respect, you know, I’ve had the best job in the whole country. Read More
You know, if you, if you’re fundraising, if you can get to the halfway mark, getting the second half is a lot easier than getting the first half, because you can use the first half as matching money. And that, you know, I don’t see, I don’t see zoos and… Read More
What issue would you tell them that zoos should be addressing in the future?… Read More
Did you have any specific instances when you were director at Omaha where you had to take on this posture?… Read More
Sure. Can you give us– The good thing, the good thing is is that in, in Nebraska and Iowa, right across the river, you know, a bunch of people who, you know, come dressed in carrot suits and talk about not eating meat and things like that, and not raising,… Read More