I got total freedom from my parents in the selection of my profession. Now, early on in 1956, when you were 13-years-old, you had made a discovery, blue neon tetra fish. In my childhood, I worked in a pet shop in Zurich, and I found a new neon tetra. I… Read More
Did they name it after you?… Read More
So your parents knew you had an interest in animals at an early age?… Read More
My parents learned it through my weekly visits to Zurich Zoo that I was very much interested in animals and zoos. Read More
Did you bring animals home or were you only seeing them when you went out?… Read More
Do you have brothers and sister?… Read More
Well, I have three elder sisters, but neither the parents nor the elder sisters were interested in animals. And we lived in the middle of the city, downtown Zurich. And so I haven’t had much space for animals. My first animals were turtles and tortoises, which I still keep. And,… Read More
When you were growing up, what zoos were you first exposed to?… Read More
During my childhood, I went usually weekly every weekend to Zurich Zoo, which was the closest zoo in my childhood. So I knew most animals, and most animal keepers in the zoo. Read More
What was your childhood like?… Read More
My name is Christian Schmidt, and I was born in 1943 in Zurich, in Switzerland. So I’m Swiss citizen. Read More