And they came in with those degrees. They achieved those before they were hired. I never considered us a degree snob. We would never turn anybody away who had great animal skills just because they didn’t have a degree. We didn’t have the wherewithal to give ’em funding to get… Read More
No, that’s just not us. And to be perfectly honest with you, very expensive and a maintenance nightmare. So, you know, it’s like you gotta balance that out, you know, with your revenues. Like you’re spending a lot of money keeping these rides going, and they break down, and so… Read More
Personally?… Read More
Yeah. And professionally. I’m a strong advocate of education. Again, I took a different path in my educational career, but in the animal care business it’s essential that our staff be well-educated. When I took a survey of the keepers in Tampa, which was probably five or six years after… Read More
Education, how important was it to you?… Read More
What?… Read More
But, you know, there’s always the temptation, hey, what about a new ride here?… Read More
What was the philosophy of wanting to do that at the zoo?… Read More
Right. Philosophy was to, a large part of our weekly attendance in the off-season are parents and grandparents with their kids and strollers, stroller moms, and grandpa, and grandma with strollers. To give those kids an opportunity to get wet, and cool down, and enjoy a ride. We’re not gonna… Read More
You know, let the kids have a little bit of, you know, burn up the energy fun but not be in a ride park. And that balance has been interesting but it’s never been a struggle. We’ve always stayed true to our core business. And again, don’t want to be… Read More
Why, in your opinion, did Tampa put limited amusement-type rides at the zoo when your next-door neighbor was Busch Gardens that had, in a sense, unlimited amusement rides?… Read More
Right. Read More
You mentioned manatees. Read More
Well, you’re here, you’re seeing it, you’re seeing what’s going on. There’s no big secret here. And I think, you know, give hats off to ZooTampa for taking that lead and doing, the first one we did was an Indian rhino feeding. And at first, it was hilarious ’cause people… Read More
And I’ve walked up and talked to those people who’ve done those, and they just, they love it to death. They’ve been, some of them three, four times, you know, they enjoy it that much. So those amenities, I think are, without question, satisfying the urge that the public has… Read More
You know, what happens in the elephant barn?… Read More
Sure. But we’re not killing the people with the price. It’s very reasonable. 15, $20. And they love ’em. They love the opportunity. And it’s also taking away the mystery of how zoos operate. Read More
What happens there?… Read More
And those have been very successful to the point now where they have a large number of these opportunities. Read More
And, you know, yes, do we make some money on it?… Read More