Interview 22891 – Caption Index: 450
So what can a small or a medium-sized municipal zoo do today to be really invested in wildlife conservation either nationally or internationally?… Read More
So what can a small or a medium-sized municipal zoo do today to be really invested in wildlife conservation either nationally or internationally?… Read More
But then it kind of flipped and people were coming in that knew how to manage, but didn’t know the animal part. And that’s when I was on the Board of Regents. We had to train those people some of the basic operations of animal care and that type of… Read More
My personal opinion?… Read More
But if one had to be the head of directing all these parks, should it be someone more versed in animals or more versed in business?… Read More
I mean it’s a… You mentioned, you know, that they may have come through the ranks knowing animals. Read More
Do you have an opinion, ’cause it’s gone in many directions, the person heading the zoo being a knowledgeable animal person or being a knowledgeable business person?… Read More
And again, it depends. It takes a team. One person can’t do it. So. If it’s a certain zoo that needs some financial background and is good at that. Use that as your strong point. But make sure you hire other people that have the good background. I think anybody,… Read More
What do you mean by that?… Read More
Only for, you talked earlier about being computer. Too computer organized or whatever. Just to know the skill level that they need. Or that any department needs. Not that you have to know it in depth, but at least a broad view of oh, I understand what you’re dealing with. Read More
Does that make sense to you?… Read More
Hmm. Probably some more technological type things. To be just aware of what your curators are doing. And should be involved in. So much of it is more just managing the parts. And just to know some of the, not just the animal stuff, but the management parts and the… Read More
What skillset would you say a zoo director needs today as compared to when you started?… Read More
Then trust them to do their job. When you say know what your curators are doing. Read More
What made me a good zoo director?… Read More
I think open-minded. Patience. And flexibility. You may think you know what you want to do, but you have to go with the flow on some things. Things I wish I had done better would’ve been. Letting things roll off my back more. Not taking things personally. Not worrying about… Read More
If you can put your foot forward and say I’m doing the best I can, I researched it, I got as much information as I could and this is what we’re gonna do and feel confident about it, then don’t worry about what people are saying. Don’t go home and… Read More
Besides just graphics. And again, I always go back to. It’s time and money intensive, but the one-on-ones are the ones that make more… I think that they’ve done more studies with. Make more connection with people. You know, it takes a person talking to another person. And answering questions… Read More
What made you a good zoo director?… Read More
But if you even make an interactive sign. Maybe that’s something that would, you know, encourage them to get more involved. It’s playing tricks with whatever it is you think that age group, that person is gonna be enticed by. But to me it’s always been people to people. That… Read More
What areas of development, in the ways you talked about education, the way zoos have interpreted their collections to visitors, that you have felt have been strong?… Read More