I said, “Well, don’t you think you should go back?” But, you know, if they love the zoo, they love the zoo and it’s part of the community. They wanna know that their zoo is one of the 10 best zoos in the country. And so they, but people who… Read More
Any thoughts as to what zoos will look like in the future?… Read More
What should zoos be doing to prepare for the future?… Read More
Go to the zoo? When’s the last time you were at the zoo?… Read More
You’re gonna love it.” And I said, “When’s the last time you were at the zoo?” 25 years ago?… Read More
I will tell ya, most people think that their local zoo is wonderful. When I went to Milwaukee for my interview, a cab driver asked me why I was there. And I said, I was there to interview for a job and he says, “We have the best zoo in… Read More
What are some of the most dramatic or important changes you’ve witnessed in animal management?… Read More
Well, the advances in veterinary medicine. I mean, I had keepers at the National Zoo who their specialty was lassoing an animal to catch it. So I think the changes in veterinary medicine have enabled all the other changes, the natural, that and animal enrichment programs, having keepers having time… Read More
What would you say, we talked about animal activists and animal rights, but what would you say to those who still believe that zoos are nothing more than places where they cage animals?… Read More
Yeah, so Milwaukee was the only one. Madison got out of elephants. So Chuck wanted to make a commitment to elephants. And we have a dedicated elephant staff, but, I mean, they’re special people, and they have to be treated specially, ’cause elephants are special animals. Read More
Yeah, and he replaced me at the National Zoo. And this man who loves elephants and devoted his life to elephants, he basically equated elephants in zoos to abused women. That they’re such a social animal that they need that contact with someone. And whether, you know, you’re Smokey Jones,… Read More
Brookfield, did Brookfield get out of elephants too?… Read More
And the best, and this is the best description I’ve heard of elephants, came from John Lenhart, who, I guess, he was at Lincoln Park?… Read More
What are your, and you’ve had some experience, what are your views regarding the hot topic of zoos maintaining elephants in their collections?… Read More
Well, I tell ya, elephants have been a problem for me my whole time as curator. Read More
Well, you should know, that’s the, when Wisconsin hit, we had the wasting disease, the deer wasting disease. And so it closed all the deer farms and elk farms in the state of Wisconsin. Local animal dealer convinced them all that they should start raising wild animals, so they should… Read More
First of all, they gotta realize they’re working with people and not animals. Patience, and the ability to admit that you don’t know something and find out how to do it, ask questions. Read More
What would be the three top qualities a curator should have today?… Read More
Do you have any thoughts on that, their longevity, it’s a good thing for the zoological community, that type of?… Read More
‘Cause, I mean, I can tell ya when I left, no one ever called me from the zoo to ask me, “How did you do this? How did you do that?’ You know, we all learned sort of in a vacuum and you built your own network. So yeah, you… Read More