I think there were four or six people who showed up for it. So there weren’t very many that were, I’m not sure, the animal rights group was not in St. Louis. They were complaining about the elephants and their lack of space in your zoo. Read More
What’s the best thing that we can offer these animals, and what’s the best thing that we can do for them?… Read More
Did we have problems with animal welfare or animal rights people from the outside?… Read More
And I think again, times have changed. And what we were able to provide, today almost all of the exhibits are much larger than they were before, more space, more natural surroundings instead of the bars and sanitary concrete floors. So those things have tried to provide for the animals… Read More
I mean we were, I think within our own staff we had, I mean, everybody is concerned about the animal welfare, and is it, you know, the best?… Read More
Well, I think attitudes are changing of the general public, the visitor. I mean you know, you have to have the funding to continue to do the various programs at the zoo. And so, I guess fundraising is part of it there. But the attitudes of the general public is… Read More
Very little. Read More
Now, did animal activism or animal rights affect the St. Louis Zoo?… Read More
Well, I don’t know what you mean by a professional problem, what- Probably dealing with animals, or fundraising, or something that has to do with the operation of the zoo. What are the big problems- In all US zoos that you may see. Read More
Oh, you’re talking about what curators have to face, or what directors have to face?… Read More
Well directors- Or what problems, zoos in general, as it affects directors and curators and all the staff, and is there, well things that might correct these issues?… Read More
Well, I would want them to of course, be proficient in their animal knowledge and their animal skills. But again, they’re managing people. They’re not doing the day-to-day work with the animals. The keepers are doing that. And so you know, they need to be able to manage the people… Read More
What would you think are, what would you say is the largest professional problem facing US zoos today?… Read More
And whatever that professional problem is, what can we do to correct the problem?… Read More
Well I think a curator, a little less than a director, may not, I mean they still need the people skills to work with their staff. They may not necessarily be as adept at finance, or PR or something like that. Because as a curator, you need to have the… Read More
So what do they have to bring to the table, these curators?… Read More
What would you be looking for if you had to hire a curator today?… Read More
So if you don’t, you need to know where your weaknesses are and hire somebody else on your staff who can handle that part of it. Read More
Since we talked about skill sets or qualities a zoo director might need, in your opinion, what skill set or qualities does a curator or a general curator need today as compared to with the staff that you worked with?… Read More
Well, my answer is you need to be all of it, you know?… Read More