Interview 22891 – Caption Index: 455
What drove you, being a director of a smaller zoo, to say I want to be involved at a national level?… Read More
What drove you, being a director of a smaller zoo, to say I want to be involved at a national level?… Read More
Were there many people like you at smaller markets that were doing this or were you unique?… Read More
Do you think that small or medium-sized zoos realize that, or do they feel that they’re dwarfed by the bigger zoos with the money?… Read More
I think, you know, even 20 years ago when I was there. I did quite a bit, or I was involved in the AZA. So they’re connected nationally and internationally. You can be in organizations that help with that even if you don’t have the funds to specifically do programs… Read More
Depends on the individuals. I mean I know a lot of smaller zoos probably think well I can’t do that. But you can do what you put your mind to. I mean there are ways to get involved. If you make an effort at it. But sometimes you have to… Read More
I would say more versed in animals because then you’re invested in it. You can learn the management skills. You can’t always learn the passion. Of what you’re trying to do for the animals. Or the, you know, the conservation part or… To me it’s where the heart is. You… 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
True that. 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
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
My personal opinion?… Read More
I mean it’s a… You mentioned, you know, that they may have come through the ranks knowing animals. 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
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
Does that make sense to you?… 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
What do you mean by that?… 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