I’ve done that myself. But when they play with themselves, or they, okay, key word is they interact with each other in the pool or in the yard, playing or confronting, that’s what public loves to see, and public discovers, and that can be done, yes. And good example, on… Read More
It’s interesting that Tucson had that Arizona desert museum, is that the name?… Read More
Anyway, the desert museum, which specializes in the local fauna and flora, and the other one, Reid Park Zoo, specializes in the exotic, quote unquote, exotic animals, so therefore, they don’t have to compete with each other in the relatively small city. That’s a good model. You’ve written extensively. Read More
Or is this just a short amount of time, because what happens when those people’s means are no longer there?… Read More
I believe a small number will remain, and do quite well. And some municipal zoos, or nonprofit organization zoos, do quite well. Back to the elephant, good examples might be in Tucson, Arizona. You know, outside of desert museum there, that zoo. In a half-moon shaped enclosure, it’s almost a… Read More
What’s your thoughts about private zoos, owned by people of means?… Read More
Will they, in your opinion, survive the length of time that municipal zoos have?… Read More
I think so. Read More
Are you concerned about zoos and aquariums staying viable and relevant in the next 25 years?… Read More
What direction would you say would help them stay permanent?… Read More
Zoos will, despite all the anti-captivity forces, zoos will remain, because it’s a very popular institution in an urban community, and even politicians and the government, high level officials, recognize how important it is. So I wouldn’t worry about that, in the aspect. Inside the zoo staff, there will be… Read More
Overall view of zoos, what zoos can be done, should be done. Dr. Koga back in Tokyo made a big influence. Individually, I met very interesting people, such as Dr. Patricia O’Connor. The first female zoo veterinarian in the country back in Staten Island. Learned a lot. Of how, with… Read More
That was one of her brain children. So even with limited resources, you can do that. With imagination, and determination. Imagination, not many people have. Determination, not very many people have. But Pat did it. Read More
Basically, still into mammals, I like to do it right in terms of the elephants, with either species, with separate bullpen, well, the male, adult male facility, with a group of females in a large area, let’s say five acres or so. Multi-level elephant exhibit so that elephant can climb… Read More
What was the most important piece of advice you received that has stayed with you throughout your career?… Read More
But is there any program or exhibit that you would like to do, if money was not an object, and you could get the permission to, what would you wanna put together that you think needs to be done?… Read More
Exhibit, for what animal?… Read More
Good question. Come to think of it, maybe not all that much. Maybe some. Something that you cannot measure in terms of figures is how much you contributed to nurture younger generations. That you cannot scientifically measure. In terms of animal care, and the observations, I have lived some, such… Read More
Are there programs or an exhibit since you’ve written extensively on exhibitry, that you would have implemented during your time in a zoo, but you didn’t, it just didn’t happen?… Read More
That’s much more than what I have done, because again, I didn’t really work for the powerhouse, with the control, with some freedom to spend money, and resources on exhibit. How I would have done, well I have to come back to the field as a young man, and start… Read More