I would say you have to have them as an ambassador of the wildlife world to the human world, but to meet their captive requirements, you have to offer them and house them in a facility that meets some standard, so it is a necessary investment for zoos. Yes, it’s… Read More
Given your experience, what is your view regarding zoos maintaining elephants and how it should be done correctly?… Read More
Do we have any of those people in the zoo world?… Read More
We need some. Very definitely, yeah. I can’t think of anyone in the country at the moment, but Sir David Attenborough is a huge presence in the British Isles, yes. And he has such a class. Read More
We mentioned this briefly, but when a zoo spends multi millions of dollars on a gorilla, or elephant, or a tiger exhibit, and critics may say, why is this money not used to help animals in the wild, you say?… Read More
Yes, indeed. Especially with species with high public profile, mostly. Nobody would care if the last of the species of a rattlesnake you have to euthanize, but when it comes to cute and cuddlies, mammals especially, it would cause a problem, yes. Public relations nightmare, you might say. Read More
Do we need, or do we have, any charismatic or committed heroes to help shift public opinion for conservation?… Read More
Example, possibly Jane Goodall or Jack Hanna, or Jacques Cousteau, or David Attenborough?… Read More
Did any of the zoos you worked in have sister zoo relationships?… Read More
No. I never worked in powerhouse zoos, such as Lincoln Park, or Brookfield, or National, or the Bronx, or San Diego, so my range was relatively limited. Small to medium zoos. Read More
Does euthanizing of endangered species, surplus or genetic issues, still pose a political problem for zoos and aquariums?… Read More
What do you think the value is of the sister zoo programs, and while you were working in the field, did any of the zoos you worked at have sister zoo relationships?… Read More
It has its advantage of making real connections on individual institutional basis, yes. Read More
What can or should the US zoos and aquariums do to help upgrade developing countries with their zoos?… Read More
You really have to know the culture of the country, and also how much resources with limited range they can afford to spend aside for zoos, and priorities are more likely go to keep people survive, so you really have to be considerate in that aspect. Read More
Yeah. It’s unfortunately very common. Especially in two associations, focusing on similar range of memberships. That’s the way it goes. Read More
You’ve been in the profession a long time, but if you could go back in time, what, if anything, would you have done differently?… Read More
Probably not all that different, although I might have chosen employers more carefully, sometimes we don’t have a choice. But then again, if you make a poor choice, you may find yourself on the street a few years down the road, and living on unemployment compensation. It happens. Read More
Human nature, I’m afraid. Read More
Frictions, you mean, between the two?… Read More