Interview 22122 – Caption Index: 81
Well, I think at that time zoos were primarily places where people came to be entertained, to have a good time. I don’t think at that point conservation was a high priority for most zoos. Read More
Well, I think at that time zoos were primarily places where people came to be entertained, to have a good time. I don’t think at that point conservation was a high priority for most zoos. Read More
Yes, yeah curatorial staff, same way, because they, you know at that time there was a number of young curators, zoologists, different titles to it. But Charlie Hoessle was a curator in charge of all the reptiles, also he oversaw the education department, but he was curator of herps. Bob… Read More
Were there other, among the zookeepers that you learned from, were there any people that you would call characters?… Read More
And talk to the keeper, “Well, was he having difficulty breathing?… Read More
You know, did he have any discharge coming out of his nostrils,” or what have you. And so I think that the keepers enjoyed learning more about the animals as well. And I think as a result of that, it did help have a good relationship between the keepers and… Read More
Was that same philosophy of working with the curatorial staff?… Read More
Did you start to develop a philosophy about working with all these different groups who you had to depend upon?… Read More
Well, I had to depend upon them. Certainly they’re the ones who, you know, are with the animals all day, and they know if their animal isn’t acting properly. And so I, like I said, I tried to learn a lot from them, but I also tried to help them. Read More
Did people work at the zoo at night to- Very seldom was there any calls at night, because the keepers weren’t there at nighttime. There were night security, but their responsibilities were not really so much animal care. But, so seldom did I get calls at night, but always on… Read More
Did you start to develop a philosophy of working with the curators and the keepers?… Read More
You indicated, you know, sometimes they don’t like the university guy coming in, telling them what to do, but you had a job to do. Read More
You were on call?… Read More
As a veterinarian?… Read More
Did they call you at late at night, the zoo?… Read More
Yes, yes, did all the the necropsies on animals. Yes, and made all the reports. Read More
When you first started, were there issues that you were aware of that St. Louis Zoo was facing, or anything that was going on that the zoo was involved with, other than veterinary medicine that touched you, or you were aware of?… Read More
Well, I mean I was, as a new recent graduate veterinarian, I was still learning, you know, veterinary medicine. And one other thing that I did continue to do, one thing that I worked out with the director was, I said, “Look, I’m here all, you know, every day, and… Read More
Did you have a staff of people in your department who were helping you, or was it just you?… Read More
Well, I was the only veterinarian, but since Washington University, who had that grant, you mentioned Barry Commoner, that was still going on. They didn’t hire a veterinarian, but they still had a couple of staff people. There was two technicians that were, one was a histology technician, made the… Read More
But from the veterinary standpoint, that division, department, it was you, and you did the pathology also?… Read More