You had to have a lion, you had to have a tiger, in the old days. And now we specialize in different animals. So if you wanna see a certain species, then you go to a certain zoo, like Lincoln Park, that does a fabulous job with gorillas, or any… Read More
Can you give us an overview of each incident, and how did you handle it with your board, the press, your staff, and what lessons did you learn that you could pass on to a zoo director who may have a tragedy befall them at their zoo?… Read More
And where are they?… Read More
There’s a lot of fabulous zoos in the world. I mean, it’s just amazing to visit, especially if anybody has an interest in being a president CEO, visit as many zoos as you can, worldwide. I had the good fortune recently of being at the aquarium in Vietnam, and it… Read More
Because with over a million visitors a year on peak season, in peak years, it was very, very difficult to get people in and out of the zoo with a two-lane road in and out. And it comes to a stoplight immediately after you get off that two-lane road. And… Read More
How do you run outta time with 31 years, right?… Read More
Are there any zoos in the world you particularly admire, and why?… Read More
They all survived. They raised clouded leopard cubs, and lion cubs, and all kinds of things in the kitchen and in the dining room. So I think they had fun growing up. They still talk to me, so I think we’re pretty good. All seven of ’em. Read More
(Barbara laughs) Are there programs, as you think back, or exhibits that you would’ve implemented during your tenure, but just didn’t happen?… Read More
Well, one of the things that I always wanted to do is, Pittsburgh is locked into a two lane entrance and exit road, believe it or not. Our zoo has a two lane entrance and exit road. And it comes off of, ironically Baker Street. And so when I went… Read More
They all were familiar with the zoo. One time my daughter, Casey, brought a little friend to work, and she popped out and went on the train. She had a radio with her so that I could find her if I needed her. And so she popped out on the… Read More
And she’s very indignant, she’s like, this guy wants a ticket. And I laugh and I said, get off. And she’s like, but mom. And I’m like, you have to get off, you don’t have a ticket. You can’t use my name. That’s not how it works. But come upstairs,… Read More
But the poor little train guy was like, oh my God, it’s Dr. Baker’s daughter. Oh my god, oh my God. (Barbara laughs) My kids worked in the restaurants. They flipped burgers and made fries. They taught school. They started up as a teacher’s assistant, and then an assistant, and… Read More
And I’d walk into the mud room, and it’d be, “Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom.” And we’re not talking about one little mouth. We’re talking about seven little mouths, six little mouths, five little mouths, yak, yak, yak. And mom, I need this, mom, I need that, mom,… Read More
Can I take my shoes off before I have to address all y’alls issues?… Read More
And they’re like, okay, okay. We’ll give you five minutes. When five minutes was up, they were right back at it again, but you have, kids are so fun. And they’re so much fun and they keep you young. My kids grew up at the zoo. They slept on the… Read More
You’re gonna not have time. There’s gonna be no “you.” So you’re gonna have to give up “you” for the amount of time it takes to raise your kids, because there’s gonna be no me time. You’re not gonna have me time. It’s not gonna happen. And if you’re a… Read More
That’s all right. So I can get these kids on the road and get them moving up to teenage years when they can actually drive, and then maybe I can get some me time. But you really kind of lose that. ‘Cause there’s no time. When you get around to… Read More
That’s when you finally get to talk to him. Read More
‘Cause you’ve done homework with seven kids, right?… Read More