But in other words, a zoo animal, the zoo animal collection, is not a separate entity from the in situ populations, but so you have to have some knowledge of what a wild animal, what certain species do in the wild. In other word, you’re looking the books, whatever information… Read More
Did I make it pretty clear?… Read More
What would you say a small or a medium size municipal zoo can do today to be involved in wildlife conservation nationally, or maybe even internationally?… Read More
First off, you have to have some level of professional freedom allowed by the top management, whether the mayor, or the department head, in case of a society run zoo by the societies of top management, you have to have that freedom, without interference, political interference, from the top. That… Read More
Rapport with employees. And yet, be friendly. But don’t be a friend. Just be friendly. And see how the person operates. And try to get the person do what you want him to do, for the profession, and for the zoo. Read More
And what skill set do you think a zoo curator needs today as compared to when you started?… Read More
Because of the technology, nowadays you have to be thoroughly familiar with computers, whatever, the pocket devices, whatever. Now it’s a requirement that a dinosaur like me really is unfamiliar with. That’s a new area that you have to have, on top of the people skills. Thorough knowledge on animals,… Read More
The new Berlin Zoo director did the same thing. His style was much milder. He wouldn’t stare at people. He didn’t raise his voice, but he did basically the same thing, even in the Tierpark Berlin, in the big place. That’s something that American zoo directors don’t do. And that’s… Read More
What traits made you a good curator?… Read More
Pardon?… Read More
Did you make zoo rounds when you were curator?… Read More
Yes. Early in the morning. On foot. In Milwaukee, I got spoiled. Maybe I used the golf cart. But basically, as Hediger said, going around in the motor vehicle is not a morning round. You walk. And Bernard, you may have met him. Read More
He was saying, he’s now saying, why is such and such animal was not on the exhibit on weekend?… Read More
Hmm. That’s another zoo director’s round. And we stayed away from his sight line, even. Then for the first time, he looks at us, that’s Marvin Jones and Mark Reid and my wife and me, said 11:30, come to the zoo restaurant. (laughing) So 11:30, we will go to the… Read More
So did you make zoo rounds?… Read More
What’s this?… Read More
Pretty soon, you know why animals are well cared for, well labeled, and not wire sticking out of the animal cage. At that time, Hans Friedrich, the assistant director, was with us, he comes around, and he makes his own round on weekend. Read More
Nine o’clock, with jacket and tie, he would say good morning, and good morning. And by that time, he had the entire zoo in his hand. So they had animal meetings, at that time, the zoo had emperor penguins. They had a very skilled zookeeper who took care of them. Read More
The zoo director. Berlin Zoo, you’ve probably met him. Eight o’clock in the morning, senior staff gathers, rain or shine, into the lion house, or whatever. And he comes around, claps his hands, and says you, and you, and you, and you make a round with me. And the group… Read More
And at one point, he brings in the maintenance guy, looks at the little hole on the sidewalk, and you don’t have to know German language. He’s, ah, ah, ah, ah. So the maintenance head pulls up the notepad. Uh-uh. Read More