Well, I think the problem has certainly been caused by a lack of mentors. I was very fortunate. There were others that were very fortunate. When we began in this profession, that we had individuals, ie, Gus Griswold, who showed me the way, took my hand. Chastised me when I… Read More
I think so and it depends. Again, it’s a matter of scale but I think every zoo can be involved in a conservation program and every zoo can be involved in a breeding program. It’s just a matter of determining what fits and what fits best with the parameters that… Read More
It was the comment by Roger Conant about the small pond and the big pond and being the small frog and going into the big pond. And that stuck with me. I’ve never have forgotten. In fact, I can still see him sitting the other side of the desk telling… Read More
Should every zoo be striving to have a breeding program?… Read More
What was the most important piece of advice you received that maybe has stayed with you throughout your career?… Read More
That’s one form of research that doesn’t cost a lot. That’s just a matter of observation, a record keeping, publishing, that is contributing to the welfare of maintaining the collection. If we’re talking about doing DNA studies and doing studies on diets and nutrition and medicine, that’s a different kind… Read More
But the research that can be done is certainly observation and record keeping and recording things that haven’t been recorded before. Read More
If we’re talking about avicultural research and what can we learn by what’s gonna benefit this collection and benefit this particular species?… Read More
Somewhere along the line, perhaps maybe some common sense need to be put back into it and need to stand back and look and say, “Well, what is the problem?… Read More
And how can we really take a major step in correcting it?” So, I think that’s going to constantly be there and I think in the long run, if it isn’t corrected and there aren’t some things changed that we’re all gonna stand back and look and say, “How did… Read More
If we’re talking about overall direction. I think an overall direction. Okay. We’ve talked about it earlier but I’ll reiterate the SSP programs are not satisfying what they were intended to satisfy. There are lots of shortcomings. I think they’re throwing a lot of effort and I couldn’t tell you… Read More
And if you can identify that in your own mind, what might you think is helpful in correcting that problem?… Read More
We’re talking about in terms of personnel or we’re talking about in terms of just overall direction?… Read More
What do you feel is the largest professional problem facing US zoos today?… Read More
If it’s an institution that’s directed at animals of the Sonoran Desert, then that’s what your collection composition should be. That’s your story. That’s your mission. If your education program is to teach and to make aware a more worldly group of animals then pursue that. Again, I don’t think… Read More
So, this must be a particularly interest of the director. And we’ve all seen institutions like that. Well, I think those days are gone. I think now we’re trying to balance things out a little bit better but it should really be closer to trying to see what is gonna… Read More
And what is the educational message they’re trying to portray?… Read More
What should they be focusing on if they should be?… Read More
I don’t think there’s any set answer for an institution as to what the composition the collection should be. The composition should certainly fit the resources of the institution. You gotta think about that first. Read More
Is it the typical collection of endangered or non-endangered species from around the world?… Read More