Interview 15695 – Caption Index: 604
Did you develop any tricks of the trade to promote community support for the zoo you ran?… Read More
Did you develop any tricks of the trade to promote community support for the zoo you ran?… Read More
We certainly did through our education programs. Oklahoma has a very high number of homeschooled students and part of their requirement, their state requirement was a certain amount of science credits. Well, these students would come to the zoo for their science credits and I was always amazed at how… Read More
If it’s a private entity, that might be a different matter but if it’s a public entity, it can’t. It’s the reality of cost versus expenses. Of revenues versus expenses, if the revenues aren’t there then the expenses aren’t gonna get satisfied and the whole thing folds as the business… Read More
I don’t think a zoo can survive without community support. I just don’t see any way it can happen. Read More
If people don’t support the institution, they don’t visit the institution, they don’t help the institution through public referendums, how’s the institution going to survive?… Read More
Now, you mentioned community, how important is that community and support and do you think a zoo can survive without it?… Read More
Well, obviously conservation is a big issue. But I also think just being able to make sure you stay a viable entity in your community, make sure you remain a cultural asset to your community and that you’re going to have a financial base that will guarantee the fact that… Read More
If I could make you in charge of all the zoos in the United States or even the world today, what issues would you want those zoos to address in the future?… Read More
What would you direct them to do?… Read More
You need to know this too, at some point in time in your future, you’ll have to be responsible for this. Read More
Were there issues that caused you concern during your career and how do you see the future regarding these same concerns?… Read More
And I guess the things that might have bothered me at the time were the things that I didn’t understand and the guidelines that were placed without explanation. Many times and maybe this was because that I was raised in the household when that I was told, “Don’t ask questions,… Read More
That being said it also, I think is important for curators to not only know their craft and remain students of their trade and keep on learning. You never stop learning but become familiar with other facets of the industry and not just the animal side of it. They need… Read More
Having come from those ranks, is there a problem and how should curators be trained today to do what is expected of them?… Read More
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