Interview 9511 – Caption Index: 427
What was your relationship as director with the staff?… Read More
What was your relationship as director with the staff?… Read More
It has definitely changed. We’ve taught different lessons to different places, just as the Congo exhibit is a very different lesson. It’s about the tropical African forests and very specific geographically. And it shows a series of habitats that are ecologically different, but it hasn’t made, there’s not a big… Read More
The aquatic bird house, the first exhibit I did was tied into wetlands ecology, and the entire exhibit showed a series of habitats. A tropical lagoon, a tropical stream, a shore, sandy shore, a sea cliffs, and several additional swamps. Each of them waterbird habitats with birds that have adapted… Read More
Has that educational emphasis changed since then or has it been continued with all of the exhibits that have been put out?… Read More
The first major exhibit that I was able to do at the Bronx Zoo was a remodelment of the 1899 aquatic bird house, which was one of the zoos first two buildings. And, by getting support from the city and earning support in the zoos guest services program, I was… Read More
As you’re developing this vision for the exhibits, did you have a vision for the educational element that came with it or was part of it and how did that start to develop?… Read More
What was your first big development for the zoo society?… Read More
How did that come about?… Read More
Oh, I think many zoos, let me start again. I think many zoos are attempting to put their animals in exhibits that convey the best possible idea of the environment that the animal lives in, in nature. There are obviously limitations and this is not inexpensive, but there isn’t much… Read More
I don’t think they’re necessarily as powerful as ours, but they’re pretty strong and that’s a big help. So I think that as specialization goes on, we will undoubtedly see some movement of animals in relation to climate. What was, closed buildings, (indistinct) vision. Read More
We elected to choose one great ape and to specialize, to focus on it, to give it as much space as we could. And that one exhibit, as I say is bigger than the entire central park zoo. And we can breed as many gorillas as the gorilla species survival… Read More
Do you see zoos, other zoos embracing this type of vision on a regular basis or is financing not allowing them to continue that kind of vision?… Read More
Then they go to see another gorilla after that, then another one that goes on, they’re surrounded by gorillas but,” he said, “They often come over and I have this lady hug me. What should I do?” I said, “keep quiet, don’t hug her back.” So I think we have… Read More
Yes, I closed a lot of buildings. And this was because you wanted to start this rebuilding process. Yes. I closed a good many buildings in the Bronx Zoo and when I opened the Congo exhibit, I closed the old ape house and made some choices, and zoos are going… Read More
We’re a long way from doing it. We’ve done it in some places, but we haven’t yet got Gene Kelly dancing in the rain. On the other hand, we’re beginning to make some breakthroughs. For example, when we did Congo, we made a specific effort, we did a thing I’d… Read More
And you see two wildlife conservation scientists going through the forest and they’re commenting upon what is happening, on everything from gorilla dung to cut huge trees. And you’ll see a seed sprouting from the gorilla dung and it’s explained. You see a wildlife conservation society airplane cruising over the… Read More
What do I mean when I say muddy boots?… Read More
If you’re working in the field, studying what prevents an animal’s population from increasing or what is causing it to decrease, you’re likely to get your feet muddy. So this, a shorthand for working directly with wild animals, whether they be up in trees or whether you’re scrambling through the… Read More
So the combination of field conservationist with zoo conservationist, was something that just wasn’t being done. And today this society has the largest muddy boots program in the world. Read More
Now explain, I understand, but explain, when you say muddy boots, you mean exactly what?… Read More