Is it possible that in our country and different parts of the world, there will be large umbrella groups, whether you call it a corporate entity or X that will be operating and running the zoological collections?… Read More
So how are the zoos gonna survive the coming economic times?… Read More
I’ve seen the growth of big business and big corporations where even in my own veterinary profession, an animal hospital today is an endangered species. A animal hospital today is part of big business. There are corporations now that run 10, 20, 50, 100 animal hospitals. Read More
I think to look into the future for 50 years today is difficult because of the incredible economic times we’ve just been through in the last two, three years. We were talking in our media today that universities are shutting back, and cutting down on staff and educational programs. Read More
And I think that the zoo will continue to grow in those areas. I think the zoo is just one part of the so-called international approach to how do we hope that in the next 50 years and 100 years, there will be wild creatures still living in their natural… Read More
You just hit on something because 50 years down the road, how do you see American zoos in terms of programs for the public, or the collections, or other activities?… Read More
The role of a zoo today has to remain diverse. I think a zoo today is definitely charged with the responsibility of its collection, that’s the heart of operating any zoo. And just as schools and orphanages and everything else have to care about people and children, it’s the animals… Read More
It’s one thing to have somebody that’s skilled in a certain niche of research or a certain niche of education or business, but you still have to understand your animals. And if you’re gonna work with them, I think that may be in some ways, the pendulum went from just… Read More
We had touched on this a little before, but knowing what we know about endangered species today and populations, captive management, exhibition, what do you believe should be the role of the professional zoo organization today?… Read More
And I think that as I see it, how do you get back to basic animal care?… Read More
What has changed from when you started, and how do you believe new zoo curators should be trained?… Read More
I looked back at Lincoln Park in the early years, and our curatorial staff were people that were fortunate to go to college. The great majority of them graduated with a zoology degree, and that was considered an entry ticket to a zoo staff, a curatorial position. In those days,… Read More
And so I think a zoo director has to be a person that can kind of be diverse in their thinking and have to rely on technical help in different areas because of this incredible expansion of operations. Some feel that the zoo community lacks really top notch curatorial staff… Read More
What skillset do you think a zoo director needs today?… Read More
A zoo director today is with not only a zoo, but practically every cultural institution in my opinion, have comparable skill needs. And that is that you certainly, it helps if you know the collection. In other words, a zoo directors should be a person that relates to the animal… Read More
And many of them have extension of researchers and funding for programs in conservation. Some of us feel strongly that in another 25, 50 years there won’t be wild areas left in the world other than national parks park systems, and the zoological gardens and aquariums. So I think this… Read More
Gradually as the animals became more threatened and more endangered, which they were and are, more so all the time. I think the role of the zoo got into conservation and that was and is important. I think again, it was a strong personal opinion of mine, that education should… Read More
I think that the growth is continuing and positive, I think that the zoo has to stop being ever an island unto itself. The zoo is part of a community and whether it lives in a small town, a medium town, or a bigger urban area like metropolitan Chicago, it… Read More
The role of the zoo has been sort of a growth story. We started out as recreation areas, most of them that were parts of park departments, such as Lincoln Park, were primarily the mission of a zoo was a place where people went and had a relaxed time, a… Read More
What do you feel zoos should be doing locally?… Read More