That’s the aim that all institutions should have. And there are individual exhibits in many places that are admirable in terms of the obvious improved welfare of the animals, and so forth. And last year I was in Frankfurt to see their great ape facilities in which they’re really planting… Read More
One that I visited earlier this year upon the retirement of their, basically their original director, was out in Palm Desert, California. And that’s the establishment that Karen Sausman put together, the Living Desert. And what she had done was not just work in respect to the exhibits, portraying the,… Read More
I think there is more expectation by the public, that there will be reflection of some conservation consciousness in the presentations of the zoos. In terms of the actual operations, I don’t think there’s been that much of a change because people are not informed. And I don’t think in… Read More
Are there any zoos that you particularly admire and why would that be?… Read More
Have I seen a change in the public perception of zoos?… Read More
So in terms of the availability of animals to exhibit in the circumstances of these urban institutions, they simply won’t be there unless there is a much, much greater commitment to the conservation efforts in the zoos. Read More
Have you seen a change in the public’s perception of zoos?… Read More
Well, if they don’t, in terms of zoos 50 years in the future, that is very difficult to contemplate. No doubt some institutions will exist, that is be still in the business of keeping some species in captive circumstances for the education, the entertainment of their visitors, their visiting public. Read More
In terms of what skills a zoo director needs to amount such an institutional commitment by its governing board, whatever that might be, whether governmental or private, it seems to me that the director needs to come, not with just some familiarity with the biology of the world, but with… Read More
How do you see American zoos in terms of programs for the public, how they affect the public, animal collections, other activities?… Read More
Has it changed?… Read More
Well, to do this, a zoo director needs skills. Read More
What skills does a zoo director need today as compared to when you started as zoo director?… Read More
And while certain institutions like Monterey Bay Aquarium and their exhibit graphics, and in some of their interactive devices, certainly engage the public in tremendous questions as you’re well aware in terms of fisheries, the enormous conservation challenge for the world. While they’re utilizing some of this kind of incentivizing… Read More
What issues would you like to see Brookfield Zoo and other zoos address in the future and more broadly the AZA?… Read More
In terms of issues to address in the future for Brookfield and all other zoos and the Zoo Association, Zoo and Aquarium Association. It seems to me that they must attend to both the opportunity and challenge of communicating more effectively with their publics. And I do not mean just… Read More
How to increase the likelihood that you’re gonna communicate effectively so that it’s not just caring in terms of thinking about this problem, caring in terms of being emotionally involved from seeing the animal or whatever, but caring for in terms of doing something about it. So it seems to… Read More
(George chuckles) In terms of issues to address in the future or from now on that zoos and the Zoo Association should really devote attention to?… Read More
Well, as I indicated earlier, I feel that they need real comprehension of how to communicate effectively with their publics and, not only their local publics, but with other parties, including governments and populations around the world. And in the process, really, in my regard, the fundamental is getting people… Read More
What are some of the other issues that you’d like to see Brookfield Zoo and other zoos in the future address and more broadly the AZA address?… Read More