And we walk up, and I kind of thought, “Well, what’s going on here?” And everybody was really quiet for a minute. And the curator kept saying, “Well, they’re not building the overhang for the monkeys, and different than the way I wanted it done.” And I go, “Well.” And… Read More
And then, a short time later, a couple of years later, Jerry decided that was it so he went to retire. So we put somebody else down there. But, still, my introduction to that group was fun. And they were good people. Read More
Did he leave you a notebook?… Read More
And when people are sitting there watching it and there’s this classical music, I’m thinking, “This is pretty cool.” And then they’d go across the water together. And then they’d separate again into three groups and four groups. And I’m watching this thinking, “This is phenomenal. These birds are doing… Read More
And, again, that’s an idea you found somewhere else in the world and you shared it with somebody and just said, “Come on, we can do this, can’t we?” And so it was that kind of growth and that type of comradery that made it work. Now, I’m going to… Read More
leaves, and he gives you a notebook with a note that says, “Good luck.” True? And what was in the notebook?… Read More
Well, (chuckles) it was sort of an ironic situation. Ed had left. (objects clattering) (door slams) Ed had left in ’91, and so I then was elevated to the top. And John Roberts, who was running Busch Entertainment, asked me at that time, he said, “Can you go down to… Read More
Well, there was different people that were running Busch Entertainment Corporation that were running the whole corporation. So Ed worked for the CEO of the corporation, and then I worked for Ed. And then Jerry Lentz from Busch Gardens retired, down in Busch Gardens in Tampa, so Ed was asked… Read More
That was new territory for you?… Read More
It was, it was new territory. It was new animals, but, again, it was, to me, the same him kinds of issues. It was people. You had to deal with the people first, find out what the relationship was with the animals, and try and provide the best practices with… Read More
It was really fun to work with them. As we were walking over here, I pointed out to you the little flamingo parade. Well, when I was in Japan years ago, I was at a park and they had this flamingo show where you’d sit down and they played classical… Read More
It may die. Read More
So during this time period, you’re the assistant zoological director and Ed Asper is the director?… Read More
Or who’s his boss?… Read More
So are you getting called at the middle of the night, “We’ve got a whale”?… Read More
Yeah the network would call all the time and go to a hotline. The hotline would determine that somebody would answer the hotline, determine where it’s at, what kind of animal, how fast do we need to get there, who’s gonna go, what kind of equipment and things like that,… Read More
So then all that has to be transferred to move the whale to the park?… Read More
Yeah, well, the support system and the veterinary care and lab and all that stuff is at the park, and the water. You have to have a body of water contained that you can manage it. It’s very difficult when a lot of stranders happen. Some people think they’re doing… Read More
And are you being asked to do this or is this part of SeaWorld’s rehabilitation and rescue program?… Read More
It’s part of SeaWorld’s program. It’s part of their DNA. It’s part of the heritage. It’s part of what we did. And the federal and state governments didn’t reimburse any of the money. Read More