Episodit
-
Christine Devane is a former elementary school teacher with a new children's book entitled, Elephant Beach. The story revolves around a shy girl who just wants to read her book while at the beach and a nearby playful group of elephants with other ideas. Devane hopes that introverted kids can learn to try new experiences and that extraverted children can be patient with those who may need a little more encouragement to participate in new activities or to make new friends.
Also, Dr. Jason Bruck returns to discuss unfolding events in the Mexico legislature this past week. A bill likely to pass the Senate would prohibit all breeding of marine mammals in human care. Dr. Bruck debunks this poor policy-making based upon widespread false narratives about the well-being of animals in zoological facilities and the myth of sea pen sanctuaries.
Animal Care Software
-
Pernilla Mosesson is a long time trainer from Sweden having started her career working with marine mammals. We sat with her at the Johannesburg airport to hear her thoughts on the state of marine and terrestrial animal training across the zoological space. While there are many similarities between European and North American facilities, particularly with regard to the current politics surrounding zoos and aquariums, there were a few surprising differences!
Animal Care Software
-
Puuttuva jakso?
-
Much has changed since Zoo Logic first examined six years ago the North American pangolin consortium formed by several zoological parks despite some pushback from the industry. Providing an update on the status of the species, the handful of animals living in human care, and the consortium is Mark Wanner is Associate Vice President, Animal Care & Conservation for Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Chair of the North American Pangolin Consortium. He describes their white bellied pangolin program which has resulted in several successful births, development of specialized diets, and the funding of in situ and ex situ conservation research.
Animal Care Software
-
Dr. Jason Bruck returns to discuss the seemingly increasing erosion of the peer review process by some authors looking to expand their legitimacy through overuse of self-citations and passing opinion articles off as science. The most egregious offenders of the process produce commentaries devoid of data or that refuse to address credible criticisms or contrasting data sets raised by other scientists through peer-reviewed rebuttals. Jason describes what structural business model changes and other obstacles have occurred to scientific publishing which have contributed to the rise in dubious publications printed in historically rigorous journals.
Animal Care Software
-
Susan Kleven is the long time director of the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX. She returns to Zoo Logic to discuss her upcoming children's book telling the true story of Nzuri, a premature giraffe whose first time mother was unable to nurse or otherwise care for him. Nzuri Grows Up: A Preemie Giraffe's Story coauthored by Jennifer Keats Curtis is due out in wide release this fall through Arbordale Publishing. Now more than six years old, Nzuri is thriving with the zoological team that beat the odds and gave this underdeveloped calf a chance at life.
Animal Care Software
-
Behaviorist Tim Sullivan has been with the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for 47 years, nearly half the history of that leading institution. After two decades as a marine mammal trainer and leader, Tim moved to an internal consultant role at the zoo by guiding the change from free to protected contact with their elephant team. Needless to say those were challenging times early on, which led Tim to examine his teaching methods, not so much with animals, but with humans! Since then he has temporarily (often for years at a time) led 4 other areas and departments. These days he is happy to settle back into his role as behavioral coach for the entire collection and its animal care teams. He shares his insights on where we've been as an industry and where he thinks animal husbandry is headed in terms of an increasingly wholistic approach combining behavior, exhibit design, veterinary and nutrition.
Animal Care Software
-
John M. Kinder is director of American Studies, professor of history at Oklahoma State University and author of the new book, World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age. He chronicles the horrific effects of war on zoos throughout Europe, the US and the South Pacific and the sometimes heroic efforts by keepers and the public to preserve their animal charges even in times of scarcity and personal starvation. Zoos that were spared bombing still had to wrestle with difficult questions such as which animals should be euthanized when food supplies were low? Or which should be killed to prevent the escape of dangerous animals? Kinder examines the era from the Great Depression through the Cold War and its cumulative effects resulting in the zoological institutions and some of the policies we see today.
Animal Care Software
-
Tom LaRock is a long time zoo administrator turned wildlife safari travel operator. He founded Rewild Safaris to connect his travel organization with conservation organizations around the globe working on the ground to solve problems and preserve species and habitats. For him, the meaning behind rewild extends beyond the effort to return species to recovered habitats but also to connect travelers with the wild and wildlife.
Animal Care Software
-
The Philadelphia Zoo is America's oldest zoological institution that takes pride in its history of firsts. Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO, exemplifies more firsts for the organization including serving as the first woman and first African American woman to hold the top leadership role. She describes how this urban Chicago introvert grew to love nature on her parents' front porch. She is candid about her personal interests which she realized in school did not include remote camping or field work, and the early and long hours of zookeeping. Rather, her work has largely focused on the people side of the preservation equation, by connecting with diverse audiences through conservation and education.
Animal Care Software
-
A few weeks ago, Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences grabbed the world's attention when it announced the de-extinction of the Dire Wolf which last roamed the earth more than 12 thousand years ago, with the successful birth of three animals. Matt James, a long time zoo professional now serving as the company's Chief Animal Officer, discusses the science and technology behind the momentous announcement and the methodology's potential to help conserve extant but endangered species like red wolves. He also addresses some of the misinformation and misunderstanding about what this outcome has and has not achieved and where it may lead in the future.
Animal Care Software
-
According to its founder, Rebecca Rosenberg who was born with low vision, the name ReBokeh is derived from a photography term "Bokeh," a technique in which all light sources are out of focus and blurred. Re-Bokeh then represents her organization's efforts to re-clarifying of what is out of focus. When this eventual bioengineer was 17 and looking forward to college, she looked at the technology options for the vast majority of visually impaired peopled and discovered that most were geared towards the nearly or completely blind or resorted to auditory-based solutions, bypassing any visual input altogether. The problem was these alternatives didn't serve the lives of millions of people with signifiant residual vision. Joining Rebecca is Dr. De'Andrea Matthews, VP of Diversity and Community Engagement for the Detroit Zoological Society to discuss the recent rollout of ReBokeh's app designed to help visitors, staff and docents with low vision maximize their zoo-going experiences.
Animal Care Software
-
We begin season 8 of Zoo Logic with a frank conversation with Dr. Jason Bruck and Billy Hurley about the proper role of accreditation organizations, as well as, their limitations. When an accredited institution stumbles or allegations of poor animal well-being are made, what is the responsibility of accrediting bodies to investigate, act, and inform its members and the public as to its findings and remedies? Where is the dividing line between a professional trade organization's responsibilities to ensure adherence to its standards and guidelines and the government's legal authority to act to address animal well-being concerns? In an age when news, information, and especially, opinions are instantly expressed on social and traditional media, how should professionals or members of the public effectively respond to animal welfare concerns so as to not make matters worse for the animals or the front line staff doing their best to care for them?
Animal Care Software
-
First time author Christine Mott has a forthcoming children's book entitled, Free Bird: Flaco the Owl's Dreams Take Flight by Lantern Publishing. The story for kids ages 4 to 8 is based on upon actual events surrounding the Eurasian Eagle Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo. The story enthralled people from around the globe as Flaco was recorded across Central Park for over a year before his untimely death. As an attorney Christine also describes her advocacy work on behalf of animals.
Animal Care Software
-
While most North American zoological parks are still weeks away from the start of their summer high season, a few desert southwest facilities are already deep into their peak season. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park president Kristy Hayden returns to discuss the latest additions to their collection including a baby giraffe and an all new tiger habitat. As important as these megafauna are, Kristy insists it is important to look at animal welfare for all their species, especially as the zoo addresses some of the older original portions of the facility. Standards are different from the zoo's earliest days more than 40 years ago and it is important to keep up with those changes with improved construction materials and better designs, especially in a desert climate. Plus, we discuss the looming veterinary crisis with declining numbers of large animal clinicians entering the field with Dr. Dani Revers.
Animal Care Software
-
Kristi Gravrock is a long time animal trainer having worked with dogs, horses, orcas, cats, dolphins and more. Her passion for training goes back to her early childhood pets before her first horse. Today, when she isn't competing in dressage, she uses her decades of experience with zoological species to train service dogs and mini horses. While there are many similarities to training dolphins for swim programs and dogs or minis for hospital and nursing home visits, one key difference is the people involved. According to Kristi, unlike working in a zoo environment with other trainers, most lay people react unpredictably around animals and don't know much about training. So to be successful in the service animal space visiting people who are often frail with serious health issues, animals must be extremely well desensitized to the unexpected. This emphasis on desensitization is particularly important working with prey species like equines.
Animal Care Software
-
It's our second installment talking with the management team at New England Aquarium following our recent three-day onsite visit with the pinniped and penguin department. With so much institutional and operant conditioning change affecting not only the animals' overall management through greater training and enrichment, but the employees' work experiences and responsibilities, how are the aquarium's leaders helping their teams adjust and thrive? We talk with Associate Curators, Patty Leonard and Eric Fox along with managers, Rebekah Miller and Diana Major.
Animal Care Software
-
We are on location at the New England Aquarium talking with long time animal trainer and curator of pinnipeds and penguins, Kristen McMahon. Under her guidance, this unique department has successfully blended animal care providers from different taxa into one productive training team which has improved the social well-being of all the animals. Kristen discusses the aquarium's focus not only on improving animal welfare and training efficiency, but also the work-life balance for all employees.
Animal Care Software
-
Since he was a young boy, KONG company founder, Joe Markham has been fascinated with animals of every kind. He credits his German Shepherd, Fritz with providing him long ago the inspiration for the famous beehive shaped pet toy. His latest venture petKORE.com is a labor of love to produce training and enrichment devices suitable for underserved zoo, aquarium, equine and farm species. Joining in the conversation about the challenges of developing larger natural rubber based toys for exotic species is long time animal trainer, Chuck Tompkins. According to Joe, making one of anything is relatively easy....and expensive. The key to manufacturing success is being able to produce many, efficiently and at a reasonable price that customers can afford. To that end Joe has spearheaded new technology and rubber blends to make larger products possible. With the initial enrichment products available now, Joe is excited to see how animal professionals will utilize these items in unique and creative ways for the well being of all animals.
Animal Care Software
-
The new U.S. administration has put forth a slew of federal employee firings, funding freezes and cancellations, and agency reprioritizations since assuming office barely 1 month ago. One of the most notable moves has been the dismantling of USAID and a funding pause or in some instances, the elimination of the agency's projects to feed, educate, and/ or medically treat vulnerable communities around the globe. However, it's not just humans that will feel the effects of this humanitarian funding gap. Unknown to many, USAID also supports sustainable use, wildlife conservation, and habitat preservation efforts as well. While the agency's budget was nearly $60 billion, the monies dedicated to conservation totaled less than $400 million--a sizable amount for most taxpayers, but a literal drop in the bucket for the US government's yearly budget. Ashoka Mukpo, staff writer for Mongabay.com, an independent media organization reporting on Nature and planetary challenges, examines the immediate and downstream effects of this globally significant funding loss to international conservation groups working in the field to enable humans and animals to co-exist.
Animal care Software
-
The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport recently announced the successful hatching of 2 endangered black-footed penguins. As a newer facility in a medium sized city, President and CEO Kurt Allen returns to discuss the State's historic hatchlings, the challenges of meeting public and financial expectations, and the importance of remaining adaptable to meet customer needs.
Animal Care Software
- Näytä enemmän
