Zoo Logic

This past week marks a year since the passing of Wildlife World Zoo founder, Mickey Ollson. And while changes as significant as the loss of a leader can be paralyzing to any organization, the team at Wildlife World knew there would be no time to close shop and grieve when thousands of animals and tens of thousands of visitors are depending on them. Wildlife World spokesperson and president, Kristy Hayden reflects on the staff's and facility's past year, describes some of the improvements made thus far, and shares plans for the future. Kristy notes that succession planning can be a sensitive situation for any organization to embrace and underscores how important it is to have those difficult conversations before change occurs.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

While many zoos and aquariums feature animals from around the globe, Bearizona, located in the old western town of Williams, Arizona is uniquely situated among ponderosa pines to focus on north American species. Director of Animals, Dave O'connell returns to discuss managing animals, including more than 40 black and brown bears at high elevation where snow and weather can be extreme.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

Growing up in New Jersey, conservationist, author, and award-winning filmmaker, Paul Rosolie would much rather be outdoors testing his own survival skills than in a classroom. As a young boy he was fascinated by rainforests. Even before graduating college, he had formed an ecotourism company with his mentor Juan Julio Durand. Proceeds from leading ecotours to some of the most remote and dangerous regions in the world are used to purchase and protect pristine patches of the Peruvian rainforest. Paul is also founder of Junglekeepers, which conserves thousands of acres of threatened habitat in the vitally important Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon. The Las Piedras watershed is part of the Andes/Amazon hotspot—one of the most biodiverse and pristine areas on earth.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association has recently published a decade-by-decade account of major contributions by its members to research, conservation, strengthening the human-animal bond, husbandry, and veterinary medicine through advancements in animal training.  Michael Hunt, a long time zoological professional with decades of engagement with the organization at all levels of its leadership, discusses IMATA's history and future, including an upcoming first-ever joint conference with the Animal Behavior Management Alliance.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

In addition to serving as the current board chair for the Zoological Association of America, Holly Hunt operates the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio. She also serves as president of the International Animal Exchange, an exotic animal import/export and transport company started over 60 years ago by her father and uncles. Who better than someone with Holly's experience to discuss the confusing transport, display, and import implications of the recently passed Big Cat Public Safety Act.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

In an effort to help reduce the effects of human-caused greenhouse gases on global climate, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums has recently produced a publicly available comprehensive guide to help facilities and individuals reduce their carbon footprint. Karen Fifield, WAZA Vice President from Wellington Zoo and Helen Lockhart, from Two Oceans Aquarium were instrumental in producing the guide and discuss its implementation for zoos and aquariums of all sizes and resources. The important takeaway they agree is for every facility to just begin wherever they can and to build greater success from there.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

Dr. Doug Mader is an experienced, board-certified veterinarian with expertise in equine, small animal, and exotic animal care. The author of several medical textbooks, book chapters, and hundred of articles, his most recent book is The Vet at Noah's Ark: stories of survival from an inner-city animal hospital. The book is a celebration of the human-animal bond and reflects on his time in Los Angeles protecting his animal patients and his team during the time of the Rodney King riots.  His many talents include expertise with reptiles and amphibians having developed a passion for these animals as a boy growing up in the Florida Keys.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

The team at ZooSpensefull has created its second annual Cooperative Care Conference for animal professionals and enthusiasts.  Founder Peter Giljam describes the reasoning behind the conference to bring trainers from diverse animal backgrounds together to share behavior modification ideas, solutions, and best practices. The online conference features over a dozen international speakers over several days.  Attendees will be able to access recorded presentations and panel discussions for several months following the conference.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

The team at ZooSpensefull has created its second annual Cooperative Care Conference for animal professionals and enthusiasts.  Founder Peter Giljam describes the reasoning behind the conference to bring trainers from diverse animal backgrounds together to share behavior modification ideas, solutions, and best practices. The online conference features over a dozen international speakers over several days.  Attendees will be able to access recorded presentations and panel discussions for several months following the conference.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

Mission K9 Rescue's purpose is to "Rescue, Reunite, Re-Home, Rehabilitate and Repair any retired working dog that has served mankind in some capacity."  Whether it's bringing them back from overseas deployments which is quite costly, reuniting them with their military handlers, or rescuing them from poor environments at home, Mission K9 works to provide the best possible care for working canines once their service is completed due to injury, age, and/or health issues.

Mission K9 co-founder Bob Bryant discusses the life and fate of working dogs.  In many cases, when these animals retire, some have extensive medical issues that can become quite costly. Often retired working dogs have been in situations that can cause them severe anxiety and stress.  Many retire with issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  These dogs need time to decompress and reintegrate into society.  Mission K9 Rescue works with these dogs in order to make them suitable for adoption.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

Animal curator LynnLee Schmidt formed Animals Amplified to "save the world one person at a time," by providing professional development courses for zookeepers and animal trainers so they can own their own development and provide amazing care for their animals. Rather than give keepers permission to quit difficult work environments or managers, she tries to help individuals develop their own skill sets to cope with all the challenges and opportunities found in such workplaces. 

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

As he describes in his recently released first book, Dog Dad: How Animals Bring out the Best in Us and Can Help Save the World, Instagram sensation Tophy Brophy's childhood was anything but easy.  Suffering from anxiety and never feeling fully connected to the people around him, Topher recalls years of loneliness, depression and attempts to cure his "sad sickness."  Once he found a lifelong friend in a puppy named Rosenberg, the quality of life for Topher increased dramatically.  In addition to the fulfillment of caring for the needs of another living being that the adoption brought, life with Rosenberg lead to an unexpected creative outlet when people began commenting how similar Rosenberg and Topher resembled each other, especially as they dressed in over-the-top costumes. As a way to help others, Topher is donating all proceeds from the book to support rescue and recovery efforts by American Humane.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

We catch up with long time pinniped trainer, Heather Crane to see how the recent launch of her 16,000 square foot animal rescue, training, and boarding facility for Sea Dog Animal Training is going. As part of her mission to help the animal population of Houston, Heather and her team set aside about 40% of kennel space for rescue and feral dog rehabilitation.  In addition to the main boarding wing, there's a specially designed rescue wing with extra environmental controls to help animals adjust and rest from previous abuse, over stimulation, and/or life on the streets.  While the struggle to complete construction and now staff and operate the facility has been greater than Heather and her supportive family may have anticipated, the satisfaction of helping animals too easily deemed disposable by society is why Heather began this journey.  

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

We catch up with Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery (ZDR3) executive director, Julia Wagner following their deployment to south Florida immediately after hurricane Ian made landfall. Julia shares what the team discovered, and how member zoo and aquarium facilities both in the region and from several states away were quick to provide resources and expertise to help facilities devastated by flooding, power loss, downed trees and damaged structures and fencing.  

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

Dr. Katie Hall is the Animal Welfare and Training coordinator for Sedgwick County Zoo.  Her interest in animal welfare and training began as a teenager when she had the opportunity to provide care for chimpanzees used in the film industry.  As an internal consultant to the animal care and veterinary team, Dr. Hall describes the importance of collecting and using behavioral and physiological data to inform on husbandry and management decisions to improve individual animal welfare.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

Less than 24 hours after the near category 5 strength hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida, Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery (ZDR3) executive director, Julia Wagner, was already booked on a flight to help the region's zoos and aquariums. Julia describes the consortium of over 100 zoological facilities nationwide who have signed on to lend assistance, staffing, expertise, and other resources whenever facilities request help following natural and made-made disasters or incidents. This mutual help is offered freely among zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and exotic animal businesses independent of various trade affiliations. Joining in the effort to help ensure the mental well-being of animal professionals whose work and home lives have been disrupted is GRAZE, Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

For nearly 100 years, the Sacramento Zoo has operated on approximately 14 acres. As a result of improvements in animal welfare standards, many of the iconic charismatic species the zoo once displayed are no longer featured due to space. Soon after becoming CEO, Jason Jacobs began investigating what it would take to modernize the current zoo or relocate to a larger location. The analysis concluded that modernization of the existing zoo would cost about as much as the first phase of a new facility on 60 acres. A new zoo would permit the return of some iconic species and the care and display of larger populations. Jason provides insights on potential design and guest interaction concepts drawn from visiting hundreds of zoos and aquariums from around the world.

Animal care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

As the song Collide states, even the best fall down sometimes.  That was the situation in 2020-2021 when one of the premier zoological institutions in the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, stumbled as a result of poor judgment by a few in leadership. Stepping into the fray was long time Texas State Aquarium CEO Tom Schmid to answer the call to restore stakeholder trust in the organization. Tom describes his efforts to rebuild the institution's reputation and plans for future growth and reinvestment.  He speaks frankly about the organization's loss of accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which some have deemed unfair, even as it earned accreditation through the Zoological Association of America and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. And no conversation about the zoo's past, present or future can be complete without mention of the contributions by the one and only Jungle Jack Hanna.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

As the newer director of Turtle Back Zoo with an all female senior leadership team, Dr. Jilian Fazio discusses the growing demographic shift in zoological professions towards greater diversity. As more women assume leadership roles, what does she believe are some of the long term implications for the zoo and aquarium community?  Plus, as the leader of her organization how does she adjust to the typical and often rapid-fire highs and lows of working with animals.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

Clay Carabajal got his zoological start as a "show host" at SeaWorld of Texas. While not exactly the role he envisioned at the marine mammal park as a young man, he turned it into one opportunity after another over a 17-year span. The lessons learned served him well as an educator and ambassador animal presenter. Following the examples set by his mentors Julie Scardina and Jungle Jack Hanna, Clay launched his own YouTube channel featuring wild animals and facilities, which he now conducts from his new base camp at the Abilene Zoo.

Animal Care Software

KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic