Zoophoria!

The Story of the Modern Conservation Zoological Park as Told by its Leaders

"As a past interviewee for Zoophoria, I believe it to be a very valuable and factual documentation of the passion and commitment of the many fine people that are involved in zoo-based conservation. Over the past 20-30 years, accredited zoological parks have undergone a transformation from historical menageries to active participants in the global conservation community. Zoophoria is a great testimonial to this conservation revolution."

Rick Barongi

Former Director, Houston Zoo

What's Different and New for the Animal: A Conversation with Jim Doherty, Former General Curator

While Jim Doherty spent almost his entire career at the Bronx Zoo, he grew up in Massachusetts and went to college on the West Coast. “I was looking for a curatorial job right out of college,” he remembered. “I thought I was qualified, which wasn’t the case. The new director of the San Francisco Zoo offered me a job as a keeper, promising to find me a curator job when it came around. He informed me there was a curatorial training program at the Bronx Zoo. In 1967, Bill Conway

Great Potential: A Conversation with Dan Wharton, Former Director of the Central Park Zoo and Senior

While volunteering at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Dan Wharton became aware of the visions and ideals of the zoo of the future. He would soon go to the New York Zoological Society's Bronx Zoo and would stay there when the society transitioned to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Wharton spent 13 years as Director of the Central Park Zoo and finished his career as Senior Vice President of Conservation Science at the Brookfield Zoo. Here is his story. @ Dan Wharton Dan Wh

Living Landscapes: A Conversation with Fred Koontz, Retired Vice President of Conservation at Woodla

Fred Koontz is an expert in the science of small population management and understands the opportunity zoos can play in that realm. He worked at the Bronx Zoo as Curator of Mammals at a time when the zoo was dramatically growing its involvement in insitu conservation. After a 13 year absence from the zoo industry, he became Vice President of Conservation at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle in 2011. During his six years there, Koontz developed a living landscape program for th

Zoo Plantman: A Conversation with Rob Halpern, Owner of Zoo Horticulture Consulting and Design

Rob Halpern has carved a role in the zoo industry as the authority on zoo landscapes. While he will always be remembered for his work on the renowned Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo, he has worked on dozens of projects with his company Zoo Horticulture Consulting and Design. Halpern believes design of planting is essential to the quality of an exhibit. “When I design the planting, I think of how it will be like grown in,” he articulated. “Landscape should change over ti

Immersive Choreography: A Conversation with John Gwynne, Retired Director of the Wildlife Conservati

It could be argued there has never been a more talented and influential zoo designer than John Gwynne. During his tenure as Head of Design at the Exhibits, Graphics and Arts Department at the Wildlife Conservation Society, he designed many of the most immersive, detailed and compelling habitats ever built, particularly at the Bronx Zoo. Along with his team, including Walter Deichmann and his mentees Lee Ehmke and Sue Chin, and in close collaboration with Director Bill Conway

Bio-Functional Habitats and Quality of Life: A Conversation with Douglas Richardson, Head of Living

Douglas Richardson has long been an established authority on animal welfare in European zoos. Over the course of his career, he has worked at the Edinburgh Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Howlett's Wild Animal Park, London Zoo, Bioparco di Roma and Singapore Zoo. Richardson currently serves as Head of Living Collections at the Highland Wildlife Park, part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Under his watch, the park has welcomed the first polar bear cub born in the U.K. for 25 years

World of Birds: A Conversation with Christine Sheppard, Retired Curator of Ornithology at the Bronx

For decades, Christine Sheppard was part of the legendary team of zoo professionals at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. She spent most of this time as Curator of Ornithology, where she was responsible for managing one of the largest bird collections at any zoo in the world. Sheppard and her staff accomplished many advancements in bird husbandry, reproduction and research. Here is her story. @ Christine Sheppard Prior to coming to the Bronx Zoo, Christine Sheppar

Animal Planning and Platforms for Conservation: A Conversation with Christina Castellano, Vice Presi

Over the past two decades, the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City has undergone a renaissance. Modern, dynamic habitats have replaced antiquated exhibits throughout most of the zoo and the infrastructure has been put in place for optimal animal welfare. Now the Hogle Zoo wants to take another step forward and become a larger leader in global conservation. A key player in this direction is Christina Castellano, the zoo's Vice President. Here is her story. @ Hogle Zoo Christina Castel

Celebrating a Life Devoted to Saving Species: A Conversation with the late Dr. Michael Hutchins, for

As the zoo and conservation community mourns the untimely passing of Dr. Michael Hutchins, I thought it would be appropriate to share an interview I conducted with him this past fall. Hutchins was a true warrior for zoo conservation, as evidenced by his influence as William Conway Chair of Conservation and Science for the Association of zoos and Aquariums. Additionally, he wrote and edited over 200 publications including the influential texts Second Nature and Ethics on the A

The Pride of Chicago: A Conversation with Kevin Bell, President and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoo

For the past twenty five years, Kevin Bell has served as President and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoo, a 35-acre free zoo located in urban Chicago. Bell's vision and leadership has been credited with revitalizing the zoo and making it a leader in research, animal welfare, education and conservation. He has also been a leader in the broader zoo profession by serving as Chair of the Board of the Directors of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and on the Council for the World As

Zoophoria!

The Story of the Modern Conservation Zoological Park as Told by its Leaders

Rick Barongi

Former Director, Houston Zoo

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