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

Conservation Psychology: A Conversation with Emily Routman, Zoo Educator and Owner and Principal at

Emily Routman first became introduced to zoos when visiting the Cincinnati Zoo as a child. “I grew up in Cincinnati and, for me, one of my real passions was drawing animals,” she remembered. “That was my thing. I would take summer animal drawing classes at the zoo. When I was about 15, a friend mentioned that the zoo used illustrations done by volunteers in their publications and they might have a use for some of my drawings. I met with the education director and he said if I

Team Fiona: A Conversation with Christina Gorsuch, Curator of Mammals at the Cincinnati Zoo

After spending time at three other zoos, Christina Gorsuch became Curator of Mammals at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2015. She oversees the care and husbandry of a wide variety of animals from lions to black rhinoceroses to Asian elephants to Mexican wolves to African wild dogs. However, soon Gorsuch would become most associated with hippos when she became social media famous as Coach of Team Fiona, the animal care team responsible for caring for the zoo's prematurely born hippo. He

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

Reaching People: A Conversation with Ted Beattie, Retired President of the Shedd Aquarium

Since starting at the Cincinnati Zoo in the late 1970s to his retirement from the Shedd Aquarium in 2016, Ted Beattie was one of the most iconic and well-respected leaders in the zoo and aquarium profession. His work in marketing paved the way for zoos to market their exhibits and bring in guests through events and experiences like Zoo Lights and Boo at the Zoo. Beattie helped put both Zoo Knoxville and the Fort Worth Zoo on track to grow and develop during his stints as dire

A Gateway to the Appalachians, Education and Nature Play: A Conversation with Chris Gentile, Directo

With over two decades of zoo experience, Chris Gentile serves as Director of the Western North Carolina Nature Center and has led a renaissance there. Additionally, he has previously won awards as a zoo educator and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Gentile is determined to use the WNC Nature Center as a gateway to locals and tourists understanding the natural diversity and ecological value of the Appalachian Mountain ecosystem. Here

Creating a Better World for Animals: A Conversation with Gregg Hudson, President and CEO of the Dall

Since being privatized nearly a decade ago, the Dallas Zoo has become regarded as one of the best zoos in America. In that time, the zoo has opened Giants of the Savanna, a groundbreaking African animal habitat complex that became the first American zoo exhibit to successfully integrate giraffes and elephants, and Simmons Hippo Outpost, featuring state-of-the-art homes for river hippos and okapis. The zoo has also significantly expanded its field conservation efforts around t

Breeding Endangered Species and Educating People About the Diversity of Life: A Conversation with Ed

Ed Maruska has one been regarded as one of the classic silverback directors of the zoo field. In a career that spanned nearly four decades, he led the Cincinnati Zoo to being one of the premier institutions in the country and helped establish breeding programs for endangered species within zoos. Maruska made several innovations during his tenure including opening the first insect exhibit at an American zoo and integrating gorillas in family groups. Although he has been retire

Hippos Underwater: A Conversation with Bill Dennler, Retired Director of the Toledo Zoo

During Bill Dennler’s twenty five years as Director of the Toledo Zoo, it evolved from a rundown, dysfunctional city zoo to a great zoo. It became the smallest market in the United States to have a zoo with over one million visitors a year. Dennler and his staff built transformational exhibits such a the Hippoquarium (the first filtrated hippo habitat with underwater viewing), Arctic Encounter and Africa while maintaining and upgrading the Zoo’s historic WPA buildings. He was

Serving the Community and Enriching the Gorillas at America's Greenest Zoo: An Interview with Th

In less than ten seconds of hearing him talk, you can tell Thane Maynard loves animals. You can hear it in his voice, attitude and expression. He is also very passionate about the vital role zoos play in saving species and inspiring changes in human behavior to live more harmoniously with the earth. Maynard directs the Cincinnati Zoo, which has a rich legacy of breeding and caring for a variety of endangered animals. The zoo not only does this through science and research at

The Plight of the Sumatran Rhino: A Conversation with Terri Roth, Vice President of Conservation and

From gorillas to small cats, the Cincinnati Zoo has long been known for its great success breeding endangered species. This reputation has led to it being called the “sexiest zoo” by some reporters. Perhaps the Zoo's most renowned breeding success in its history was its Sumatran rhinoceros breeding program. It is the only zoo in America have ever successfully bred this species. These incredibly rare and elusive rhinos are critically endangered and distinctive because of their