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 Engagement: A Conversation with Alan Varsik, Director of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aqu

The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma is unique in the zoo and aquarium world as it concentrates almost exclusively on animals from the Pacific Rim. Its sister facility, Northwest Trek, is even more unique as it only features wildlife from the Pacific Northwest. Its centerpiece is a 450-acre free roaming exhibit for North American hoofstock. Both facilities are on the cutting edge of environmental education, conservation and sustainability. In 2017, the Point Defiance

Desert Conservation Through Preservation, Education and Appreciation: A Conversation with Allen Monr

While his background lies primarily in aquariums, Allen Monroe was named President/CEO of The Living Desert in Palm Springs, California in 2014. The Living Desert is unique in the zoo world as it concentrates exclusively on animals from deserts around the world. Its mission is to achieve desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation. Monroe is leading the zoo into the future. Here is his story. @ The Living Desert Allen Monroe’s fascination with nature

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

Animals Rotating Habitats: A Conversation with John Walczak, Director of the Louisville Zoo

The Louisville Zoo has long been known for its appetite for innovative exhibitry. This is shown by its three AZA award-winning habitat complexes: Islands (the first American zoo exhibit to rotate large animals), Gorilla Forest and Glacier Run. Additionally, the zoo has taken a significant role in conservation by helping save the black-footed ferret from extinction. Since 2004, the Louisville Zoo has been led by John Walczak. Walczak's strong animal background, desire to creat

Exhibits Are Like Movies: A Conversation with Ace Torre, CEO and Principal of Torre Design Consortiu

For the last four decades, Ace Torre and his firm Torre Consortium have been household names in the zoo design industry. He has become renowned for his innovative habitat designs often incorporating strong cultural, architectural and historical themes. Notably, Torre master planned designed most of the key exhibits at the Audubon Zoo, the Memphis Zoo, the Lowry Park Zoo and the Virginia Zoo. Here is his story. @ Torre Consortium Torre started out in city planning with a stron

Arizona Center for Nature Conservation: A Conversation with Bert Castro, President/CEO of the Phoeni

Bert Castro has become recognized as a leader in the zoo field for his exemplary leadership at both the Oklahoma City and Phoenix Zoos. While in Oklahoma City from 2001 to 2008, he oversaw the development of Oklahoma Trails, the largest expansion in the zoo’s history up to that time. Since arriving in Phoenix in 2008, Castro has overseen several capital projects and has helped boost the zoo’s reputation. Here is his story. @ Phoenix Zoo Bert grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and oft

A Conversation with Brian Aucone, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation at the Denve

The Denver Zoo has long been one of the most well respected and popular zoos in the nation, starting with the 37 tenure of the late legendary zoo director Clayton Freiheit. Much of this is due to the zoo’s excellent animal care staff and one of its stars is Brian Aucone, the Zoo’s Senior Vice President for Animal Care and Conservation. Before coming to Denver, he was general curator and interim director at the Oklahoma City Zoo. here is his story. @ Oklahoma City Zoo A Colora

Positive Difference: A Conversation with Steve Wylie, Retired Director of the Oklahoma City Zoo

Few zoo directors have been as well liked by the American zoo community as Steve Wylie. He will always be remembered for his tenure as director of the Oklahoma City Zoo where he put the zoo on the path to being a great zoo. Beforehand, Wylie was an excellent curator who helped establish sustainable captive populations of a variety of species in zoos. Here is his story. @ Steve Wylie Wylie began his career at the Kansas City Zoo in the later 1960s. “After graduating from Nebra

Reimagining Spaces for Animals: A Conversation with Jon Coe, Legendary Zoo Designer

Jon Coe has been at the cutting edge of zoo design since helping to establish immersion habitats in the 1970s. Throughout the years he’s been the one to break the mold with revolutionary ideas for animal habitats: a space where gorillas live in a lush replication of the African rainforest, an African savanna where you can’t see other people looking out at the animals, animals such as tigers and orangutans rotating in a series of habitats and even trails that let animals explo

Zoophoria!

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

Rick Barongi

Former Director, Houston Zoo

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