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

The Elephant Man: A Conversation with Mike Keele, Retired Deputy Director and Curator of Elephant Ha

Since the birth of Packy in 1962, the Oregon Zoo and Asian elephants have been synonymous. The zoo's herd has long held celebrity status in the community, several elephants have been successfully born and the zoo has significantly contributed to the zoo world's understanding of the magnificent creatures. Over the years, the zoo has become a leader in elephant conservation in Asia. Much of the program's success is due to Mike Keele, who worked at the zoo for 42 years. He serve

Renew the Zoo: A Conversation with Chris Pfefferkorn, President/CEO of the Birmingham Zoo

After spending 18 years in leadership roles at the Oregon Zoo, Chris Pfefferkorn became Senior Vice President of the Birmingham Zoo in 2015. He was impressed by the zoo's willingness to take on a number of unique projects- such as establishing the first bachelor herd of African elephants in the nation, breeding a number of rare birds and being one of a handful of zoos to take part in the eastern indigo snake recovery program. Pfefferkorn is currently helping lead the zoo thro

Shoot High and Go for Broke: A Conversation with Steve McCusker, Retired Director of the San Antonio

The San Antonio Zoo has one of the largest varieties of animals of any zoo in the nation. Over the course of the past twenty years, the zoo has took important leaps into the modern age and reinvented itself as an institution devoted to conservation and innovation. Much of this success is due to Steve McCusker, who directed the zoo from 1994 to 2014. Here is his story. @ Steve McCusker McCusker began his career working at the Harvard Primate Center. “That was my first animal j

Second Nature: A Conversation with Dr. Jill Mellen, Former Education and Science Director at Disney&

For the past four decades, Dr. Jill Mellen has been one of the most influential people in zoo animal welfare. Doing her time as Education and Science Director at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, she helped raise the bar of animal care and conservation not just at her zoo but at zoos across the nation. Mellen is currently semi-retired but still serves on the Animal Welfare Committee at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and works as a zoo consultant. Here is her story. @ Jill

The Three Ps: A Conversation with Dr. Don Moore, Director of the Oregon Zoo

Known for its storied Asian elephant program, emphasis on environmental sustainability and commitment to protecting the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Zoo in Portland is one of the most progressive zoos in the nation. In the past twenty years, the zoo has opened several state-of-the-art habitats and will continue doing so in upcoming years. The zoo’s fearless leader is Dr. Don Moore, who has been in the zoo field since helping to turn around the Rosamond Giffor

A Conversation with Chuck Mayes, Architect Principal at The Portico Group

For over thirty years, the Portico group has been creating some of the very best zoo habitats ever built. The group has helped raise the bar of how zoos exhibit animals and give them environments to thrive. From savannas for lions and elephants to frigid waters for penguins and polar bears, Portico has done it all. One of the geniuses and founders of the Seattle based design company is Chuck Mayes. Here is his story. @ Portico Mayes started his zoo career at Jones and Jones,

Promoting Animal Wellness, Growing Plants and Letting Tigers Go Over Your Head: A Conversation with

For decades Tony Vecchio has been one of the most well-respected directors in the zoo field. Responsible for immense growth and success at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence and the Oregon Zoo in Portland, he is now director of the Jacksonville Zoo. Although the Jacksonville Zoo was already a very good zoo when Vecchio took charge in 2009, he saw it as an “opportunity to come to a great zoo and make it greater.” He expanded on the success of the zoo’s former director D

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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