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

Roaming the African Grasslands: A Conversation with Dennis Pate, Director of Omaha's Henry Doorl

Where can you go to trek through the rainforest, go on safari in Africa, walk through the desert, explore the underwater world of oceans and observe animals of the night up close? Omaha of course! Perhaps no zoo in the world is opening state-of-the-art habitats at the rate of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, which opened the spectacular African Grasslands last year, will be opening the Adventure Trail for children this summer and is currently building Asian Highlands. Even though Om

Rainforest, Savanna and Taiga in Seattle: A Conversation with Dave Towne, Retired Director of the Wo

During the late 1970s, zoo habitat design was at a crossroads. For decades, zoos had been places where guests merely went to see animals, almost always in spaces that did not give much consideration to their natural habitat or lifestyles. However, a design team named Jones and Jones in Seattle saw the potential for something better. They pioneered “immersion” habitats, which recreated specific bioclimatic environments from around the world. In this concept, animals live in na

A Life Devoted to the Modern Conservation Zoo: A Conversation with Zoo Legend Rick Barongi

The year is 1990 and Disney wants to build a fourth Florida theme park around animals and containing a replicated African safari. However, there’s one problem: the Imagineers who design the park knew little about how to build naturalistic habitats for animals and meet their needs. When Disney consulted legendary Bronx Zoo director Bill Conway, he recommended contacting Rick Barongi, then Curator of Mammals at the San Diego Zoo. While others likely would have said a massive sa