Zoo Logic – Details, episodes & analysis

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the significant birth of several weedy seadragons.  It is the first successful birth of these uncommon animals at Columbus, one of only a handful of institutions that have successfully bred seadragons.  Senior Aquarist Aaron Jeskie, who was instrumental in the successful outcome, describes these unique creatures and some of the reasons they are so challenging to display and maintain.

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Jasmin Graham describes her unique path as a shark scientist at Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium, as well as, her efforts to increase diversity among the biological sciences, especially in marine science. She's also the president and CEO of Minorities In Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to "see representation of gender minorities from historically-excluded communities of color and the Global South in shark, ray and other marine sciences is the norm rather than the exception."  Her new book is entitled "Sharks Don't Sink: adventures of a rogue shark scientist."

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Best selling author, Emmy winning actor, and fierce animal advocate, Carolyn Hennesy returns to discuss her recent comments at the annual meeting of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) about how zoos and aquariums can begin to build better relationships with entertainers and influencers. In many instances, entertainers and those who work behind the camera inside the film and television industry have to be concerned about what supporting modern zoos and aquariums may do to their careers and future employment prospects. Carolyn encourages us to be persistent, inviting, and accommodating to those we wish to recruit into helping educate the world, including our detractors, about the important work of conservation we do.

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For nearly 100 years, the Sacramento Zoo has operated on approximately 14 acres. As a result of improvements in animal welfare standards, many of the iconic charismatic species the zoo once displayed are no longer featured due to space. Soon after becoming CEO, Jason Jacobs began investigating what it would take to modernize the current zoo or relocate to a larger location. The analysis concluded that modernization of the existing zoo would cost about as much as the first phase of a new facility on 60 acres. A new zoo would permit the return of some iconic species and the care and display of larger populations. Jason provides insights on potential design and guest interaction concepts drawn from visiting hundreds of zoos and aquariums from around the world.

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KONG Zoo

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As the song Collide states, even the best fall down sometimes.  That was the situation in 2020-2021 when one of the premier zoological institutions in the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, stumbled as a result of poor judgment by a few in leadership. Stepping into the fray was long time Texas State Aquarium CEO Tom Schmid to answer the call to restore stakeholder trust in the organization. Tom describes his efforts to rebuild the institution's reputation and plans for future growth and reinvestment.  He speaks frankly about the organization's loss of accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which some have deemed unfair, even as it earned accreditation through the Zoological Association of America and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. And no conversation about the zoo's past, present or future can be complete without mention of the contributions by the one and only Jungle Jack Hanna.

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KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

As the newer director of Turtle Back Zoo with an all female senior leadership team, Dr. Jilian Fazio discusses the growing demographic shift in zoological professions towards greater diversity. As more women assume leadership roles, what does she believe are some of the long term implications for the zoo and aquarium community?  Plus, as the leader of her organization how does she adjust to the typical and often rapid-fire highs and lows of working with animals.

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KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

Clay Carabajal got his zoological start as a "show host" at SeaWorld of Texas. While not exactly the role he envisioned at the marine mammal park as a young man, he turned it into one opportunity after another over a 17-year span. The lessons learned served him well as an educator and ambassador animal presenter. Following the examples set by his mentors Julie Scardina and Jungle Jack Hanna, Clay launched his own YouTube channel featuring wild animals and facilities, which he now conducts from his new base camp at the Abilene Zoo.

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KONG Zoo

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About 5 years ago, a month old beluga whale calf from the endangered subpopulation of cetaceans native to Cook Inlet Alaska stranded on a mud flat. Much to the surprise of initial responders from the Alaska Sealife Center, the little male was still alive but in serious condition. Over the next serval days and weeks, members of the marine mammal zoological community rallied from across the U.S. to provide medical resources and staffing to provide him around the clock care. By early 2018, NOAA Fisheries deemed the young whale non-releasable due to his young age, health status, and lack of survival skills. The government decided the best location to continue his recovery was with the large beluga pod at SeaWorld of Texas. Curator Katie Kolodziej  describes this remarkable young cetacean named Tyonek and the process of introducing him to his new pod of beluga whales and the instrumental role one special pacific white-sided dolphin played in his success.

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KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic

How do we describe the last of any living thing, plant or animal? Is there even a word for something, some individual that is the last of its kind?  And does it matter? According to scientist and historian, Dr. Lydia Pyne, one useful word may be, "Endling." In her new book, Endlings: Fables for the Anthropocene, she explains why these “last individuals” are poignant characters in the stories that humans tell themselves about today’s Anthropocene.  From Benjamin the thylacine to Celia the ibex to Lonesome George the Galápagos tortoise, endlings, Pyne argues, have the power to shape how we think about grief, mourning, and loss amid the world’s sixth mass extinction.

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KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic Podcast

Growing up in the United Kingdom, Will Elgar told his mom he was going to be either an astronaut, dolphin trainer or stunt man.  Given the lack of cetaceans in the UK, working with dolphins seemed unlikely, but Will eventually found a way. It turns out that his real passion was working with and training sea lions, which led him to new opportunities and species around the world. Recently named as the director of Zoo Miami in 2021, Will discusses how learning to train animals with positive reinforcement to develop relationships based on mutual trust has informed his skills as a manager and coach.

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KONG Zoo

Zoo Logic