Zoo Logic

Reflections from the field about the joyful resilience and reconciliation of the Rwandan people three decades after genocide claimed 1 millions lives and the parallel recovery of the tiny nation's wildlife and wild spaces.  Plus ecotourism there isn't just about mountain gorillas! Animal Care Software

Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski is the founder and driving force behind the Dolphin Communication Project. Its purpose is to engage students, collaborators, and members of the public in research, education, and conservation for the purpose of promoting the scientific study of dolphins and inspire their conservation. In her spare time, Kathleen also manages the peer-review journal, Aquatic Mammals. Recently, her decades of work was acknowledged through the Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation. Animal Care Software

Over four decades ago, little did writer and artist Kevin Eastman or his co-creator Peter Laird think their stand alone, self-published comic about 4 mutant turtles well-trained in martial arts would become the global, multibillion dollar franchise it is today.  Kevin describes his appreciation of meeting original and new generations of fans at various conventions around the world. Plus he shares insights for aspiring creators on what it takes to achieve artistic and publishing success. Most of all he answers the question where the inspiration of turtle superheroes came from based on his early childhood fascination with chelonians. Animal Care Software

Kyle Kittleson is a former marine mammal trainer and the author of  Wear a Wetsuit at Work, a guide book to help aspiring trainers how to land their first job. These days, Kyle has left the zoological field in favor of serving as a mental health advocate. Diagnosed with depression since he was nine, Kyle now combines his past training and media work with his own mental health journey interviewing renown therapists and physicians for MedCircle.com, an online community of individuals and professionals to "learn, share and heal." Animal Care Software

Tom Otten and Glenn Young have been working in key leadership roles with marine mammals such as orcas and terrestrial animals like elephants for decades. They share their insights into where zoos and aquariums have been and where they  might want to go while we still have time to preserve what's left of Nature. Animal Care Software

At nearly 150 years old, the American Humane Society is the world's oldest animal welfare organization. Its Associate Vice President of Conservation, Jill Nizan joins Zoo Logic to discuss its many programs designed to support improved welfare anywhere and everywhere through science-backed and evidence-based tools. Using independent experts across farm, zoological, entertainment, domestic, and working animal sectors, American Humane Society and its international brand, Global Humane Society, are improving the lives and helping to ensure the survival of millions of animals and those that care for them. Animal Care Software 

After five years and nearly 300 weekly episodes on animals, training, human behavior and much more, Natural Encounters' TEC podcast is hitting the long pause. Show hosts Ari Bailey and Chris Jenkins have decided now may be the right time to sunset the long-running, keeper-trainer favorite, now that Chris has accepted an executive director role at another zoo. The hosts discuss their mutual long history at NEI training animals and people, as well as, their favorite episodes and guests, as well as, a few that didn't quite make it!  Animal Care Software

Dr. Tony Monahan is an artist, writer and professional educator at City University of New York. His fascination with turtles from an artistic and conservation perspective led him on a nearly four-year journey to write: The Turtle Lovers' Guidebook.  With more than 500 photographs, the book features 164 public facilities across the U.S. where one can see these amazing creatures. In addition to celebrating the zoos and aquariums that exhibit turtles and tortoises, Tony provides readers with resources to learn more, including ways to conserve and protect wild populations. Animal Care Software 

Before even graduating high school, a young Randy Wells worked as an intern at Mote Marine Lab training dolphins as part of shark-dolphin interaction study. He would eventually become part of the world's longest running study of a population of wild dolphins known as the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP).  For decades, Dr. Wells has led the collaborative effort of veterinarians, researchers, students and volunteers to monitor and assess the behavior, biology and ecology of generations of resident bottlenose dolphins along the west central Florida coast. To date he has trained about 100 graduate students, written several books and chapters, and published well over 300 peer-reviewed papers on dolphin social structure, auditory function, physiology, anthropogenic threats to these animals, and more. In addition to serving as the program's director, Dr. Wells is VP of marine mammal conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago which has overseen the program since the late 1980's. Animal Care Software

Dr. Paul Ling is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Virology at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as an advisor to Colossal Biosciences. Following the death in 2010 of a 2-year-old elephant at the Houston zoo due to elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV), Dr. Ling formed a cooperative effort with the zoo and others within the community to address this highly lethal disease. Thanks to this partnership and significant funding from the Houston zoo, a mRNA vaccine was successfully introduced last year to a few vulnerable individuals at the Cincinnati zoo.  Other key partners in the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and ultimately, the vaccine include: Dr. Jeroen Pollet of the National School for Tropical Medicine, the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), Colossal Biosciences, and the Houston Methodist Center for RNA Therapeutics. https://www.houstonzoo.org/houston-zoo-leads-the-way-in-eehv-research/ Animal Care Software

After a long career as a wildlife manager and educator, David Kleven turned his zoological expertise and attention to improving animal welfare through better electronic recordkeeping. As President of Animal Care Software, he works with a range of animal facilities to use the power of smart phones to track animal behavior and health in the field and in real time. Recently, the cloud-based platform has been enhanced to include more than a dozen languages to better ensure accurate and detailed records by staff members whose first language may not be english.  Animal Care Software

What began as one man's dream to rewild the eastern Cape of South Africa with the Big Five a quarter century ago has grown into the Mantis Collection of eclectic eco-lodges, waterways, and curated eco-scapes throughout Africa and the Middle East. The name Mantis stands for Man and Nature Together Is Sustainable. Its CEO, Craig Erasmus, describes the unique brand and the company's goal of not just being concerned with sustainability like its competitors, but leading the hospitality industry as the experts in wildlife and habitat conservation, as well as, local community engagement. As such, its focus is on enhancing animal welfare, not just for rare and exotic species through its properties featuring safari experiences, but also common wildlife at its urban and suburban locations.  Animal Care Software

After years working for Merlin Entertainments building and renovating major aquariums, architect Benedikt Schikora founded  BSK Projects which handles project management in the hospitality, entertainment and tourism space. He's also a partner in the zoo and aquarium consulting firm, IZACS. We discuss the trends in zoological design, particularly those back of house aspects of animal care that have historically lagged behind today's modern, more enriching public display exhibits. One of the biggest challenges according to Benedikt is working across the many stakeholder groups from owners, curators, caregivers, and guests, while ensuring the well-being and safety of the animals. Animal Care Software

Sooner or later most zoological professionals will meet a local or national celebrity as part of their work. Some, like our guest Lanie Angeles, have met dozens or possibly hundreds of popular actors, musicians, politicians and other influencers as part of her long career in educational and media outreach. Sharing some of her most memorable encounters, both positive and not so positive, Lanie is quick to remind us that most celebrities, like everyday people, are enamored by animals, which offers an informal opportunity to educate and motivate those with larger platforms to get involved with conservation. Animal Care Software

Christine Devane is a former elementary school teacher with a new children's book entitled, Elephant Beach. The story revolves around a shy girl who just wants to read her book while at the beach and a nearby playful group of elephants with other ideas. Devane hopes that introverted kids can learn to try new experiences and that extraverted children can be patient with those who may need a little more encouragement to participate in new activities or to make new friends. Also, Dr. Jason Bruck returns to discuss unfolding events in the Mexico legislature this past week.  A bill likely to pass the Senate would prohibit all breeding of marine mammals in human care.  Dr. Bruck debunks this poor policy-making based upon widespread false narratives about the well-being of animals in zoological facilities and the myth of sea pen sanctuaries. Animal Care Software 

Pernilla Mosesson is a long time trainer from Sweden having started her career working with marine mammals.  We sat with her at the Johannesburg airport to hear her thoughts on the state of marine and terrestrial animal training across the zoological space.  While there are many similarities between European and North American facilities, particularly with regard to the current politics surrounding zoos and aquariums, there were a few surprising differences! Animal Care Software

Much has changed since Zoo Logic first examined six years ago the North American pangolin consortium formed by several zoological parks despite some pushback from the industry. Providing an update on the status of the species, the handful of animals living in human care, and the consortium is Mark Wanner is Associate Vice President, Animal Care & Conservation for Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Chair of the North American Pangolin Consortium. He describes their white bellied pangolin program which has resulted in several successful births, development of specialized diets, and the funding of in situ and ex situ conservation research. Animal Care Software

Dr. Jason Bruck returns to discuss the seemingly increasing erosion of the peer review process by some authors looking to expand their legitimacy through overuse of self-citations and passing opinion articles off as science. The most egregious offenders of the process produce commentaries devoid of data or that refuse to address credible criticisms or contrasting data sets raised by other scientists through peer-reviewed rebuttals. Jason describes what structural business model changes and other obstacles have occurred to scientific publishing which have contributed to the rise in dubious publications printed in historically rigorous journals. Animal Care Software

Susan Kleven is the long time director of the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX.  She returns to Zoo Logic to discuss her upcoming children's book telling the true story of Nzuri, a premature giraffe whose first time mother was unable to nurse or otherwise care for him.  Nzuri Grows Up: A Preemie Giraffe's Story coauthored by Jennifer Keats Curtis is due out in wide release this fall through Arbordale Publishing. Now more than six years old, Nzuri is thriving with the zoological team that beat the odds and gave this underdeveloped calf a chance at life. Animal Care Software

Behaviorist Tim Sullivan has been with the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for 47 years, nearly half the history of that leading institution. After two decades as a marine mammal trainer and leader, Tim moved to an internal consultant role at the zoo by guiding the change from free to protected contact with their elephant team. Needless to say those were challenging times early on, which led Tim to examine his teaching methods, not so much with animals, but with humans!  Since then he has temporarily (often for years at a time) led 4 other areas and departments.  These days he is happy to settle back into his role as behavioral coach for the entire collection and its animal care teams. He shares his insights on where we've been as an industry and where he thinks animal husbandry is headed in terms of an increasingly wholistic approach combining behavior, exhibit design, veterinary and nutrition. Animal Care Software