Zoo Logic

Dr. Jonny Hanson's recent book, Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and Bears, examines the contentious topic of reintroducing large carnivores to the islands of Britain and Ireland. Dr. Hanson's work explores conservation of apex predators and our relationship with these animals through the lens of social science, psychology, and history. In addition, he draws upon his experiences working with snow leopard conservationists in Nepal and around the globe. His new documentary, Snow Leopard Trail, is available at film festivals now. Animal Care Software

Key figures behind the Whale Sanctuary Project and other Canadian anti-zoo groups held an online meeting with about 500 attendees including our guest, Dr. Jason Bruck, to discuss the situation concerning 30 beluga whales living in limbo at the troubled Marineland of Canada facility. We discuss the group's plans to build in Nova Scotia and the gaps in their science, funding, and other arguments. Animal Care Software

Author Leokadia George has released her 4th children's book published by Briley and Baxter based on the real life endangered Mexican Gray Wolf named Trumpet. This special wolf lives at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York where George has volunteered for nearly a decade helping to care for this subspecies as well as red wolves. The WCC raises endangered pups that are often cross-fostered with wild wolves as part of the species recovery plan. Animal Care Software

Longtime zoo professional Alan Toyne has a new book describing his many years working with lowland gorillas at Bristol zoo, including two experiences hand-rearing baby gorillas.  Gorillas in Our Midst: A zookeeper's tale of hand-rearing baby gorillas published by Summersdale centers on the lives of extraordinary characters like a female gorilla named Kera, a lone hand-reared female that never knew how to be an adult gorilla herself. When Kera had to deliver by C-section, she failed to bond with her infant Afia. That's when Alan and his fellow keepers stepped in and provided around the clock care for her until such time as another female stepped up to raise Afia as her own. Years later, when another infant, Hasani, needed a surrogate, Alan and the team made the bold decision to train Kera for the job. Could the once ostracized gorilla that rejected her first infant learn to nurture another? Animal Care Software

Dr. Dave Miller, DVM, PhD has a new chapter on euthanasia in zoological settings in the forthcoming second edition of Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques, edited by Kathleen A. Cooney, DVM. In the chapter he and his co-author, yours truly, try to describe the additional pressures and considerations on euthanasia in public display situations. It is no longer enough to simply be aware of the latest methods of humane euthanasia across exotic species. Given all the legal, ethical, coworker, regulatory, and public sentiment perspectives in the age of social media, it is more important than ever for zoos and aquariums to adopt a wholistic approach to quality of life assessments and end of life decision-making. Animal Care Software

Few names are as widely recognizable in the global conservation arena than Dr. Jane Goodall. Her passing last week has prompted praise from around the world. Dr Samantha Russak, Curator of Research and Welfare at Tanganyika Wildlife Park returns to discuss the complicated legacy of her childhood hero. We discuss Dr. Goodall's transition from a first of her kind chimpanzee field researcher at her beloved Gombe Stream National Park to global conservation advocate.  Animal Care Software

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