ReBokeh: Fostering Visual Experience Inclusion
Zoo Logic
According to its founder, Rebecca Rosenberg who was born with low vision, the name ReBokeh is derived from a photography term "Bokeh," a technique in which all light sources are out of focus and blurred. Re-Bokeh then represents her organization's efforts to re-clarifying of what is out of focus. When this eventual bioengineer was 17 and looking forward to college, she looked at the technology options for the vast majority of visually impaired peopled and discovered that most were geared towards the nearly or completely blind or resorted to auditory-based solutions, bypassing any visual...
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What is the Role of an Accreditation Organization?
Zoo Logic
We begin season 8 of Zoo Logic with a frank conversation with Dr. Jason Bruck and Billy Hurley about the proper role of accreditation organizations, as well as, their limitations. When an accredited institution stumbles or allegations of poor animal well-being are made, what is the responsibility of accrediting bodies to investigate, act, and inform its members and the public as to its findings and remedies? Where is the dividing line between a professional trade organization's responsibilities to ensure adherence to its standards and guidelines and the government's legal authority to...
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Flaco the Owl
Zoo Logic
First time author Christine Mott has a forthcoming children's book entitled, Free Bird: Flaco the Owl's Dreams Take Flight by Lantern Publishing. The story for kids ages 4 to 8 is based on upon actual events surrounding the Eurasian Eagle Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo. The story enthralled people from around the globe as Flaco was recorded across Central Park for over a year before his untimely death. As an attorney Christine also describes her advocacy work on behalf of animals.
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What's New at the Zoo?
Zoo Logic
While most North American zoological parks are still weeks away from the start of their summer high season, a few desert southwest facilities are already deep into their peak season. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park president Kristy Hayden returns to discuss the latest additions to their collection including a baby giraffe and an all new tiger habitat. As important as these megafauna are, Kristy insists it is important to look at animal welfare for all their species, especially as the zoo addresses some of the older original portions of the facility. Standards are different from...
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From Swim to Service Animal Training
Zoo Logic
Kristi Gravrock is a long time animal trainer having worked with dogs, horses, orcas, cats, dolphins and more. Her passion for training goes back to her early childhood pets before her first horse. Today, when she isn't competing in dressage, she uses her decades of experience with zoological species to train service dogs and mini horses. While there are many similarities to training dolphins for swim programs and dogs or minis for hospital and nursing home visits, one key difference is the people involved. According to Kristi, unlike working in a zoo environment with other trainers,...
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New England Aquarium pt 2
Zoo Logic
It's our second installment talking with the management team at New England Aquarium following our recent three-day onsite visit with the pinniped and penguin department. With so much institutional and operant conditioning change affecting not only the animals' overall management through greater training and enrichment, but the employees' work experiences and responsibilities, how are the aquarium's leaders helping their teams adjust and thrive? We talk with Associate Curators, Patty Leonard and Eric Fox along with managers, Rebekah Miller and Diana Major.
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New England Aquarium
Zoo Logic
We are on location at the New England Aquarium talking with long time animal trainer and curator of pinnipeds and penguins, Kristen McMahon. Under her guidance, this unique department has successfully blended animal care providers from different taxa into one productive training team which has improved the social well-being of all the animals. Kristen discusses the aquarium's focus not only on improving animal welfare and training efficiency, but also the work-life balance for all employees.
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petKORE: Enrichment for All Species
Zoo Logic
Since he was a young boy, KONG company founder, Joe Markham has been fascinated with animals of every kind. He credits his German Shepherd, Fritz with providing him long ago the inspiration for the famous beehive shaped pet toy. His latest venture is a labor of love to produce training and enrichment devices suitable for underserved zoo, aquarium, equine and farm species. Joining in the conversation about the challenges of developing larger natural rubber based toys for exotic species is long time animal trainer, Chuck Tompkins. According to Joe, making one of anything is relatively...
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Fustercluck
Zoo Logic
The new U.S. administration has put forth a slew of federal employee firings, funding freezes and cancellations, and agency reprioritizations since assuming office barely 1 month ago. One of the most notable moves has been the dismantling of USAID and a funding pause or in some instances, the elimination of the agency's projects to feed, educate, and/ or medically treat vulnerable communities around the globe. However, it's not just humans that will feel the effects of this humanitarian funding gap. Unknown to many, USAID also supports sustainable use, wildlife conservation, and habitat...
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Dixie Chicks
Zoo Logic
The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport recently announced the successful hatching of 2 endangered black-footed penguins. As a newer facility in a medium sized city, President and CEO Kurt Allen returns to discuss the State's historic hatchlings, the challenges of meeting public and financial expectations, and the importance of remaining adaptable to meet customer needs.
info_outlineJenna Palmisano is a doctoral student at the University of Central Florida tracking a parasitic tongue worm infecting nearly 2 dozen native species of snake, including the pygmy rattlesnake, and other ectotherms in central and southern Florida. While much is not known about this parasite, often referred to as a lung worm when it is actually a type of crustacean, it is believed to have been introduced by the many diverse invasive species, especially Burmese Pythons that are now endemic to Florida's rich biodiverse ecosystems. Jenna's field tracking and molecular work are attempting to identify where and at what rate the infestation has spread and to better understand the complex life cycle of this organism which has contributed to signifiant declines in native snake species. She helps manage a website to inform the public of this invasive disease and to recruit anecdotal data from citizen scientists.