Zoo Logic

Zoo Logic with animal trainer, zoo advocate, and ZOOmility author, Dr. Grey Stafford, is a weekly conversation with zoo, aquarium, and animal experts about Nature, wildlife, pets, animal training with positive reinforcement, health and welfare, research, conservation, and education, sustainability, zoo politics, activism and legislation, and all things animals! On Zoo Logic, we’ll go behind the scenes with animal professionals and influencers from around the world to explore the latest Zoos News and issues affecting wildlife, wild places, and people. Communicating with humor, cool stories, and candor, we’ll discover the interdependent connection between civilization, conservation, and commerce.

Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and Bears 11/13/2025

Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and Bears Dr. Jonny Hanson's recent book, , 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, , is available at film festivals now. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/39016680

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Marineland (of Canada)? 11/06/2025

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Marineland (of Canada)? 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38933085

Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup 10/30/2025

Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38839535

Gorillas in Our Midst 10/23/2025

Gorillas in Our Midst 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? /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38751755

Modern Euthanasia in a Zoological Setting 10/16/2025

Modern Euthanasia in a Zoological Setting 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38600955

The Complex Legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall 10/09/2025

The Complex Legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38519960

Songs of Rwanda 10/02/2025

Songs of Rwanda 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! /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38413490

Dolphin Communication Project 09/25/2025

Dolphin Communication Project Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski is the founder and driving force behind the . 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38334160

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Kevin Eastman 09/18/2025

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Kevin Eastman Over four decades ago, little did writer and artist 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38270580

Animals Make Us Happier 09/11/2025

Animals Make Us Happier 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, 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 , an online community of individuals and professionals to "learn, share and heal." /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38176565

Perspectives 09/04/2025

Perspectives 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/38074395

Improving Animal Welfare Globally Across Species 08/28/2025

Improving Animal Welfare Globally Across Species At nearly 150 years old, the 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37992480

Aloha NEI TEC Podcast 08/21/2025

Aloha NEI TEC Podcast 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! /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37899660

Turtle Lovers' Guidebook 08/14/2025

Turtle Lovers' Guidebook 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: . 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37812715

Sarasota Dolphin Research Program 08/07/2025

Sarasota Dolphin Research Program 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 (). 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37714420

EEHV Breakthrough 07/31/2025

EEHV Breakthrough 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 . Following the death in 2010 of a 2-year-old elephant at the 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, (IEF), Colossal Biosciences, and the Houston Methodist Center for RNA Therapeutics. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37615275

Recordkeeping 07/24/2025

Recordkeeping 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37529295

The Mantis Collection 07/17/2025

The Mantis Collection 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 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37436815

Building Better Zoos and Aquariums 07/10/2025

Building Better Zoos and Aquariums After years working for Merlin Entertainments building and renovating major aquariums, architect Benedikt Schikora founded which handles project management in the hospitality, entertainment and tourism space. He's also a partner in the zoo and aquarium consulting firm, . 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37341255

Celebrity Encounters 07/03/2025

Celebrity Encounters 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37268150

Elephant Beach 06/26/2025

Elephant Beach 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37157940

One European Trainer's Perspective 06/19/2025

One European Trainer's Perspective 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! /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/37067055

Pangolins! 06/12/2025

Pangolins! 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36899065

Peer Review Crisis 06/05/2025

Peer Review Crisis 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36858150

Raising a Six Foot Preemie 05/29/2025

Raising a Six Foot Preemie 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 . 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36588110

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Tim Sullivan 05/22/2025

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Tim Sullivan 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. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36574465

World War Zoos 05/15/2025

World War Zoos John M. Kinder is director of American Studies, professor of history at Oklahoma State University and author of the new book, . He chronicles the horrific effects of war on zoos throughout Europe, the US and the South Pacific and the sometimes heroic efforts by keepers and the public to preserve their animal charges even in times of scarcity and personal starvation. Zoos that were spared bombing still had to wrestle with difficult questions such as which animals should be euthanized when food supplies were low? Or which should be killed to prevent the escape of dangerous animals? Kinder examines the era from the Great Depression through the Cold War and its cumulative effects resulting in the zoological institutions and some of the policies we see today. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36573890

Rewild Safaris 05/08/2025

Rewild Safaris Tom LaRock is a long time zoo administrator turned wildlife safari travel operator. He founded to connect his travel organization with conservation organizations around the globe working on the ground to solve problems and preserve species and habitats. For him, the meaning behind rewild extends beyond the effort to return species to recovered habitats but also to connect travelers with the wild and wildlife. Animal Care /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36381695

Leading America's First Zoo 05/01/2025

Leading America's First Zoo The Philadelphia Zoo is America's oldest zoological institution that takes pride in its history of firsts. Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO, exemplifies more firsts for the organization including serving as the first woman and first African American woman to hold the top leadership role. She describes how this urban Chicago introvert grew to love nature on her parents' front porch. She is candid about her personal interests which she realized in school did not include remote camping or field work, and the early and long hours of zookeeping. Rather, her work has largely focused on the people side of the preservation equation, by connecting with diverse audiences through conservation and education. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36376290

Colossal News 04/24/2025

Colossal News A few weeks ago, grabbed the world's attention when it announced the de-extinction of the Dire Wolf which last roamed the earth more than 12 thousand years ago, with the successful birth of three animals. Matt James, a long time zoo professional now serving as the company's Chief Animal Officer, discusses the science and technology behind the momentous announcement and the methodology's potential to help conserve extant but endangered species like red wolves. He also addresses some of the misinformation and misunderstanding about what this outcome has and has not achieved and where it may lead in the future. /episode/index/show/zoologic/id/36263510

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