Capron Park Zoo Capron Park Zoo News
- Thread starter BeardsleyZooFan
- Start date
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
So just post-college, so discounting all of my internship and volunteer years, I’ve been at 6 zoos in 15 years (one of those zoos was actually two sister facilities that I bounced back and forth between). 12 of those years were split between 2 zoos, one of which is my current job. My shortest tenure was 2 months at one particularly unsavory job. So 10 zoos in 30 years doesn’t strike me as that shocking.
That being said, I know a guy who’s been at his zoo for 55 years and still plugging along. I’m pretty sure he was feeding dinosaurs and mastodons when he started there…
That being said, I know a guy who’s been at his zoo for 55 years and still plugging along. I’m pretty sure he was feeding dinosaurs and mastodons when he started there…
From the article:
... On what planet is that unique? How are those sorts of things going to make people want to come back?
Digital/video displays are expensive, require staff to keep them updated, and break. A lot. Outside of somewhere like DAK, a lot of the biggest and best zoos in the country have tried videos. I almost never see people watching them, and they always reach a point after a few years where they're broken and don't get fixed.
I'm as confused as you are. I think only time will tell what this means in practice, but I'm not super optimistic.
Really I could tell the zoo exactly what it needs though: more animals. A number of exhibits are either empty or severely understocked, and even though I don't expect any major ABC animals, but just having what feels like a complete collection would help make visitors feel it is worth their while.
I'm not too psyched about the new director. Based on the gallery and news threads, Spring River Zoo seems relatively low-quality, with scandals from animal rights activists and many outdated exhibits (corn crib cages, small all-concrete bear pits, etc). If anyone knows anything about Wright's tenure at Spring River Zoo then I'd be happy to hear if he did in fact have any success in improving that place, but at this point in time I'm a little disappointed in this choice. Maybe Capron didn't have too many choices for new directors since they are in such a bad financial position, but Wright doesn't seem to have nearly as exciting a resume as someone like RWPZ's new director who came to Rhode Island straight from San Diego.
To be completely honest, I hadn't even heard of Spring River Zoo before reading the article. Looking at his Linkedin page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-wright-97a21326a), he's really worked at a wide range of institutions. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a very reputable AZA facility, and he served there as Curator of Mammals and Birds for a year right before Spring River. The Sun Chronicle article also mentioned from earlier in his career Disney's Animal Kingdom and Baltimore Zoo. Granted, someone at Capron will never have the resume of someone going to a major US zoo, and at least this new director's experience is mostly at traditional zoos rather than twenty plus years at Boston Museum of Science. Furthermore, some of Wright's experience is at smaller, public facilities, which means he is probably much better suited to deal with a budget and chain of command such as the one Capron has than the last director did.
Worth noting that Loveland only opened in 2014 (and had a small mall location for a decade prior to that). Baltimore Zoo didn't have a fantastic reputation near the end of its period of being Baltimore Zoo, either; that was part of why they re-branded with a name change.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Minor point of order, The Baltimore Zoo did not have a particularly bad reputation at the turn of the millennium - it was actually a fairly well thought of facility with a lot of impressive conservation and breeding credentials. If anything, the zoo’s reputation suffered after the name change, when it lost several of its best known and most respected staff in the layoffs that accompanied the downsizing of the collection.
the name change to Maryland Zoo in Baltimore was kind of a condition about funding, recognizing the greater role the state would be playing in funding the zoo. It’s been suggested, not completely without merit, that it was also part of the feud between Baltimore’s Democratic mayor and Maryland’s Republican governor at the time, who would be facing off in an election not that long after the name change and were trying to thwart one another
the name change to Maryland Zoo in Baltimore was kind of a condition about funding, recognizing the greater role the state would be playing in funding the zoo. It’s been suggested, not completely without merit, that it was also part of the feud between Baltimore’s Democratic mayor and Maryland’s Republican governor at the time, who would be facing off in an election not that long after the name change and were trying to thwart one another
I was under the impression the lack of funding, combined with the outdated enclosures, was causing the zoo to not have the best reputation at the time? I didn't know about the election part though, that's interesting. They've been doing alright in recent years, at least <3
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
I won't derail the Capron Park thread too much more, and if you have any questions about Baltimore feel free to PM! The Zoo's herp department and bird department were extremely well respected (it's amazing how much of the current leadership in AZA zoo bird departments across the US originated in Baltimore), and those were the parts that were the most impacted during the transition.
I'm not surprised at the impression you were given, though. I've noticed a major tendency of the Maryland Zoo to downplay conditions and accomplishments of the Maryland Zoo and pretend everything that happened was for the best, rather than a terrible loss. Sour grapes, I suppose...
(If it's not obvious, I have a lot of history with The Baltimore Zoo and am very quick to defend its honor)
I'm not surprised at the impression you were given, though. I've noticed a major tendency of the Maryland Zoo to downplay conditions and accomplishments of the Maryland Zoo and pretend everything that happened was for the best, rather than a terrible loss. Sour grapes, I suppose...
(If it's not obvious, I have a lot of history with The Baltimore Zoo and am very quick to defend its honor)
Last edited:
gardener14
Well-Known Member
The new director's ideas about story-telling through videos is likely a dream of his that is beyond the scope and budget of a small zoo. However, I wonder if his "think big" approach helped him get the job even if it's unrealistic.
Beyond necessary infrastructure upgrades, such as new roofs, Capron needs two things: new animals and engagement.
Many of their exhibits are empty or sparsely populated, and that's a turnoff to visitors and a factor in repeat visits. Beyond filling existing habitats, a new habitat, even a small one, would do wonders to entice new visitors to come. Some buzz on social media and local news would get the word out with minimal expense.
Engagement would do wonders for return visitorship, and engagement doesn't require expensive digital displays. Making staff more available for interactions with the public would engage, entertain, and inform visitors in a way that they would enjoy their visit and more likely return. This involves things like keeper chats, education tables, small animal encounters, and being present and approachable for questions. It has the added benefit of being a much more personal approach. Updated quality signs can also engage visitors for less cost than digital displays.
I'm very surprised that the article mentioned nothing about adding animals to the shrinking collection as I think that should be a priority.
Beyond necessary infrastructure upgrades, such as new roofs, Capron needs two things: new animals and engagement.
Many of their exhibits are empty or sparsely populated, and that's a turnoff to visitors and a factor in repeat visits. Beyond filling existing habitats, a new habitat, even a small one, would do wonders to entice new visitors to come. Some buzz on social media and local news would get the word out with minimal expense.
Engagement would do wonders for return visitorship, and engagement doesn't require expensive digital displays. Making staff more available for interactions with the public would engage, entertain, and inform visitors in a way that they would enjoy their visit and more likely return. This involves things like keeper chats, education tables, small animal encounters, and being present and approachable for questions. It has the added benefit of being a much more personal approach. Updated quality signs can also engage visitors for less cost than digital displays.
I'm very surprised that the article mentioned nothing about adding animals to the shrinking collection as I think that should be a priority.
Wrongful marketing...and rebranding. All that is mostly required is good investment in imaginative exhibits and more diversity in animal and plant collection and above all engaging displays. This will bring back a smile to staff on face and Pride in their institution and free engagement with visitors.... More than any digital story telling could ever accomplish.
And especially in terms of volunteers this used to be an area Capron excelled at. Unfortunately, just like many other volunteer-dependent programs, COVID-19 put a big toll on it by reducing recruitment. Indeed, this is an area for the zoo to evaluate the existing programs, and consider an overhaul if necessary to improve them.
Indeed. If I was to consider my recent visit, and compare it to what these exhibits used to be like, there are some notable weak spots (this isn't considering exhibits that animals were off-exhibit due to weather, such as the lemurs):
- Australia: down to a single red kangaroo, one emu, and the African spur-thigh tortoise. This is certainly an exhibit to evaluate the future of, as it would be a great opportunity to either bring in some new kangaroos or look into replacing it with something that's a big draw (my personal top choice would be maned wolves).
- Sloth Bear: currently empty since Vicki went to Smithsonian. Granted, it has only been a few months and hopefully the zoo has a plan for this space in the future, as it is one of the largest exhibits and a great opportunity for something new (either another sloth bear or a new species)
- Reeve's muntjac: this former warty pig exhibit is simply too large for only a single muntjac, especially considering muntjac can be successfully mixed with so many other animals. I'd love to either see the muntjac moved into the next-door crane exhibit (freeing this habitat for something new), see the zoo get a larger herd of muntjac, or mix the muntjac with something new (e.g., some sort of pheasant)
- former nocturnal building: half of the exhibits in here are empty. These are the perfect opportunities to think about new animals, and especially now that the building doesn't have much of a theme to it there's a lot of flexibility in terms of small mammals, birds, herps, etc. that could go here.
- Rainforest aviary: This is an area where the animals have dwindled. Victorian crowned pigeons, turacos, and crested wood partridges were all big losses, and the zoo could certainly benefit from basically any new birds to breathe new light into the exhibit.
gardener14
Well-Known Member
I believe the muntjac must be a very recent addition. For a long time that exhibit was empty. Last summer it housed the tortoise that's usually with the kangaroo and emu. On my last visit in November that exhibit was empty again, so I assume the muntjac is new. Maybe they're looking to aquire a mate.
Muntjac are underrated, I feel. There's a non-AZA zoo I've been to that has a pretty big herd, 15-20 animals and usually at least one fawn, and it's so cool to see! It's a large exhibit that's split down the middle so it can be turned into two (though I've always seen it open), so animals can choose to go to either side and hang out with whatever friends they want.
Don't get me wrong, I think muntjac (and all small ungulates) are awesome. However, by only having one muntjac in a sizeable exhibit it feels understocked, I'd love it if instead the zoo had a herd of 3-4 muntjacs in there, or put the muntjac in a mixed-species display.
Torgos
Well-Known Member
I bet Capron would like to find something more exciting than a solitary muntjac! I think Zoochatters in general may simply not know that there is nothing harder to acquire right now within AZA than smaller mammals and it's even worse if the exhibit is not covered with mesh - you rule out cats, small primates, coati. Even a single muntjac is challenging.
It amused me that recently saw someone on Zoochat criticized the fact that in a certain exhibit at my zoo we replaced a rare and sexy species with a very common species. Guests like the replacement species as much as the previous species so we scored okay on the most important front. We had to work to find ANY mammal to replace the previous animals after they died given that we all agreed it should stay a mammal exhibit which is not meshed over and we didn't really need another crane exhibit. No available pudu or muntjac (plus our state bans cervid shipments for fear of deer wasting disease), we already have mara, cape porcupine and bat-eared foxes, fennecs would love it but completely invisible in 1800 s.f. of grass and shrubs. What's left? Mammal crumbs
I was even offered the ancient pair of non-breeding aardwolves at Cincinatti but that wasn't going to fly. Sigh.I definitely remember reading somewhere on here about the difficulty zoos have faced in acquiring North American porcupines... and that's a species often with the perception of being "common" in zoos. Yeah, unfortunately a lot of the small, often-used-as-ambassador type mammals have a lot of zoos hoping to exhibit them, but not a lot of zoos dedicated enough to breed them. May I ask what the "very common species" you ended up with was?I bet Capron would like to find something more exciting than a solitary muntjac! I think Zoochatters in general may simply not know that there is nothing harder to acquire right now within AZA than smaller mammals and it's even worse if the exhibit is not covered with mesh - you rule out cats, small primates, coati. Even a single muntjac is challenging.
It amused me that recently saw someone on Zoochat criticized the fact that in a certain exhibit at my zoo we replaced a rare and sexy species with a very common species. Guests like the replacement species as much as the previous species so we scored okay on the most important front. We had to work to find ANY mammal to replace the previous animals after they died given that we all agreed it should stay a mammal exhibit which is not meshed over and we didn't really need another crane exhibit. No available pudu or muntjac (plus our state bans cervid shipments for fear of deer wasting disease), we already have mara, cape porcupine and bat-eared foxes, fennecs would love it but completely invisible in 1800 s.f. of grass and shrubs. What's left? Mammal crumbs
Hence Southern Tamandua and Kinkajou still rely way too heavily on imports... similarly plenty of places want seriemas and European Legless Lizards but hardly anyone actually breeds them...
Mary
Well-Known Member
Oh my, tell me more about the aardwolves?!I bet Capron would like to find something more exciting than a solitary muntjac! I think Zoochatters in general may simply not know that there is nothing harder to acquire right now within AZA than smaller mammals and it's even worse if the exhibit is not covered with mesh - you rule out cats, small primates, coati. Even a single muntjac is challenging.
It amused me that recently saw someone on Zoochat criticized the fact that in a certain exhibit at my zoo we replaced a rare and sexy species with a very common species. Guests like the replacement species as much as the previous species so we scored okay on the most important front. We had to work to find ANY mammal to replace the previous animals after they died given that we all agreed it should stay a mammal exhibit which is not meshed over and we didn't really need another crane exhibit. No available pudu or muntjac (plus our state bans cervid shipments for fear of deer wasting disease), we already have mara, cape porcupine and bat-eared foxes, fennecs would love it but completely invisible in 1800 s.f. of grass and shrubs. What's left? Mammal crumbs