Zion Wildlife Gardens Lion Man
- Thread starter MARK
- Start date
a great pity this place is run by idiots, and the experts they brought in to manage and direct the operation seem not much better. it has a huge potential, and there would be so many eager vollies willing to work to make the place better.
As someone else mentioned the concept of charging people to stay and work there actually work very well in places like South Africa.
The Big Cat Sanctury, in the US (as seen on Animal Planet) has such a program, vollies from all over the world including NZ pay to stay on the property and look after the animals and the grounds.
All Zion needs is a back packers type accommodation able to house half a dozen or so people, and they would be flooded out with applications.
I have paid for several vollie placements in South Africa, much of the fun is living and working with people who soon become good friends.
However they would need a people person to run it, and have some consistency in managment and operations to make it work.
As someone else mentioned the concept of charging people to stay and work there actually work very well in places like South Africa.
The Big Cat Sanctury, in the US (as seen on Animal Planet) has such a program, vollies from all over the world including NZ pay to stay on the property and look after the animals and the grounds.
All Zion needs is a back packers type accommodation able to house half a dozen or so people, and they would be flooded out with applications.
I have paid for several vollie placements in South Africa, much of the fun is living and working with people who soon become good friends.
However they would need a people person to run it, and have some consistency in managment and operations to make it work.
That's interesting that you (Phoneix and Ptig) say that about Tim Husband.
having now contacted him and him telling me that he sometimes looking in on zoochat.
I wonder if you would like to let him know who you really are and how you know him.
I have spoken to a couple of friends at Taronga zoo that know him and they speak very highly of him.
having now contacted him and him telling me that he sometimes looking in on zoochat.
I wonder if you would like to let him know who you really are and how you know him.
I have spoken to a couple of friends at Taronga zoo that know him and they speak very highly of him.
If you are in contact with him perhaps you might like to ask him to make public the reasons he is no longer there. The word is that he had conflicts with Pat Busch over improvements he wanted to make and decided to return to Aus. Tim is from Whangarei and still has family and friends here.
OK I have just got his reply
Zoochat
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From:
Tim Husband < [Chat now]
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To: westshane32@yahoo.com
Hello again Shane and thanks for your email. as I toldyou before I do look in from time to time on zoochat. to answer your questions about Zion.
I left because I had a contract in Bali that I had signed up to before the zion project started. I was asked to go to Zion to help sort it out and get the place reopen. I agreed to do that on the condition that both MAF and the management knew that it couldn't be for very long 6 months at the most. I had no problem with Mrs Busch and although it's true that there were many improvements that I wanted to make in the park. most needed a large injection of funds before anything could be done. and it's true that I do have many friends in Whangarei and the larger zoos in New Zealand. and most of them knew that I was only in NZ for a short time.
now as for someone saying that my reputation isn't that great. I have found this kind of comment comes from keepers with very little experance or even those that aren't working in zoos.
those kind of people don't worry me to much as it's management level or government departments that I normally have to deal with and in the zoo world if your no good then you don't get work, and i seem to be doing alright.
But as I said people on these kind of chat rooms often hide behind their computer to say things that they would never say to your face. if they did have the courage then they would be able to find me at most zoo conferences.
Anyway hope that helps and put's this to rest.
Cheers
Tim Husband
Zoochat
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From:
Tim Husband < [Chat now]
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To: westshane32@yahoo.com
Hello again Shane and thanks for your email. as I toldyou before I do look in from time to time on zoochat. to answer your questions about Zion.
I left because I had a contract in Bali that I had signed up to before the zion project started. I was asked to go to Zion to help sort it out and get the place reopen. I agreed to do that on the condition that both MAF and the management knew that it couldn't be for very long 6 months at the most. I had no problem with Mrs Busch and although it's true that there were many improvements that I wanted to make in the park. most needed a large injection of funds before anything could be done. and it's true that I do have many friends in Whangarei and the larger zoos in New Zealand. and most of them knew that I was only in NZ for a short time.
now as for someone saying that my reputation isn't that great. I have found this kind of comment comes from keepers with very little experance or even those that aren't working in zoos.
those kind of people don't worry me to much as it's management level or government departments that I normally have to deal with and in the zoo world if your no good then you don't get work, and i seem to be doing alright.
But as I said people on these kind of chat rooms often hide behind their computer to say things that they would never say to your face. if they did have the courage then they would be able to find me at most zoo conferences.
Anyway hope that helps and put's this to rest.
Cheers
Tim Husband
Thats not a bad response Shane, almost no time elapsed since you said you would email him and you posting the reply from him on the forum.
However it contrats somewhat with what he himself told the media back in May of 2009.
Article here
Lion Man could get a new rival for his role as the pride of Zion's - Local News - Northland Northern Advocate
Mike Barrington | 21st May 2009
Email Story Print larger | smaller
Tim Husband with lions at the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve. Picture/Brian Cassey
Lion Man Craig Busch could face competition for his King of the Big Cats title.
Former Whangarei man Tim Husband, 47, who with his wife Wendy runs the Zooworks animal consultancy in Australia, has been in discussion with Zion management over becoming the operations manager at Zion Wildlife Gardens.
They told the Northern Advocate they understood a few people had been short-listed for the job and they had not yet been notified of Zion's selection decision.
"If Zion did require our services, it would be something we may consider in the future, but in the meantime we are working on a zoo project here in Australia."
A Zion Wildlife Gardens communications officer said yesterday Mrs Busch had no comment on Zion developments at this stage
However it contrats somewhat with what he himself told the media back in May of 2009.
Article here
Lion Man could get a new rival for his role as the pride of Zion's - Local News - Northland Northern Advocate
Mike Barrington | 21st May 2009
Email Story Print larger | smaller
Tim Husband with lions at the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve. Picture/Brian Cassey
Lion Man Craig Busch could face competition for his King of the Big Cats title.
Former Whangarei man Tim Husband, 47, who with his wife Wendy runs the Zooworks animal consultancy in Australia, has been in discussion with Zion management over becoming the operations manager at Zion Wildlife Gardens.
They told the Northern Advocate they understood a few people had been short-listed for the job and they had not yet been notified of Zion's selection decision.
"If Zion did require our services, it would be something we may consider in the future, but in the meantime we are working on a zoo project here in Australia."
A Zion Wildlife Gardens communications officer said yesterday Mrs Busch had no comment on Zion developments at this stage
Kiwipro
I can only cut and paste what he sent me. I can't make comment on what he has sent me. but seeing as how you are in NZ why don't you ask MAF or Lynn Anderson Director of Orana Park in Christchurch. he did say that he had friends in the larger zoo there and you are from Christchurch, I would imagine that she would know Tim. as for the news paper article, I think that most people know that what is written in papers can always be taken with a grain of salt (well most grown up's)
I'm not having a go at you but seems unless you have worked with someone, you can't be saying things about them. I haven't worked with Tim nor have I meet him but from the couple of emails that I got from him after I made contact with him and the stories from the papers it seems he only did a good job at Zion. and when you look at the zion web page you see that he did have other work to go to before he started at Zion.
so I guess what i'm saying is that maybe some should dig a bit deeper before saying anthing. Oh and as for time it was 30 min before I got a reply to my email.
I can only cut and paste what he sent me. I can't make comment on what he has sent me. but seeing as how you are in NZ why don't you ask MAF or Lynn Anderson Director of Orana Park in Christchurch. he did say that he had friends in the larger zoo there and you are from Christchurch, I would imagine that she would know Tim. as for the news paper article, I think that most people know that what is written in papers can always be taken with a grain of salt (well most grown up's)
I'm not having a go at you but seems unless you have worked with someone, you can't be saying things about them. I haven't worked with Tim nor have I meet him but from the couple of emails that I got from him after I made contact with him and the stories from the papers it seems he only did a good job at Zion. and when you look at the zion web page you see that he did have other work to go to before he started at Zion.
so I guess what i'm saying is that maybe some should dig a bit deeper before saying anthing. Oh and as for time it was 30 min before I got a reply to my email.
RE: Zoochat
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Sun, February 7, 2010 4:12:58 PM
From:
Tim Husband <timhusband@hotmail.com> [Chat now]
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To: westshane32@yahoo.com
Shane
I really don't have time for all the stuff people say about me.
99% are only listening to wild story's and wouldn't know me if we passed in the street and the rest have nothing better to do then make up stories because they don't have the facts or because they don't like the fact that I have moved on and up (so to speak)
No I haven't been contacted by anyone other then you from the page and I wouldn't expect to.
Thanks anyway
Tim
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:54:12 -0800
From: westshane32@yahoo.com
Subject: Zoochat
To: timhusband@hotmail.com
Hi again Tim
sorry to be a pain but there has been talk about you on zoochat still and why you left zion. I cut and pasted your last reply to me but don't think anyone believed it was from you. one of the people on the page was going to contact you (have they?) to confirm that you had said what I put up.
I came to the zoochat page for info on animals and the people that care for them instead I find that there is a lot of ******-ness and people judging others with out knowing the facts.
Shane
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Sun, February 7, 2010 4:12:58 PM
From:
Tim Husband <timhusband@hotmail.com> [Chat now]
...
Add to Contacts
To: westshane32@yahoo.com
Shane
I really don't have time for all the stuff people say about me.
99% are only listening to wild story's and wouldn't know me if we passed in the street and the rest have nothing better to do then make up stories because they don't have the facts or because they don't like the fact that I have moved on and up (so to speak)
No I haven't been contacted by anyone other then you from the page and I wouldn't expect to.
Thanks anyway
Tim
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:54:12 -0800
From: westshane32@yahoo.com
Subject: Zoochat
To: timhusband@hotmail.com
Hi again Tim
sorry to be a pain but there has been talk about you on zoochat still and why you left zion. I cut and pasted your last reply to me but don't think anyone believed it was from you. one of the people on the page was going to contact you (have they?) to confirm that you had said what I put up.
I came to the zoochat page for info on animals and the people that care for them instead I find that there is a lot of ******-ness and people judging others with out knowing the facts.
Shane
ZYBen
Well-Known Member
timhusband@hotmail.com very professional e-mail for a supposed professional zoo consultant. I'm not buying it, either you are making it all up, or it is you Tim?
Lion Man threads always become so interesting.... 
don't really care if you buy into it or not. most people have personal email address's and professional email address. I first contacted him though his zooworks address and he replied with this one this time others have come from his Bali Safari and Marine Park address.
I know that this kind of site attracts trolls but I'm not one.
I know that this kind of site attracts trolls but I'm not one.