The Anaheim Zoo- Zoo of the Future

[AnaheimZoo]

Hi, I'm AnaheimZoo. I'm a young adult/student who has a very ambitious goal of creating and managing (or being the general curator of) a world-class zoo, similar to Zooclaire13. Check out her thread as well when you have a chance.

I've already been on ZooChat for over a month now, and have had the opportunity to talk to very experienced members, like zooplantman and maguari, and want to thank them for the help they've given me while I've been on ZooChat. Anyway, I have almost no experience with animals, and I realize that has to change if I want to manage a zoo. However, my age restricts me from that, (I can't volunteer just yet) and I don't have a lot of money to visit zoos that much. An annual Bronx Zoo visit is all I have to look forward to, so the only satisfaction I get is looking zoos up online.

I tried to contact the WCS, (leader of famous Bronx Zoo) to ask what college degrees I should pursue and it's been weeks and still no answer... so I just asked zooplantman a few of my own questions and looked up zoo jobs and how to get them on sandiegozoo.org. I want to get started as quick as possible, while I'm still in school, but this summer I don't think I'll get much accomplished... Being in high school, is it okay that I can't start gaining experience right now? Can I afford to go the next year or two without doing much with animals? Is it going to have an effect on my dream?

My dreams for the Anaheim Zoo are that it will be the first zoo outside of Australia to have platypus, and it will be the first zoo in America to successfully breed saiga antelope. I want to work with some of the finest designers to create a "zoo of the future" with new styles of exhibition and educational exhibits. Immersion was introduced years ago, and I want to find the next level in animal exhibit design. [like that's gonna happen] It's a dream, remember?

Anyway, I know I didn't describe my dream much, but tell me your thoughts on my problem. Once again, to sum it up, will having no animal care experience before college effect my chances on fulfilling my dream? Thank you for reading.

 

[FBBird]

The Anaheim Zoo

Read as much as you can -- International Zoo Yearbook is a good start, talk to as many people as possible, get volunteering as soon as you can, perhaps with local wildlife conservation projects if there is no zoo within easy distance. Good luck.

 

[FBBird]

Anaheim Zoo

Platypus were maintained for years at the Bronx, decades ago, with some breeding behaviour, although they didn't actually lay. Try to get hold of Crandall's 'The Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity'. Nearly fifty years old, some of the husbandry is still current, and the history of the Bronx with almost every kind of mammal [no cetaceans] makes fascinating reading.

 

[Arizona Docent]

Anyway, I know I didn't describe my dream much, but tell me your thoughts on my problem.

Your problem is not so much lack of experience (although that is important). Your bigger problem is lack of money. If you really want to build from scratch a zoo of the future you will need at the very least several million dollars. Tens of millions would be more reasonable. If even the venerable Bronx Zoo that you are about to visit has had to close exhibits recently due to lack of funding, how do you expect to fund your endeavor?

A more realistic goal might be to find a good plot of rural land and use the existing natural landscape for exhibits - just put up fences around it. I have seen this done very well - two of my all time favorite zoos are like this (Northwest Trek in USA and Parc Des Felins in FRANCE). You will not get saiga or platypus any time soon, but you have to start somewhere and there are some more common animals that are fairly easy to obtain. Join the Game Ranchers Association (or whatever it is called) if you want hoofstock and join the Feline Conservation Federation if you want wild cats. This latter group (FCF) even has full legal guidelines listed by state for what is required to own an exotic cat in your area. You should also join the Zoological Association of America (ZAA). You can join now as an individual member and then get your zoo accredited by them once it gets going. This is much easier (and cheaper) to attain than AZA accreditation, although that should be a goal for down the line if you are serious about getting some of those really rare animals.

 

[Zooplantman]

There are, indeed, a number of young Zoochaters who want to start their "own zoo." And we tend to tell them that they need to get lots of land and lots of money. And volunteer at a zoo.

But reading @Anaheim Zoo's thread reminds me that serious zoos are almost never started by or owned by an individual. It's just too big an undertaking. And by focusing on the "me" and "mine", we lose sight of the collaboration of skilled people it takes to pull it all off. In recent decades, numerous communities have started groups dedicated to bringing together the resources to create a new zoo (or aquarium): investors, visionaries, animal specialists, visitor services specialists, economic development people, etc., etc. Some of these groups had very famous zoo celebrities or millionaires involved. Pretty much all have failed because the process takes years and each was begun when the world felt rich and now the world feels poor. AnanheimZoo can neither generate the funds, meet the right people nor - for that matter - have anything besides passion to offer anyone today. So let's concentrate on fixing that situation first.

Since AnaheimZoo is so young, he/she ought - IMO - to concentrate on getting education and experience. Think broadly. If you are too far from the Beardsley Zoo or the Bronx Zoo or Roger Williams Zoo to do anything, then look for local Nature Centers or even animal rescue places. It really doesn't matter. Just start where you can. If you are in high school now, then look at the best animal management colleges you might go to and work to get into one. Don't distract yourself with where the millions of dollars are going to come from. Build from where you are with what you've got. Hold onto the Big Dream and in time you'll gather around you the people whose support you need. Or else you'll become Curator at some existing zoo and discover that you are happy there.

If your zoo is to ever exist, it will be decades from now and who knows where. Don't let that be a distraction. Take the steps that are right in front of you and just keep going. You might get where you hope to or you might not, but you'll have the rewarding career you want. If you don't end up "owning" a zoo it will be because you found other things along the way too interesting.

OR, Plan B: forget all of this and start a Hedge Fund. At age 40 invest your billions in building a zoo and hire some terrific ZooChatters to manage it. That will also work.

 

[Victor Bonello]

hi, I envy AnaheimZoo, for is/her young age. I am about to retire and am investing in a small zoo. Already have a few animals but lacking the experience have been already conned when buying animals.
I decided to join here to learn more. I am in Malta a small but wonderful island bang in the middle of the mediterranean.
Are there any reputable animal traders in europe? how does on buy animals from zoos?
I have just bought a "pair" of putty nosed monkeys, but when they arrived found out they are 2 females.. where can i find a male?
any help much appriciated..

 

[AnaheimZoo]

But reading @Anaheim Zoo's thread reminds me that serious zoos are almost never started by or owned by an individual. It's just too big an undertaking. And by focusing on the "me" and "mine", we lose sight of the collaboration of skilled people it takes to pull it all off.

While I have never directly said this in any of my threads (because of my ignorance ), I know for a fact that I can't accomplish any of this by myself. I don't know how I forgot to mention that I would try to surround myself with close friends, (may they be current or friends I meet down the road) and other top-notch workers who will help me and take control of the many other duties needed to be taken care of at the zoo. And zooplantman, sorry if I seemed ignorant. And sorry I apologize for everything unnecessarily. I guess in my excitement of finally being able to talk to someone about my dream, I wasn't sure exactly what questions to ask or how to respond to receiving the information that would truly be a factor in what career path I would end up choosing. So that also goes as another apology, this one for my stupid questions and "What is this kid thinking?"-type comments.

In recent decades, numerous communities have started groups dedicated to bringing together the resources to create a new zoo (or aquarium): investors, visionaries, animal specialists, visitor services specialists, economic development people, etc., etc. Some of these groups had very famous zoo celebrities or millionaires involved. Pretty much all have failed because the process takes years and each was begun when the world felt rich and now the world feels poor.

Yes, that's something similar to what I thought would have to be done. Bringing in all the right people... but as you said, it's always failed...

AnanheimZoo can neither generate the funds, meet the right people nor - for that matter - have anything besides passion to offer anyone today. So let's concentrate on fixing that situation first.

Yeah... That'd be the wise thing to do. As I've said before (or at least I think I have), I'd be willing to put that ambitious dream (and all the platypuses and new, fancy schmancy exhibits) aside and focus on what's real and what can be done. I'm also open to anybody's opinion and advice.

Since AnaheimZoo is so young, he/she ought - IMO - to concentrate on getting education and experience. Think broadly. If you are too far from the Beardsley Zoo or the Bronx Zoo or Roger Williams Zoo to do anything, then look for local Nature Centers or even animal rescue places. It really doesn't matter. Just start where you can. If you are in high school now, then look at the best animal management colleges you might go to and work to get into one. Don't distract yourself with where the millions of dollars are going to come from. Build from where you are with what you've got. Hold onto the Big Dream and in time you'll gather around you the people whose support you need. Or else you'll become Curator at some existing zoo and discover that you are happy there.

Not important, but it's a he.

Anyway, as tempting as worrying about where the money's gonna come from and not having enough time to gain experience, I'll resist, and again try to do anything I can.

If your zoo is to ever exist, it will be decades from now and who knows where. Don't let that be a distraction. Take the steps that are right in front of you and just keep going. You might get where you hope to or you might not, but you'll have the rewarding career you want. If you don't end up "owning" a zoo it will be because you found other things along the way too interesting.

Phew, glad it's not 'cause I gave up. Just kidding!

OR, Plan B: forget all of this and start a Hedge Fund. At age 40 invest your billions in building a zoo and hire some terrific ZooChatters to manage it. That will also work.

That actually doesn't sound bad at all. That way I'd have a good 22-25 years to gain experience, knowledge, or anything extra that I think I'd need, and still have the money, degrees, and then the staff. Hmm... Sounds good. Thank you!

 

[AnaheimZoo]

This is much easier (and cheaper) to attain than AZA accreditation, although that should be a goal for down the line if you are serious about getting some of those really rare animals.

Wow. You make everything sound so easy and simple. You and zooplantman answer me quickly and straightaway, not like the WCS people... don't know why I didn't come straight to you ZooChat people with my questions and concerns.

 

[AnaheimZoo]

Platypus were maintained for years at the Bronx, decades ago, with some breeding behaviour, although they didn't actually lay. Try to get hold of Crandall's 'The Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity'. Nearly fifty years old, some of the husbandry is still current, and the history of the Bronx with almost every kind of mammal [no cetaceans] makes fascinating reading.

Thanks for the advice, and yes I remember hearing about the Bronx Zoo platypus. I meant to say first to breed platypus, too. I don't know if any of the Australian zoos bred them? How about you?

 

[Zooplantman]

...And zooplantman, sorry if I seemed ignorant. And sorry I apologize for everything unnecessarily. I guess in my excitement of finally being able to talk to someone about my dream, I wasn't sure exactly what questions to ask or how to respond to receiving the information that would truly be a factor in what career path I would end up choosing. So that also goes as another apology, this one for my stupid questions and "What is this kid thinking?"-type comments.

Really no need to apologize. I was writing with all of the Zoochatters who want their own zoo in mind.

Besides, all any of us can do is refer you to what has been done in the past... that doesn't mean nothing else is possible. Just take this stuff into consideration as you make your own decisions. Besides, we each speak from our own position, so take all the advice as Opinion. My career has been entirely serendipitous, so I happily recommend such an approach to others. Someone who set their sights on a goal and worked single-mindedly towards it would have a different and also interesting perspective and advice.
Keep going

 

[FBBird]

Anaheim Zoo

Platypus have bred [I believe perhaps twice, many years apart] at the Healesville Sanctuary and maybe one other place.
Fascinating as they are, I think one could make a case for leaving them in Australia and spending the time, money and effort on something a bit easier and maybe less secure in the wild.

 

[Chlidonias]

there have been several successful breedings of platypus in Australia at both Taronga Zoo and Healesville (at the latter both in their "platypusary" and semi-wild in the ponds). There are actually more successful platypus breeding records than successful echidna breeding records!

 

[AnaheimZoo]

there have been several successful breedings of platypus in Australia at both Taronga Zoo and Healesville (at the latter both in their "platypusary" and semi-wild in the ponds). There are actually more successful platypus breeding records than successful echidna breeding records!

Wow! Are you serious? Who would've thought!?!

 

[AnaheimZoo]

Really no need to apologize. I was writing with all of the Zoochatters who want their own zoo in mind.

Besides, all any of us can do is refer you to what has been done in the past... that doesn't mean nothing else is possible. Just take this stuff into consideration as you make your own decisions. Besides, we each speak from our own position, so take all the advice as Opinion. My career has been entirely serendipitous, so I happily recommend such an approach to others. Someone who set their sights on a goal and worked single-mindedly towards it would have a different and also interesting perspective and advice.
Keep going

I see.
I also find it more helpful when people give advice from their own experience, so it was very pleasing to know that not only was your entire career been serendipitous, but that you became a curator for the Bronx, a horticulturist for Cincinnati, and have done so many other things all without planning to! So who knows? Along the way, I may decide I don't want to start my own zoo, and may be happy where I am at that point like you said. I guess we'll see, and thank you for your help. Also, (hopefully for the last time) I'm sorry for being a little unclear before. I never intended to sound like, "Oh, hi, I'm AnaheimZoo and I want to create a world-class zoo utilizing my original exhibit designs and containing the animals I DEMAND to have in there."

Oh, and one final question:
[this is if I decide to bail on any other job more important than curator]
If the creator/manager or future visionary for the zoo, whatever you want to call it, decided to take up the position of general curator, would exhibit designers and designers for other things (like visitor kiosks, dining areas, etc) still go to him for approval of their designs? Like they jot something down, go to the curator and ask him if its acceptable...

If I was the visionary, the one who originally had the dream, could I do my curator jobs while overlooking their design work? In other words, could the owner take one job position and hire his closer friends (well, they don't have to be friends) to take COO, Marketing Managaer, etc?

 

[Chlidonias]

Wow! Are you serious? Who would've thought!?!

well echidnas are renowned for being very easy to keep and yet almost impossible to breed successfully.