Zoo Logic

Dr. Dino Martins is an entomologist and evolutionary biologist with a new book entitled Hidden Creatures: Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies, and the Wondrous, History-Shaping World of Parasites (Knopf). Growing up around animals in Kenya, Dr Martins travels the world investigating parasites and their hosts. With parasites making up about half of all biological species, he argues we need better an...

Many training conversations lately involve the buzz words Choice and Control.  In fact, zoological welfare programs often insist that choice and control form the foundation of good animal welfare, but are these behavior terms new or simply a rebranding of protocols trainers have been using for decades? Renown behaviorist, Ken Ramirez, Executive VP and Chief Training Officer for Karen Pryor Clicker...

As the oldest marine animal facility, the park known today as Marineland Dolphin Adventure in NE Florida has a storied past and for the longest time, it seemed to have an uncertain future. That is, until a grassroots effort to prevent the sale of the facility to developers over the past year prevailed against all odds. Now with local leadership and support, the team at Marineland has renewed optim...

James Misner is the owner and founder of the Kipos Group which is dedicated to helping organizations with their fundraising efforts. Given the extraordinary impact of DOGE cuts and the withholding of public funding by the current administration on nonprofit institutions across the political spectrum, James offers insights on how to navigate the current philanthropic environment. Whether one is see...

Recently, the zoological community said goodbye to a few remarkable and long lived animals, Katina, Seaworld's iconic killer whale matriarch and Slowpoke, a 50-year-old Pacific walrus.  Both animals had an impressive lifespan educating and inspiring millions of visitors, as well as, teaching generations of animal caregivers. Katina was not only the queen of Shamu stadium, she was a highly successf...

Kathleen Dezio has been the president and CEO of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums ( AMMPA ) for well over a decade. Her wealth of experience working in the Washington, D. C. area in the PR, public policy and trade association management space helps AMMPA's accredited facilities navigate the complex issues facing zoological institutions, especially those featuring marine mammals. I...

Best-selling author, Emmy winning actor, and animal advocate, Carolyn Hennesy returns to discuss her long recovery from a serious accident last fall. She talks candidly about the need to balance taking pain medication in order to heal and to be able to work with maintaining her sobriety of 25 years. She also comically assures fans she is still quite alive and did  not lose her leg despite rampant...

As a long time marine mammal trainer and educator, Madelynn Hettiger is the current Board President for the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association ( www. IMATA.org ).  She discusses the ways in which the organization works behind the scenes to assist trainers with networking, career development, and when necessary, during challenging times like COVID, employment interruptions from sever...

Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski is the founder and director of the Dolphin Communications Project and has been studying dolphin behavior and communication since 1990, with a focus on tactile, behavioral and acoustic signals employed by dolphins as they share information with each other and across groups. Her husband John Anderson is a veteran documentary filmmaker with nearly 40 years focused on the coasta...

On this our 400th episode of Zoo Logic , we are joined by Chris Dold, DVM, chief zoological officer for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.  While many are familiar with his veterinary career with the US Navy marine mammal program and later SeaWorld of Florida, Chris began his career as a trainer for Dolphin Quest. He discusses his role moving up the ranks to eventually lead the zoological program for one...

Taryn Gillson, Global Humane Society's regional director for Africa returns to discuss conservation efforts supported by their relatively new conservation fund of Africa. In one effort, students in Uganda are trained to become wildlife rangers in order to combat rampant poaching through snares and to provide sustainable occupations and incomes. Taryn also describes the extraordinary journey of one...

Children's author Christine Devane returns with her latest book, Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure . She discusses the importance of reading to young children daily to instill the habit of reading early in their lives.  Christine also discusses the importance of pet adoption like the real life characters in her book and gives potential authors some helpful advice on how to get started on the path to...

Previous Zoo Logic podcast guests, Drs. Bruck, Jaakkola, and Hill conduct original research with cetaceans and each has an extensive scientific publication record. They also have significant experience as journal reviewers. A recent "review" paper was published despite our panel of experts best attempts to adhere to sound scientific norms and the peer review process. After many many hours of analy...

Dr. Jonny Hanson's recent book, Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and Bears , 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 ex...

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. An...

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...

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 kne...

Dr. Dave Miller, DVM, PhD has a new chapter on euthanasia in zoological settings in the forthcoming second edition of V eterinary 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 m...

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 b...

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! Animal Care Software

Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski is the founder and driving force behind the Dolphin Communication Project . 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. Recentl...

Over four decades ago, little did writer and artist Kevin Eastman 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...

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, Kyle 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 interviewin...

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. Animal Care Software

At nearly 150 years old, the American Humane Society 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 work...