Choice and Control

The care team at Tanganyika Wildlife Park is celebrating the survival of its young giraffe calf born several weeks early via terminal C-section two months ago. This extremely rare veterinary procedure for giraffe was made necessary as all indications suggested the experienced mother was unlikely to survive to full gestation and delivery due to suspected toxemia. Two senior members of the park's care team, Dr. Sam Russak and Jess Price, discuss the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the mother even as the team fought to save the calf.  Despite the long odds and hours, the team managed to help the calf achieve extraordinary benchmarks with  the help of other zoological facilities and experts.  While concerns about building her immune health remain, the team is optimistic about the calf's prognosis with visual introduction to the rest of the herd already underway. Animal Care Software

Lea Korsgaard is a journalist and best selling author who spent a season documenting all 64 butterfly species found in her native country, Denmark. A self-described newbie in the world of insects and field work, her motivation was "simply a hunger for beauty and a desire to dive into the mysteries of nature." When we all seem overly distracted by screen time and the macroscopic universe, Lea enters the world of the citizen entomologist to describe the fragile and minute world of the butterfly to remind us of the importance of slowing down and paying attention. The Butterfly Season is an international best seller and is now available in English. Animal Care Software

National Wildlife Federation's naturalist, author, and tv host David Mizejewski joins Zoo Logic to discuss the organization's many child focused programs designed to help families connect with Nature in their own backyards. From the classic Ranger Rick publications to promoting wildlife friendly gardening, NWF works to inform families about the importance of less screen time and more engagement with the very creatures and plants that share our world.  David discusses the many platforms NWF uses to meet people where they are including their new podcast with PBS Nature called Wild Critters USA.  The show gives younger kids the opportunity to ask experts questions about animals. Animal Care Software

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 and more research and a new generation of young scientists to understand these creatures and their impacts on human health, society and economies throughout history. Animal Care Software

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 Training returns to discuss the history, importance and limitations of these terms. Animal Care Software

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 optimism about its future and a research and education focused public display institution.  Kelly Fischbach, Zoological Director, Terran McGinnis, Communications Specialist, and Director of Research and Education, Dr. Jason Bruck discuss the latest events and plans for the historic facility. Animal Care Software

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 seeking recurring monthly gift-giving through smaller donors or large dollar contributions from wealthy individuals or foundations, James provides tips for building ongoing relationships through the power of storytelling. Animal Care Software

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 successful mother of eight calves across her 50+ years.  Chuck Tompkins was one of the first trainers to know and develop a strong relationship with Katina before moving up the corporate ladder and handing her day to day training and care to the next generation of trainers including Killing Keiko author, Mark Simmons. Both discuss these unique animals who left an indelible mark on so many. Animal Care Software

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. In what she hopes will serve as a model for future cooperation, AMMPA recently joined two other zoological trade associations in a joint conference meant to share resources, best practices, and promote continuous improvement in animal care and welfare standards.  Animal Care Software

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 online rumors. Carolyn closes with some fond memories of her late General Hospital castmates following the passing of daytime drama superstars, Tristan Rogers and Anthony Geary. Animal Care Software