LIncorn Park Zoo will start in 2022 with a new CEO. For the first time in the institution’s 154-year history, it is led by a female and scientist Megan Ross. (Past leaders, including Merlin Perkins, continued long-term activities Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Mutual, And retiring CEO Kevin J. Bell has risen to rank as a zookeeper and curator. Lester Fisher, who was the public face of the facility from 1962 to 1992, was a veterinarian by training. )
With a PhD in Psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology, Ross has been at the Lincoln Park Zoo for over 20 years. She talks about how scientific tools (including ZooMonitor, a mobile app developed in 2016 to collect data on animal behavior) can help zoos create better experiences for animals and visitors. I shared some of my insights with us.
What was your first visit to Lincoln Park Zoo in 2000?
I got a dream job.They had an open position to become a bird curator here, and birds have always been [taxon] What I feel passionate about. I think I always felt a friendly spirit. I came to the interview with the intention of acquiring really good interview skills. I was unaware that I was actually offered a job. I’m here very excited about the scientists, how to better understand birds, what they need, and whether we care for or protect them. Because he leads a team of individuals on how to become the best defender of birds.
Do you think the scientific foundation is evolving even when you were working at Lincoln Park Zoo? Have you ever seen more buddies move to this kind of position?
Most zoo directors are not scientists at this time. However, Lincoln Park Zoo is a very positive institution for scientists to use. We started with a PhD in the Nature Maintenance Science Program in the late 80’s, but now we have 40 scientists. I came here as a bird curator, but Lincoln Park Zoo’s reputation for using science to understand how to best care for animals here and the corresponding animals of animals. I was keenly aware of it. wild.
Tell us a little bit about the development of ZooMonitor and how it is being adopted by other zoos.
I pioneered Zoo Monitor. Here we will tell you how to use the data to determine how to care for the animal. And one of the moments I was very proud of when I was a bird curator was when the staff was asking about the aggression of penguins. And I can answer the question, “Well, do we really make them more aggressive by adding rocks to our habitat?” And the way to do that is to collect data. “
Fast forward for almost 10 years and said, “Why don’t you create a tool that can collect data in a way that can automatically aggregate the data?” As a result of that pooled information, you can ask robust databases such as “Where do animals like to spend their time?” What are the areas they are avoiding? Do they spend different times while the temperatures are different? Are there any differences in their behavior when we make different business decisions? “
For some of our seeds, they prefer shade. Therefore, actually change the habitat to add more shade. In the case of hippo, we find that they are not as adventurous as possible and are usually foraging in the wild. So we added different feeding strategies to make them spend more time foraging. What we found was that our peers were asking questions like “How can I use it to help the animals in my facility?” And now we have released it for free and made it available in accredited zoos, aquariums, or sanctuaries around the world where we want to use it. It has been downloaded by over 700 agencies in 52 countries around the world. We are not only using science, we are also encouraging other institutions to use it.
Could it not have been easy for the zoo to achieve during the 2020 closure period if it could keep up with the normal flow of visitors?
We collect animal data every day, so we could see the difference between animals when people are here and when they aren’t. Some species did not change their behavior at all. Our Japanese macaques were very busy in their social life and were not very interested in what the general public was doing. On the other hand, it seems that our penguins never participated in mass surveillance before the pandemic. When I shut down for three months and came back, I began to notice that the penguins were actually seeing visitors more than ever.
We focused very much on “how to care for pandemic animals”. Especially because some species, such as gorillas and chimpanzees, are very susceptible to the same diseases that humans suffer.
In 1912, the historic lion’s house was renovated into the Pepper Family Wildlife Center. It was a $ 41 million project.this [recently] Although it has opened, I think that the construction work that has been suspended has made great progress.
Zoos are still facing criticisms of their mission from animal rights groups. How would you describe the evolution of a facility like Lincoln Park Zoo?
The zoo is serious about being a fortress of science and a fortress of conservation efforts. Our mission here at Lincoln Park Zoo is to connect people with nature. If you have no connection to animals and are really grateful to see them, then you have a complete understanding of how to take care of them in other parts of the world, or even where you live. I don’t think.
Some species are completely zoo dependent. California Condor — Without a zoo, it wouldn’t exist in the wild. What are some of these species that have become extinct and recovered in the wild? The zoo played a major role in the event.
New CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo Combining Science and Advocacy – Chicago Magazine
Source link New CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo Combining Science and Advocacy – Chicago Magazine
The post New CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo Combining Science and Advocacy – Chicago Magazine appeared first on Illinois News Today.
No comments:
Post a Comment