Recently, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa announced being the first facility to successfully induce spawning of endangered Atlantic pillar coral in human care. One day, scientists think this achievement may enable humans to restore reef systems like the one along the southeastern shores of Florida. President and CEO, Roger Germann describes the aquarium's plans for growth including the expansion of a 22-acre satellite facility used for recreation, education, conservation research, and rescue and r...
Oct 03, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Increasingly, zoos and aquariums are being called upon to fund and develop science-based research and practical solutions to environmental problems like species extinction and dramatic declines in species abundance. For the past two decades one demonstrably successful consumer-facing program meeting the needs of commerce and conservation has been Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. What began as a temporary campaign with printed lists of sustainably sourced seafood dining options for the aqua...
Sep 26, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 76
This week's Zoo Logic episode is a mash-up of researchers, trainers, and news items from around the zoo and aquarium world following the recent professional joint conference for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( www.AZA.org ) and the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association ( www.IMATA.org ) in New Orleans. Past guest Jeremy Hance, writer for ( www.Mongabay.com ) shares insights into a species few have ever heard of. And, working with another past guest, Dr Jason Bruck, Samantha S...
Sep 19, 2019•15 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Demonized for centuries in literature, pop culture, and most worrisome of all, in the execution of public policy, several canid species are on the edge of extinction. Ginny Busch, CEO of the Endangered Wolf Center describes their work and ongoing challenges to preserving species such as Mexican Gray Wolves, African painted Dogs, and the most endangered canid species of all, the Red Wolf. The center not only breeds and helps introduce young wolves into the wild, it is partnering with federal, sta...
Sep 12, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Dr. Andreas Fahlman, senior researcher for the Oceanographic Foundation in Valencia Spain shares insights into the respiratory physiology and behavior of offshore and coastal bottlenose dolphins. In addition to significant size differences between these two distinct populations from the same species of dolphin, the larger offshore type has been observed routinely diving to depths of 1000m, whereas the much smaller near shore animals rarely venture beyond depths of 10m. His research to date sugge...
Sep 05, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Founded in 1996 in hopes of reuniting one killer whale with her wild cousins, the Orca Conservancy today is focused on preserving the endangered population of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) that frequent the waters around Seattle and Vancouver part of the year. It's this steadfast mission to prevent the SRKW from extinction that put the Orca Conservancy at odds recently with a well-publicized plan by the Whale Sanctuary Project to build in SRKW waters, a permanent whale holding facility ...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 72
We are onsite with the three founders of the Phoenix Herpetological Society to discuss their passion for rescuing animals in need, conserving endangered species, and educating the public about all kinds of ectotherms from cobras to crocodiles. PHS' mission is to "promote conservation and preservation of native and non-native reptiles through education, rehabilitation, rescue, and relocation." From its humble start, PHS now cares for over 1000 animals and boasts several firsts such as "Mr. Stubbs...
Aug 22, 2019•55 min•Season 2Ep. 71
We return to the Phoenix Zoo to discuss their collaborative work to save another endangered species, the Mexican Gray Wolf, which as recently as the early 1970's came within a handful of remaining founder animals from being deliberately exterminated across the West and Mexico. Senior carnivore keeper, Carl Mohler describes how caring for a social group pf predators that may one day be introduced to the wild is very different from other species found in zoos and aquariums. The relationships of tr...
Aug 15, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Host of the viral videos television show Right This Minute ( www.RightThisMinute.com ), Gayle Bass reminisces about how her early career experiences such as an intern, a film critic, and a radio reporter led to her role as one of the original hosts of RTM, now starting its 9th season. As a huge fan of wild and domestic animals, and having met many animal ambassadors throughout her media career, Gayle shares some unique insights from years of scouring the Internet in search of the next video to g...
Aug 08, 2019•35 min•Season 2Ep. 69
The 1970's was a decade of unparalleled exploration far above and below the sea. From astronauts driving on the moon and unmanned probes collecting data on the outer planets to piercing the deepest oceans in new submersibles, scientists and engineers achieved some of the greatest feats in human history. One such pioneer, Dr. Sylvia Earle is an ocean scientist and engineer, policymaker and conservationist, and best of all, a record-setting deep sea explorer whose work over 60 years places her in ...
Aug 01, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 68
As part of its work to support research and conservation of marine mammals, the National Marine Mammal Foundation ( www.NMMF.org ) has been working with many diverse stakeholders to study, preserve, and increase awareness of the world's most endangered marine mammal, an elusive porpoise found only in the far northern Gulf of California known as the vaquita. Their story is featured in a new documentary Sea Of Shadows ( www.SeaofShadows.film) by executive producer, Leonardo DiCaprio ( www.Leonardo...
Jul 25, 2019•28 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Animal welfare science is a relatively new discipline that has generated some degree of debate among scientists, policymakers, animal professionals, animal rights activists, and the public. Even the meaning of the term animal welfare has been cause for scientific and public debate in part because the conversation often includes qualities such as emotions normally associated with humans being applied to animals. Dr. Isabella Clegg shares her work assessing the welfare of dolphins living in human ...
Jul 18, 2019•42 min•Season 2Ep. 66
In addition to the dramatic declines in charismatic species most people are aware of, research over the past few years suggests we are facing a potential extinction event for insects. This week's episode features www.mongabay.com frequent contributor, environmental writer Jeremy Hance, to discuss his recent 4-part series on the insect extinction situation based on interviews he's conducted with dozen's of entomologists from around the globe. Jeremy discusses potential root causes such as over us...
Jul 11, 2019•44 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Fresh water dolphins like the Amazon River Dolphin face a myriad of challenges including human encroachment and habitat loss, pollution, the damming of river systems, and poaching. The Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Foundation www.ARDCF.org supports local efforts to protect a storied species and its rainforest ecosystem. ARDCF founder and director, Suzanne Smith discusses what she describes as healthy, natural interactions between dolphins and people that protect both animals and people, sust...
Jul 04, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 64
In 2014, the training community lost a well-known veterinarian and behavioral consultant, lecturer, author and colleague to suicide. Many were surprised by the loss of someone so successful at her craft and popular among her clients and fans to learn about the high rate of suicide among veterinary professionals. A recent report posted at AAHA.org found "U.S. veterinarians at greater risk for mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and depressive episodes than the general population." Jenifer Chatfiel...
Jun 27, 2019•45 min•Season 2Ep. 63
An all star panel of Zoo Logic alumni discusses current wildlife news stories including why the misguided and unscientific cetacean ban recently passed by Canada's parliament will have a chilling effect on conservation research. Researchers Dr. Kelly Jaakkola and Dr. Jason Bruck join Killing Keiko author and wildlife advocate, Mark Simmons to describe some of the negative implications for wildlife conservation, public education, field research, and policymaking everywhere, not just in Canada. Th...
Jun 20, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 62
For more than 50 years, the American Association of Zoo Keepers has been pursuing excellence in animal care, sharing best practices, providing professional development workshops and conferences, and raising serious dollars for the support of conservation organizations in the field helping to preserve endangered species like rhinos and cheetahs. AAZK members have also planted over 100k trees! AAZK's individual members cover the range of zoological expertise from keepers to aquarists, trainers to ...
Jun 13, 2019•21 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Asiatic and Sun bear products are traded and consumed illegally throughout SE Asia. The rampant use of bear parts like bile as part of traditional medicine has severely impacted bear populations. While bear farms have been prohibited by some countries, it remains legal to possess bears and thus, the farming for bile largely continues. San Diego Zoo Global's Institute for Conservation Research scientist, Dr. Elizabeth Davis uses social science methods to uncover the motivation behind bear product...
Jun 06, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Shrouded in secrecy until it was declassified in the 1990's, the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program continues its mission which began nearly 60 years ago to protect service men and women at home and abroad. Dr. Mark Xitco, researcher and Director of the NMMP discusses the rich history of the program, the animal training and welfare focus in use today, the hundreds of publicly available peer-reviewed research papers on marine mammal behavior and physiology the program has produced, and the important...
May 30, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 59
American Humane is the oldest organization in the US dedicated to "promoting the welfare and safety of animals and strengthening the bond between animals and people." For more than one hundred years, American Humane has operated wherever animals are in need of rescue, shelter, protection or security. President and CEO, Dr. Robin Ganzert describes the various programs in place to achieve its mission today including working to reunite military dogs wth their human handlers once their service is co...
May 23, 2019•47 min•Season 2Ep. 58
According to the USFWS, illegal and unsustainable trade in wildlife and plants is a multibillion dollar industry that is having a devastating impact on thousands of species globally. Former Scottish police detective and law enforcement expert, author, and lecturer John Sellar spent 14 years working for CITES where he became Chief of Enforcement and conducted hundreds of missions to more than 60 countries to assess enforcement and develop strategies to combat wildlife crime. His book, ‘ The UN’s ...
May 16, 2019•57 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Animal law expert and attorney Michelle Pardo returns to Zoo Logic to describe some of the recent and ongoing legislative efforts animal rights organizations are pushing at the local, state, and federal levels. What lessons can we learn about how the legislative process is being used to promote an extreme animal rights agenda, not shared by most people? Why is it so important for animal professionals, zoo and aquarium fans, and taxpayers to pay attention to legislative bills with reasonable soun...
May 09, 2019•39 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Frequent contributor to Zoo Logic, Dr. Kelly Jaakkola, Director of Research for the Dolphin Research Center discusses the new peer-reviewed study she coauthored and published in the Journal Marine Mammal Science that compared survival rates and life expectancies for bottlenose dolphins living in zoological facilities with comparable values published for wild populations. The main takeaway from the study is dolphins living in zoological facilities today live at least as long or longer than wild p...
May 02, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 55
According to the book, Dark Horse, society has systems of education and employment management that require us "to be the same as everyone else, only better." As designed, these systems are a zero-sum game with only limited opportunities for a few. Thus, these systems leave "most of us feeling disengaged, frustrated, and yearning for something more personal and authentic." Harvard researcher and Dark Horse coauthor Dr. Ogi Ogas discusses how real life dark horses are able to attaining personal fu...
Apr 25, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Our one-on-one conversation with best selling author, advocate, and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, Dr. Chelsea Clinton discussing her new picture book, Don't Let Them Disappear, as well as, memories of her earliest encounters with animals and reliving those experiences by visiting zoos and aquariums with her own children today. In her new book, Chelsea shares the stories of 12 threatened and endangered species--what makes them unique, what risks they face in the wild, and even what simple...
Apr 17, 2019•19 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Species that will experience the effects of climate change the most are ones that depend on sea ice for survival. As the quantity and quality of sea ice changes and the time gap between the spring thaw and fall formation increases, animals like polar bears are struggling to find adequate high fat prey in the form of ringed seals, which are necessary for the bears to survive the winter. Field biologist turned Director of Conservation and Research at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Dr. Stephen Petersen ...
Apr 11, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Why do people risk personal injury or death just to get a photo next to wild animals, even those living in the relative safety of a zoo or aquarium? What is it about protective barriers, walls, or fences designed to bring animals and the viewing public safely together in close proximity that communicates to some visitors, "sure, climb over"? A recent incident of a zoo visitor injured for ignoring the safety barriers just to get a selfie with an adult jaguar went viral and highlights the importan...
Apr 04, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 51
On occasion, laws and regulations enacted for common sense reasons have purposefully been misapplied by those with agendas and intentions that are radically different from what Congress or state legislatures had in mind. It is difficult to anticipate such unintended consequences in new laws, especially when stakeholders that may be affected by such legislation are excluded from the bill writing and amendment process. Animal related organizations such as zoos and aquariums seem particularly and i...
Mar 28, 2019•31 min•Season 2Ep. 50
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito is not just the organization that responds to more stranded marine mammals than any other in the world. According to www.TMMC.org, from the depletion of fish stocks to increasing ocean temperatures, human activity threatens marine ecosystems that are vital to the health of our ocean and all life on earth. As a critical first responder to these threats, The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinar...
Mar 21, 2019•38 min•Season 2Ep. 49
For 45 years, Dr. Laurie Marker has dedicated her life to saving cheetahs, the fastest land mammal on earth. A species of cat like no other, cheetahs face mounting pressures from conflicts with farmers, habitat loss and fragmentation, local and species-wide genetic bottlenecks, and the illegal pet trade. Her love and fascination with the species led Dr. Marker to move to Namibia where in 1990 she established the headquarters for the Cheetah Conservation Fund organization (www.Cheetah.org). Dr. M...
Mar 14, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 48
