Zoo Logic

The California Condor is the largest bird naturally found in North America and by the mid 1980's its population had plummeted to a few dozen individuals. Society had a choice: let the species pass into oblivion or develop a bold and untested plan to collect, preserve, and eventually, repopulate the desert southwest with wild animals and their descendants that could fend for themselves.

Animal expert Michael Mace from San Diego Zoo Global describes some of the early obstacles to success and the pressure professionals from the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos felt working with the world's only remaining California Condors. While some of the the factors (e.g., use of pesticide DDT) that led to the condor's near extinction over thirty years ago may have faded, new and persisting risks remain. Not only has the Condor conservation program continued to evolve and incorporate new technologies to meet these challenges, it continues to serve as a model and inspiration to preserve other critically endangered species.

https://institute.sandiegozoo.org/species/california-condor

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This week's That Sounds Wild comes from www.conservationambassadors.org

China is experiencing tremendous growth in the popularity, number and size of family attractions under development, especially aquariums featuring marine mammals. In recent years, Russia has been a primary source of the larger marine mammal species sent to these major aquarium projects. Against the backdrop of this demand which is projected to grow, scant reports, including one by CBS News late last year, have raised concerns over the status of approximately 100 orcas and beluga whales collected from Russian waters and currently temporarily housed in "cramped and potentially illegal" near shore sea pens on Russia's Pacific east coast near the city of Nakhodka. This situation and the broader implications of these collections raise at least 3 potential concerns for zoological professionals from accredited public display facilities: 1) whether the animals from Russia are being collected humanely and sustainably based upon previously conducted and up to date scientific environmental impact assessments? 2) how well the veterinary care and welfare of the animals while housed in temporary sea pen facilities are being maintained? and 3) whether the long term housing, husbandry, and reproductive plans for larger cetaceans like orcas once they are transferred to China will meet their social, behavioral, and health needs?

To shed light on the situation and help separate fact from fiction, long time amusement park and family entertainment attractions insider, journalist, and blogger, Joe Kleiman, joins us.

Plus, an all new That Sounds Wild and a personal aloha to an animal friend and teacher.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-whale-jail-investigated-prosecutors-nakhodka-orca-beluga-whales-held/

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www.facebook.com/ZooLogicpodcast/

www.finaldaysofwisdom.wordpress.com/2018/10/18/final-days-synopsis-on-the-expanding-future-of-killer-whale-exhibition/

Perhaps because they are silent giants synonymous with zoos and the African landscape it is difficult to imagine a world without the iconic species known as giraffe. Their unique familiarity ingrained in human consciousness may help explain how the tallest land mammal suddenly and quietly slipped from "least concern" to "endangered" status according to the IUCN, much to the surprise of everyone over the past few years, even wildlife professionals. Now that we've all been warned of the peril facing the "watchtowers of the savanna," zoological institutions like the San Diego Zoo Global's Institute for Conservation Research are working in Northern Kenya and elsewhere to study and stabilize giraffe populations through in situ and ex situ studies relying on local communities, technology, and crowdsourcing. Researchers David O'Connor and Jenna Stacy-Dawes describe the latest giraffe news as well as how anyone can get involved in original research like thousands of people already have to help giraffe and other African species at risk through SDZG's website www.WildWatchKenya.org.

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www.institute.sandiegozoo.org

www.iucnredlist.org

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Throughout history and literature few species have been as unfairly disparaged and misunderstood as vultures. Despite serving as Nature's "garbage disposal," capable of digesting harmful bacteria that would kill most other animals, the vulture has long been viewed with fear or scorn. Today, this important group of long-lived and slowly reproducing species is under threat of extinction not as a direct target of human activities but as an indirect and innocent participant in the very scavenging behaviors it evolved to do--behaviors necessary to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Zoo Logic guest Michael Mace from San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG), the organization behind the famous Southern California zoo and safari parks, dispels some of the myths about vultures, describes their importance to human health, and explains the deadly threats from poachers, farmers, and ranchers (albeit for different reasons) through the same mechanism, mass poisonings. Fortunately, organizations like SDZG and others are working in the field to increase public education and to train communities how to prevent more vulture population losses and to care for animals suffering from poisonings.

www.animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/vulture

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www.aza.org/safe-species

www.vulpro.com/about/

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Few people from Hollywood have been as demonstrably supportive of modern zoos and aquariums, helping animals in need, and conserving our planet over the past decade as Emmy winning actor and best selling author, Carolyn Hennesy. Carolyn joins Zoo Logic to discuss some of her new creative projects coming in 2019, including assuming the iconic role of General Leia Organa in two animated series: Star Wars Resistance and Lego Star Wars: All-Stars. Carolyn also shares the latest news about her hometown zoo and her efforts to help the LA zoo keep its famous elephant named Billy.

12:00 Billy the elephant

23:35 Replacing single use plastic while filming on location in Jamaica

31:40 Counter protesting PeTA at the LA zoo.

www.CarolynHennesy.com

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www.LAZoo.org

www.AmericanHumane.org

We begin 2019 by celebrating an increasingly scarce conservation "win" with news by the IUCN that mountain gorillas have been down-listed from critically endangered to endangered. Mountain gorillas are the elusive great ape species introduced to most of the world by the famous primatologist Dian Fossey, who studied and ultimately lost her life protecting the animals. And who better to discuss the decades-long effort to preserve these gentle giants, not just for today but indefinitely, and to help the people of Rwanda than the director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, Jack Hanna.

https://globalimpact.columbuszoo.org/projects/project/gorilla-doctors-in-africa

www.peppermintnarwhal.com

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https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39999/17989719

Highlights from 2018's lineup of Zoo Logic guests including world renowned trainers, celebrities, best selling authors, scientists, veterinarians, and entrepreneurs, as well as, perspectives from legal, public policy, and conservation experts.

Trainers

0:51 Ken Ramirez www.clickertraining.com

4:09 Erin Ivory elephant manager and consultant

5:05 Barbara Heidenreich

7:45 Dave and Jess Peranteau, Odysea Aquarium

10:04 Professor Gary Wilson, Moorpark College

10:51 Joe Markham, Kong company founder, www.KongCompany.com

Celebrity Authors

13:11 Kyle Kittleson, Wear a Wetsuit at Work

14:03 Mark Simmons, Killing Keiko

17:53 Julie Scardina, Wildlife Heroes

18:57 Jack Hanna, Into the Wild, www.jackhanna.com

20:42 Carolyn Hennesy, www.CarolynHennesy.com

Scientists

25:13 Dr. Kelly Jaakkola, www.dolphins.org

27:03 Dr. Barbara Taylor, NOAA

21:27 Dr. Jason Bruck, OK State University

32:39 Marty Haulena, DVM, Vancouver Aquarium

Animal Law, Rights and Public Policy

37:03 Michelle pardo, esq.

40:38 Rachel Garner, www.whyanimalsdothething.com

41:20 Lara Croft, DVM

44:16 Arizona Department of Game and Fish

Public Relations and Trade Associations

47:50 Billy Hurley, www.IMATA.org

48:16 Will Coggins, www.HumaneWatch.org

49:54 Doug Cress, www.WAZA.org

Perspectives

54:27 Dr. Susie Ellis, www.Rhinos.org

56:02 Brian Masuga, www.PeppermintNarwhal.com

57:28 Clarissa Black, www.PetsforVets.com

58:13 Dr Javier Almunia, Loro parque

59:18 Mandy Rodriguez, www.Dolphins.org

59:58 Mallory Lindsay, www.MalloryLindsay.com

1:00:19 Brad Andrews, www.AmericanHumane.org

World-renowned wildlife storyteller Sir David Attenborough and the BBC were criticized recently for essentially portraying a view of Nature that was too positive. According to the op-ed which appeared in The Guardian, "By downplaying our environmental crisis, the presenter's BBC films have generated complacency, confusion and ignorance" amongst the viewing public.

While the criticism goes to an unfair extreme, the author does identify a longstanding dilemma, not just for famous environmentalists and their networks, but for all zoos and aquariums and animal professionals. How best to balance the need to inspire the public about amazing wildlife and wild places versus focusing on what is currently happening to them? Regardless of the type or size of our platform, how do we accurately inform without turning the audience off by being too negative or creating a paralyzing sense of helplessness with respect to saving species in a world bursting with people?

Who better to ask about these issues than the person who has spent decades sharing wild animals and wild places with all of us through his many hours of televised content, Late Night laughs, books, and public appearances? Zoo Logic is pleased to welcome back the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the Emmy award winning TV host of Into the Wild, Jungle Jack Hanna!

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www.PeppermintNarwhal.com

www.JackHanna.com

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/07/david-attenborough-world-environment-bbc-films

Travel along the old route 66 west of Flagstaff and you'll find the historic town of Williams, Arizona, home of a unique zoo called Bearizona. It features a drive through section with dozens of black bears, bison, and other species native to ponderosa pine country. During a recent visit we learned how the animal team uses operant conditioning and their "enrichment truck" to safely manage and monitor groups of big animals living in extra large spaces.

Next we talk with Kolmården Wildlife Park's training coordinator, Peter Giljam about his work sharing animal training best practices and innovative behavioral applications across zoo species. His career training animals spans dozens of aquatic, terrestrial, and avian species at facilities in Canada and Europe. He's been in the unique position to unite and inspire keepers and trainers from around the globe regardless of cultural, language, or species experience differences, and he is the creative force behind ZooSpensfull.com, a site dedicated to sharing trainer knowledge and stories.

Plus an all new Zoos News and That Sounds Wild.

www.Bearizona.com

www.zoospensefull.com

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www.kolmarden.com/sprak/english

www.peppermintnarwhal.com

Have wild horses become America's tribble?

Guests from the Arizona Department of Game and Fish discuss the contentious subject of US wild horse policy, which is often marked by passions and frustration on all sides. Congress passed the landmark 1971 Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burros Act to preserve those specific "unbranded and unclaimed" animals on public lands from steep declines in the preceding decades. Unlike native wildlife species, these feral horses have had a unique legal standing and separate multiple federal agency oversight, which has contributed to the confusion, frustration, disagreement, and anger over their management in recent decades. It might surprise many to know there are 3 times as many formerly designated wild horses living, cared for, and fed in fenced federal facilities than the current management level set for public lands. And, the current estimate of wild horses roaming on public lands is slightly greater than 3 times the management level set at 27000 animals.

The history of the wild horse over the past 50 years points to the need for us to consider how we deal with a conservation success story! While their recovery is still the conservation exception rather than the rule, the story of the wild horse challenges us today to consider what legal, oversight, and management adjustments we need to make once species do recover in order to maintain stability for all native plant and animal species.

Our guests this week from the State of Arizona Department of Game and Fish talk about the (over) population success of the nearly 50-year old law and the challenges these large bodied herbivores place on a western habitat that no longer resembles the one experienced by their long extinct and distant North American ancestors of 10-12 thousand years ago. The US is not alone in struggling with the issues raised by wild horses. Countries like Australia face similar public debates about the impacts on native species and habitats by these animals with no natural predators and with as much as a 20% population increase per year.

It's an important conversation about the often competing needs of native versus feral animals and the courageous decisions needed to restore and maintain sustainable habitats for all native plant and animal species, as well as, America's iconic wild horses and burros.

http://wildlife.org/tws-offers-recommendations-for-wild-horse-management/

https://www.wafwa.org/Documents%20and%20Settings/37/Site%20Documents/Committees/Resolutions%20Committee/BLM%20Wild%20Horse%20and%20Burro%20Management.pdf

http://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PS_FeralHorsesandBurros.pdf

www.peppermintnarwhal.com

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