1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is Pet Life Radio. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,879 Speaker 2: Let's talk pets. 3 00:00:22,359 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 3: Welcome to Loving Animals. I'm your host, doctor Robin Ganser, 4 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,480 the CEO of American Umine, our country's first national humane organization. 5 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,920 This week, we're joined by a very special guest, Tim Morrow, 6 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,119 the CEO and Executive director of the San Antonio Zoo. 7 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:39,399 Tim is involved in conservation efforts both locally and nationally 8 00:00:39,439 --> 00:00:42,320 to secure a future for wildlife, something I know you're 9 00:00:42,359 --> 00:00:45,119 passionate about as well. After this quick break, we'll hear 10 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,000 from Tim about what we can do to help our 11 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:50,920 world's disappearing species. Don't go away, and thanks for tuning 12 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,039 in to this week's episode of Loving Animals. 13 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: We'll be right back. 14 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:03,119 Speaker 4: When Helen ran away to New York City five years ago, 15 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,640 she had no idea that a homeless cat with a 16 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,079 punk rock haircut and enough catitude to light up the 17 00:01:09,079 --> 00:01:11,560 Empire State Building would be the one to teach her 18 00:01:11,599 --> 00:01:14,840 the true meaning of love and a forever home. In 19 00:01:14,879 --> 00:01:18,840 the tradition of her internationally best selling memoir, Cleo, Helen 20 00:01:18,879 --> 00:01:22,079 Brown's Bono, The Amazing Story of a Rescue Cat who 21 00:01:22,079 --> 00:01:25,400 Inspired a Community, is a heartwarming true story about a 22 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:29,359 woman without an anchor a homeless cat without much hope 23 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,480 and finding a forever home in the city that Never sleeps. 24 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,200 Modern Cat Magazine calls Bono an uplifting tale about how 25 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,239 everyone deserves love and a second chance. Bono by Helen 26 00:01:41,239 --> 00:01:43,239 Brown is on sale now everywhere. 27 00:01:44,239 --> 00:01:46,079 Speaker 5: You know that feeling when you go to clean the 28 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,959 litter box and it's a complete disaster. Yeah, We've got 29 00:01:49,959 --> 00:01:53,680 you covered. Introducing World's Best Cat Litter zero Mass, the 30 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,519 advanced litter that gives you two times better clumping and 31 00:01:56,599 --> 00:02:00,359 more odor control with less litter zero mass. It's the 32 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:04,439 concentrated power of corn with super absorbent plant fibers. Translation 33 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,879 scoop once and you're done. Find it at a pet 34 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,479 store near you and save two dollars. Visit www dot 35 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:17,400 save on World's Best dot com. 36 00:02:17,599 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: Let's Talk Pets on Petlife Radio dot com. 37 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 3: Hi, Welcome, you are listening to the Loving Animals with 38 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,439 Robin Ganzer. Thanks so much for joining us for this 39 00:02:37,479 --> 00:02:41,719 week's episode. We're so excited about an opportunity to share 40 00:02:41,759 --> 00:02:45,639 with you our love for animals and zoos and aquariums. 41 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,719 And today's special guest is my good friend, a rockstar 42 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,280 in the zoo and aquarium world. Tim Morrow, the CEO 43 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:59,120 and executive director of the San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas. Tim, 44 00:02:59,199 --> 00:03:00,599 welcome today. How are you. 45 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,319 Speaker 6: I'm doing great. Thanks for having me. 46 00:03:02,719 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 3: Oh, I'm doing great, and I'm so glad that you 47 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,280 are on because I love your work that you do 48 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:09,159 in San Antonio. 49 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:10,039 Speaker 4: You have a. 50 00:03:09,879 --> 00:03:14,319 Speaker 3: Gorgeous facility, incredible animals under your stewardship and your care, 51 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,439 and I'm so proud that you are now American Humane 52 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,520 Certified in our American Humane Conservation program. So congratulations, thank you. 53 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 6: The certification was definitely our highlight of twenty seventeen, especially 54 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,520 for a facility that's been here one hundred and three years, 55 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,400 really loved by it's community and people from all over 56 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:36,639 the state, all over the country, and all over the 57 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,840 world that come visit us. It just gives us another 58 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,520 level of credibility and it was a great honor to 59 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:42,360 be part of the program. 60 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: Well, I can tell you that it's a big deal 61 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,360 and it means that your facility, Tim, under your leadership 62 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,719 and that of your team, is indeed world class in 63 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,599 terms of the care and stewardship, and most importantly, the 64 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,000 humane treatment of animals was a robust rigorous third part 65 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:03,439 already audit that you passed with flying colors, and it's 66 00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:06,479 a good day to celebrate for the zoo and San Antonio, 67 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,039 but importantly for the entire community of San Antonio. It's 68 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,319 really great to see a world class leader right there 69 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:13,199 in your hometown. 70 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,479 Speaker 6: Yes, our community was very excited about it, and it 71 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:16,959 was after we got a lot of questions of what 72 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,639 did you have to do to get ready for this audit, 73 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,879 And really the answer was nothing. We just operate like 74 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,560 we always have operated, and having the animals at top 75 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,439 of mind and everything we do both here at the 76 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,079 zoo and in the wild and inspires us for our 77 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,160 mission and our vision. And so that process was for 78 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,800 us really simple, just having someone come in and put 79 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,759 third eyes on us and give us opinions and feedback. 80 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,519 And very glad that we passed with flying colors and 81 00:04:39,519 --> 00:04:40,439 we're part of the program. 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 3: Well we are. We are thrilled to welcome you to 83 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,879 the Humane Conservation family, that's for sure. Well, Tim, let's 84 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,120 talk a little bit about the animals in your care. 85 00:04:51,319 --> 00:04:53,959 I understand you might have had some new babies born 86 00:04:54,079 --> 00:04:54,639 at the zoo. 87 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 6: We have had some babies we have you know, it's 88 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,120 with the zoo with a large question of animals, we 89 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,240 often have birth so we celebrated many over the last year. 90 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,439 We've had otters, demandua's, some host stock and other great 91 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,959 ad dishes to our zoo and to mistimo crocodiles, so 92 00:05:12,199 --> 00:05:15,040 some great and danger species work and then just excellent 93 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,839 husbandry across the zoo is bringing us these amazing babies 94 00:05:17,879 --> 00:05:19,480 for our guests to come see and learn more about 95 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,199 these these animals that are in our care. 96 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 3: That's wonderful. I love your crocodile exhibit. Can you share 97 00:05:25,399 --> 00:05:28,120 paint a picture of what your crocodile exhibit is for 98 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:29,040 our listeners. 99 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,199 Speaker 6: Yeah. So, our vice president of Animal care is a 100 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:33,399 herpetologist by trade, so as you can imagine, we have 101 00:05:33,639 --> 00:05:35,319 a heavy herpetological collection. 102 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 3: So I know I saw it firsthand. 103 00:05:37,399 --> 00:05:40,519 Speaker 6: I have to tell you we have a couple of 104 00:05:40,519 --> 00:05:42,519 places where we have crocodiles and alligators. One of the 105 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,399 benefits of the San Antonio Zoo is we sit on 106 00:05:44,439 --> 00:05:47,800 top of an aquafer, the Edward's Aquifer, and we pump 107 00:05:47,879 --> 00:05:50,839 well water up into the zoo and then it flows 108 00:05:50,879 --> 00:05:53,839 through the zoo through a river system and then into 109 00:05:53,879 --> 00:05:55,920 a uv plant. And then becomes what is known as 110 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,079 the San Antonio River or the Riverwalkers most people know. 111 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,519 So we're providing a majority of the well water to 112 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,319 the San Antonio riverwalk within the zoo. The benefit for 113 00:06:03,399 --> 00:06:06,439 us for having that well is we have excellent quality 114 00:06:06,519 --> 00:06:09,040 water that comes at a constant year round temperature of 115 00:06:09,079 --> 00:06:12,399 about seventy eight degrees. So we have some these endangered 116 00:06:12,439 --> 00:06:14,800 crocodiles like to miss them, who can live here year 117 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:19,279 round in the water. And we've proven with three clutches 118 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:22,319 now that we're a good breeding facility for these crocodiles 119 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,560 that is not working so well in other places. So 120 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,079 we have a river system, we have a lake in 121 00:06:26,079 --> 00:06:28,120 the middle of the zoo that's also fed by the 122 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:29,800 spring water. And then of course when we have the 123 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,680 clutch of eggs, we bring those in and raise those 124 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,439 and we're learning more about those with each clutch that 125 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,079 we go through. And we had a record hash this 126 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,680 time with thirteen babies, and they're in our quarium building 127 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:42,639 thriving and actually I think some are going out to 128 00:06:42,639 --> 00:06:45,279 other zoos this week to help that collection grow and 129 00:06:45,319 --> 00:06:47,720 those animals thrive in the caravan. 130 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 3: Isn't that wonderful? So wonderful and with your expert toun. 131 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,839 I know that there was a number of other additions 132 00:06:54,879 --> 00:06:58,279 in that collection, Tune, I particularly like that one building 133 00:06:58,319 --> 00:07:01,800 where they're all just have such incredible educational displays too. 134 00:07:01,959 --> 00:07:03,759 I learned a lot about the snakes in your Care, 135 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,439 and in fact, I was frightened when I saw the 136 00:07:06,439 --> 00:07:09,120 snakes in your care. I love all animals, as you 137 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:12,279 know back the show this so is loving animals, but 138 00:07:12,399 --> 00:07:16,720 those snakes give me a good mix of fear and 139 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:18,720 awe at the same time. Tell us a little bit 140 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,079 about the snakes in your care. 141 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,279 Speaker 6: Sure again, another large collection and in front areas and 142 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,480 back area. Our team is very passionate about taking guest 143 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,079 visitors or you know, people that contact us that are 144 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,000 free of snakes and really turning them and explaining the 145 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,240 benefits of snakes and you know they're not going to 146 00:07:35,319 --> 00:07:37,360 hurt you. You have to have a respect for snakes and 147 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,079 for nature. And so that building that those animals are 148 00:07:40,079 --> 00:07:42,319 housed in was built in the forties during the WPA. 149 00:07:42,399 --> 00:07:45,000 So it's a beautiful building with marble columns. It used 150 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,959 to be an outdoor building that had walls put on 151 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,040 it in the eighties to air conditioning and bring that 152 00:07:49,079 --> 00:07:51,480 space a little more friendly for our guests. But we 153 00:07:51,519 --> 00:07:54,279 have a very large snake collection as you can imagine, 154 00:07:54,279 --> 00:07:56,519 like our crops and alligators, and do a lot of 155 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,480 breeding of endangered snakes as well behind the scenes and 156 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,079 then those can come out into the guest Storrea is 157 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,720 really teach people about those snakes, and of course we 158 00:08:03,759 --> 00:08:05,319 live in South Texas, so we have a lot of 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,160 snakes in general and around our houses and our businesses 160 00:08:08,199 --> 00:08:11,879 and where we play in nature. So really teaching our 161 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,720 local community about the importance of snakes and don't just 162 00:08:14,839 --> 00:08:16,839 kill every snake you see and they serve a purpose, 163 00:08:16,879 --> 00:08:19,600 and respect the snake. It's more afraid of you than 164 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,480 you are of it. Those messages are very important for 165 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,439 our local community, on top of the work we're doing 166 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,759 around the world to help somebody snakes from other regions. 167 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:29,079 Speaker 3: I know you had a lot of venomous snakes there too. 168 00:08:29,279 --> 00:08:31,800 Do you do a lot of teaching about the venomous snakes. 169 00:08:31,959 --> 00:08:34,039 Tell us about some of your venomous ones in. 170 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,039 Speaker 6: The connect Yeah, we have many species of venemous snakes 171 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,200 and actually the San Antonio Zoo works with the local 172 00:08:39,279 --> 00:08:42,679 hospital system often to provide anti venom if somebody is 173 00:08:42,759 --> 00:08:45,559 bitten from a snake in the wild or a private 174 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,840 collection or another zoological facility here in our region, the 175 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,039 San Antonio Zoo with our expertise, and that is the 176 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,279 first ones that they usually call from the local hospitals. 177 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,440 So we have close contact with the hospitals in regards 178 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,120 to those snakes. So we have, you know, the proper 179 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,799 procedures in place for our staff and they do all 180 00:09:00,799 --> 00:09:03,559 the work behind the scenes with the snakes for breeding 181 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:05,559 and collecting venom and things like that. But it's a 182 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,480 really great program for the entire community that the community 183 00:09:08,519 --> 00:09:09,960 probably doesn't even realize is happening. 184 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 3: I'm sure they don't. But what a great jewel you 185 00:09:12,399 --> 00:09:16,080 have right there in San Antonio, really helping to save lives. Yeah, 186 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,720 I think that's wonderful, Absolutely wonderful. Well, now we're going 187 00:09:19,799 --> 00:09:22,759 to move beyond my fascination for crocodiles and snakes and 188 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:27,440 talk about your golden girls. I love your elephants, Tim, 189 00:09:27,519 --> 00:09:29,200 tell us a lot about your elephants. 190 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 6: Sure well. Actually, today is the one year anniversary that Nicole, 191 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,039 who came from Feld Entertainment, which is Ringing Brothers, came 192 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,519 to the San Antonio Zoo. So actually one year ago 193 00:09:38,639 --> 00:09:41,320 today she came to be a companion for Lucky. So 194 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,840 Lucky has been here for since nineteen sixty two, an 195 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,679 Asian elephant, she's outlived her lifespan already by about ten years, 196 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:49,480 which is really a testament to the care that she's 197 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,080 gotten here at the San Antonio Zoo. And so we 198 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,240 had been searching for a companion for the last couple 199 00:09:54,279 --> 00:09:57,000 of years. She's a very particular elephant, so she hasn't 200 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,240 always gotten along with everyone she's roommated with, so are 201 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,399 very diligent in finding the right companions for her. So 202 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,600 we met with Ringling over the course of a year 203 00:10:05,639 --> 00:10:08,639 or two and they came out to visit Lucky and 204 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,559 said right away we know exactly who would do well 205 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,840 with her. And then the San Antonio Zoo, myself and 206 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:16,759 some other staff went down to their facility, visited their 207 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,320 elephants and their conservation center, and we brought in Nicole 208 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,559 around a year ago, and then a couple months later 209 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,159 we brought Nicole's best friend in, Karen and who when 210 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,639 we visited the Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida, which 211 00:10:30,639 --> 00:10:33,480 had run by Feld. Karen and Nicole were inseparable, and 212 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,200 we didn't want to split those two up, but we 213 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,120 also didn't want to bring them both at the same 214 00:10:37,159 --> 00:10:39,279 time and have Lucky be the odd one out, So 215 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:40,759 we brought them one at a time, and it's really 216 00:10:40,759 --> 00:10:43,039 worked out well. They are the best of elephant friends 217 00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:45,639 we could ever imagine. It's succeeded all of our expectations 218 00:10:45,639 --> 00:10:49,840 and wishes and hopes, and they are thriving together and 219 00:10:49,919 --> 00:10:52,639 hanging out together and swimming together and doing all the 220 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:54,320 things that we'd want to see a group of elephants 221 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,679 doing together. And our community has really been inspired by 222 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,360 those three ladies we affectionally called the Golden Girls. 223 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,559 Speaker 3: I love it. I love it well. There's a YouTube 224 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,480 video that I think Tim went viral of those girls 225 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,120 talking described that great video of the Golden Girls. 226 00:11:10,399 --> 00:11:12,799 Speaker 6: Yeah, we have a guest that literally comes to visits 227 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,320 the zoo every day and gets us amazing photos and 228 00:11:15,399 --> 00:11:18,919 amazing videos. And she was just at the habitat one 229 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,919 morning watching the girls and they were all kind of 230 00:11:21,919 --> 00:11:24,200 in different parts of the yards doing their own thing. 231 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,600 Lucky was searching for food, you know, we hie enrichment 232 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,000 food and snacks in the walls and things for them, 233 00:11:30,039 --> 00:11:32,159 So Lucky was kind of just scavenging along the wall 234 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,879 and became real apparent that Nicole wanted to play, and 235 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,039 Nicole started kind of swinging her foot and tail towards 236 00:11:38,159 --> 00:11:41,200 Lucky and trumpeting a little bit, and then Lucky turned around, 237 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,399 Nicole ran, and then Lucky ran after Nicole and then 238 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,919 are thumping and trumpeting and making all the noises you 239 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,600 want to hear from elephants, and the next thing you know, 240 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:51,840 you see Karen running into the video picture, and then 241 00:11:51,879 --> 00:11:53,799 all three of them are just really sat there together 242 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,080 and played together and talked to each other for minutes, 243 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,159 four or five minutes probably. You know, we posted not 244 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,519 the whole video, but they're really vocal together, which is 245 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:03,159 really nice to hear. And of course you can hear 246 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,039 it across the zoo and across the park that we 247 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:06,799 sit in, which is a great sound. 248 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,639 Speaker 3: I love that sound. And for those of you that 249 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,679 haven't had a chance to hear Elephant's trumpet, I tell 250 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,799 you it's amazing. And anyone even within driving distance of 251 00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:19,639 the San Antonio Zoo, do make it on your summer 252 00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:22,639 or fall VK list. It's a worthwhile trip to see 253 00:12:23,159 --> 00:12:25,919 The Golden Girls and this incredible zoo. And I was 254 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,080 just reading Tim and this is I think significant. I 255 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,360 open a number. The San Antonio Zoo had an eighty 256 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,559 five million dollar impact on the San Antonio community and 257 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,240 economy in twenty sixteen. So when I think about zoos, 258 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:44,399 I think of the educational piece, the incredible conservation work 259 00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:47,159 that you do, the you know, just the ability to 260 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,000 help keep species alive wheres we face the six mass extinction, 261 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,200 which we want to get into after a commercial break. 262 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,159 But I'm so impressed that your zoo had an eighty 263 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:59,480 five million dollar economic impact in the San Antonio community. 264 00:12:59,519 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 6: That's stunning and it's a great message for us in 265 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,399 the community to garner more support for the things we 266 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,200 want to do in the future. You know, we're in 267 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,080 the midst of a master plan right now to really 268 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,519 develop out the rest of our zoo property, and we 269 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,240 want to become the biggest, the greatest zoo in the country, 270 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:15,799 and so we're working towards that and we hosted we 271 00:13:15,879 --> 00:13:17,679 had a record year in attendance last year of over 272 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,360 one point two million people, an eighty five million dollar 273 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:24,240 impact to the community. We helped fill eighty nine thousand 274 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,120 hotel rooms over that year and supported six hundred ninety 275 00:13:28,159 --> 00:13:30,039 six jobs, so not only the five hundred and fifty 276 00:13:30,399 --> 00:13:32,360 employee that we have here at the zoo, but other 277 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,039 jobs of contractors and vendors that we use in the community. 278 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,000 So it really has a far reaching impact this zoo, 279 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,840 both locally and globally. As we do conservation work around 280 00:13:40,879 --> 00:13:43,399 the world, we're also doing conservation work locally and helping 281 00:13:43,399 --> 00:13:45,679 the local economy, which is it's a win for everybody. 282 00:13:45,799 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 3: It's a win win win, and being that that you've 283 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,080 been certified as a humane conservation institution, it's also a 284 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,840 great big win for the animals. How many animals are 285 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:56,320 in your collection, Tim. 286 00:13:56,799 --> 00:13:59,639 Speaker 6: We have a large collection in the thousands, a lot, 287 00:13:59,759 --> 00:14:03,279 you know, in the typical fashion. We have thousands of fish, 288 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,759 We have you know, a thousand bats, and then we 289 00:14:05,799 --> 00:14:08,279 are probably one of the largest bird collections in the country, 290 00:14:08,399 --> 00:14:10,879 I would say one or two number one or two 291 00:14:10,879 --> 00:14:13,360 with bird questions and do some amazing work in that 292 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,600 arena as well. Our her collection is big, and then 293 00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:19,480 we're looking really to grow and we have some species 294 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,360 that we would like to do conservation work with and 295 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,399 have at the San antonio ze that our guests can 296 00:14:23,399 --> 00:14:25,080 come see and connect with that we don't have yet. 297 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,440 So a lot of that's happening in the master planning 298 00:14:27,519 --> 00:14:29,519 right now to really look at all the animals in 299 00:14:29,559 --> 00:14:31,159 our care, Why do we have them in our care? 300 00:14:31,279 --> 00:14:33,399 What conservation work are we doing with each of those, 301 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:34,799 and let's make sure we have a plan for each 302 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,720 species that we have here to help that species. 303 00:14:38,039 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 3: That's great and friends, if you're not familiar with zoos 304 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,840 and aquariums in this country, more people visit zoos and 305 00:14:44,879 --> 00:14:50,639 aquariums than all professional sports combined. That includes hockey, baseball, football, 306 00:14:51,039 --> 00:14:54,960 add all of those up together, basketball and more people 307 00:14:55,039 --> 00:14:58,039 visit zoos in aquariums. It's donning and I think that's 308 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,879 great because we're talking about some major crisis. He's facing 309 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,559 animals in our lives that we see in wildlife and 310 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,679 in conservation. We're going to be right back after a 311 00:15:08,879 --> 00:15:12,080 very brief commercial break to visit with Tim Morrow, one 312 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,919 of the country's leading experts in Susan aquariums, really talking 313 00:15:15,919 --> 00:15:19,679 about conservation efforts that he's doing, that he's leading locally 314 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,679 and internationally, and importantly the impact of the sixth mass 315 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,799 extinction will be right back with Tim Morrow, and after 316 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,200 this brief commercial. 317 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,919 Speaker 2: Break, we'll be right back right after these messages. Stay tuned. 318 00:15:37,679 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: We'd like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rover 319 00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:44,159 dot Com Rover the Dog People. 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It's a awesome deal. 346 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: Let's talk past it. 347 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: Let's done past talk about. 348 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: Life Radio Headline Radio, petlfradio dot com. 349 00:17:20,519 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 4: Welcome back to. 350 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 3: This week's episode of Loving Animals with yours Julia Robin Gancert. 351 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,559 Our very special guest this week is Tim Morrow, the 352 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,960 CEO of the San Antonio Zoo, which we were just 353 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,759 talking about some of his very special collections of animals 354 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,559 at the San Antonio Zoo, and I thought it was 355 00:17:38,599 --> 00:17:42,160 a fascinating number the economic impact of the zoo on 356 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,359 the San Antonio community eighty five million dollar impact in 357 00:17:45,519 --> 00:17:49,680 twenty sixteen, which I think is just again stunning. What's 358 00:17:49,799 --> 00:17:52,880 really important to talk about is we talk about loving animals. 359 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,559 Tim is your conservation wark how the San Antonio Zoo 360 00:17:57,039 --> 00:18:00,799 is involved in so many conservation projects, including a Giraft 361 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,119 Conservation Foundation, the snow Leopard Trust, among so many others. 362 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,000 Can you share with us your vision for conservation around 363 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:08,359 the world. 364 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,599 Speaker 6: Yes, and really we talk about it all the time. 365 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,119 We redefined our mission and our vision in the last year. Really, 366 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,279 our mission is a secure future for wildlife and it 367 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,160 starts at the zoo with the zoo visit. You know, 368 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,240 people come to us because it's fun, and then we 369 00:18:20,319 --> 00:18:22,839 want to teach them about these animals in the wild 370 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,400 and then create that love for animals that we want 371 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,920 everyone to have. And then we take that and we 372 00:18:28,079 --> 00:18:30,559 take the funds that we get by the people visiting us, 373 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:34,279 and we either lead fund or participate in conservation efforts 374 00:18:34,319 --> 00:18:38,279 on nearly every continent. Right now, our conservation team, doctor 375 00:18:38,319 --> 00:18:40,960 Fanoli and doctor Glusen Camp are in a cave in 376 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:43,680 China doing work there where there's a lot of species 377 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,200 that have not been identified and our team's working to 378 00:18:46,279 --> 00:18:48,759 identify those species so that we can make sure those 379 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,000 they continue to live and thrive and we know what's 380 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:54,000 in those areas before there's an issue. And actually we 381 00:18:54,079 --> 00:18:56,359 were featured in that team was featured in Newsweek just 382 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,599 this week on the discovery of a live species that 383 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,759 had not seen before. So we do work in China. 384 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,960 We call ourselves this little zoo in San Antonio, but 385 00:19:05,039 --> 00:19:10,799 we do work in China, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico 386 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:12,880 right under our own feet here in the aerzos. So 387 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,519 that's that we're running the efforts on, not to mention 388 00:19:15,759 --> 00:19:17,759 all the efforts that we support through groops like the 389 00:19:17,799 --> 00:19:22,400 International Elephant Foundation who is doing elephant conservation in Asia 390 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,480 and Africa, and then all the animals efforts that we 391 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,680 help support through the funds that we raise at the 392 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:28,799 zoo with people visiting us. 393 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,599 Speaker 3: Wow, that's just stunning, absolutely stunning. And when I think 394 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,400 about that too, and I love the fact that it's 395 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,799 the little zoo in San Antonio impacting animals across the world. 396 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,279 You know, people don't know about the sixth mass extinction. Tim, 397 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,319 can you share with our listeners what this is and 398 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,519 how this impacts wildlife all around the world. 399 00:19:48,759 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 6: Yeah, we are in the midst of the biggest extinction 400 00:19:51,039 --> 00:19:53,000 since the time of dinosaurs, and really this one is 401 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,960 being caused because of man so zoos and aquariums. It's 402 00:19:57,079 --> 00:19:59,480 very important that we all are working on this together, 403 00:19:59,519 --> 00:20:01,680 and if you take call the credited zoos in the 404 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,079 quiems in the country and put them together, it's probably 405 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,680 one of the largest conservation efforts on the planet. We've 406 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,599 had a really unique thing happened here in San Antonio 407 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,599 with the monarch butterfly, which is a good example of 408 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,599 this extinction. Is a lot of people don't know the 409 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,240 monarch butterflies in danger of going extinct, and we all 410 00:20:15,279 --> 00:20:17,559 grew up with them everywhere and you kind of just 411 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,559 don't notice that they're not around as much as it 412 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,200 used to be. In our former mayor, Mayor Ivy Taylor 413 00:20:22,759 --> 00:20:24,599 decided that San Antonio was going to make a stand 414 00:20:24,759 --> 00:20:27,000 and try to stop the extinction of this species. The 415 00:20:27,039 --> 00:20:29,480 San Antonios who have been doing monarch work for ten 416 00:20:29,559 --> 00:20:33,559 plus years with tagging butterflies that travel down through San Antonio. 417 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:35,839 We're really a migration funnel right at the point of 418 00:20:36,039 --> 00:20:38,599 when San Antonio where the butterflies come through on the 419 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,039 way to Mexico. So for ten years we've been tagging butterflies, 420 00:20:41,079 --> 00:20:44,319 working with universities like Kansas State. When the butterflies get 421 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,480 to Mexico and breed, the wings are collected after the 422 00:20:47,559 --> 00:20:49,720 butterflies pass away and those numbers are sent back so 423 00:20:49,799 --> 00:20:52,440 we can really track and learn more about their migratory path. 424 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:54,440 But here in San Antonio, our mayor went all in 425 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:56,839 and with fish and wildlife and said, you have twenty 426 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:58,720 one criteria that cities can do, we are going to 427 00:20:58,759 --> 00:21:00,559 do all twenty one of those things. So of course 428 00:21:00,599 --> 00:21:02,759 the San Antonio Zoo is very excited. The University of 429 00:21:02,799 --> 00:21:05,680 Texas and San Antonio is involved, our river authorities involved, 430 00:21:05,839 --> 00:21:09,119 and really our entire community has banded together to work 431 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,319 on monarch conservation citywide. We've gone to every elementary school 432 00:21:13,319 --> 00:21:15,440 in some of our districts and put in butterfly gardens. 433 00:21:15,759 --> 00:21:17,400 The mayor had a butterfly garden at our house. We 434 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,680 had counsel people raising butterflies in our offices. So it's 435 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,920 been a really exciting time in San Antonio to see 436 00:21:24,039 --> 00:21:26,559 the work of an entire city and a focus of 437 00:21:26,559 --> 00:21:28,440 an entire city down with the conservation of a species. 438 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,599 And I tell the mayor, the former mayor all the time, 439 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,039 I don't think she realized what a big deal that 440 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:35,839 was and how excited we were about it. Because some 441 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,240 people may look at it and say well, it's not 442 00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:39,359 an elephant or a rhino, it's not this mega species. 443 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,799 But to have a whole city focused on a species 444 00:21:41,839 --> 00:21:44,440 and on extinction is a very big deal for us, 445 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,519 and especially a zoo whose conservation work is really working 446 00:21:47,599 --> 00:21:51,680 on species that are not the megaspecies and things like that. 447 00:21:51,839 --> 00:21:53,400 That this was very important to us and we're very 448 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:54,279 excited to be a part of it. 449 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,799 Speaker 3: That's a big wow. Way to go San Antonio, Way 450 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,480 to go to San Antonio Zoo, and a big shout 451 00:22:00,519 --> 00:22:03,559 out to everyone out there. We're protecting the butterflies, the 452 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:07,079 monarch butterfly. Who would have thought, wow, it was raised 453 00:22:07,079 --> 00:22:09,440 with monarch butterflies. Saw them all the time, and now 454 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:11,480 as I think about it, you're right, they're just not 455 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,839 out there. But I did see a lot when I 456 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,079 visited San Antonio. So it was great to see the 457 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:17,000 butterflies there. 458 00:22:17,079 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 6: That yeah, for sure. And even down to our Texas 459 00:22:19,759 --> 00:22:23,480 Department and Transportation has stopped mowing areas and letting areas 460 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:26,680 go back more natural and we're seeing milkweed plant it 461 00:22:26,799 --> 00:22:28,880 around the city on intersections and things like that. So 462 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,000 I mean, it was an all in effort in this 463 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,359 region and it's nice and I hope that we hope 464 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,279 that it makes a big difference. And if you can 465 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,200 take that and multiply it more species, which we're losing 466 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:41,200 dozens of species across the planet daily, we can try 467 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,519 to stop some of this that's happening and save these 468 00:22:43,559 --> 00:22:45,440 animals for future generations. We don't want to be the 469 00:22:45,519 --> 00:22:47,440 generation that lost everything. 470 00:22:48,039 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 3: You know what you just said. Species are dying out daily, 471 00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:54,519 twelve plus a day. And I always use this as 472 00:22:54,559 --> 00:22:57,599 an example when we're having our dinner table conversation tonight, 473 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,759 an hour or two over dinner, a species will be 474 00:22:59,839 --> 00:23:02,720 gone on wiped off the face of this earth we're 475 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,319 having our dinner. And I think that's eye opening for 476 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:06,359 people when they hear that. 477 00:23:06,839 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, and it's really this list one is being caused 478 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,880 by man, and a lot of the conservation work we're 479 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,599 doing now is really focusing on the people in the 480 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,519 regions where we're doing work. So in the Amazon and 481 00:23:16,599 --> 00:23:19,759 the Peruvian Jungles, we work with the tribes down there, 482 00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:22,680 We've taught the We've brought in Japanese fish print artists 483 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,640 to teach the tribes how to do fish prints, so 484 00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:29,559 the fish that they're catching for dinner in this biodiverse river. 485 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,799 They're now doing fish prints, rice paper like you would 486 00:23:32,799 --> 00:23:35,480 see in Japan. And then the San Antonio Zoo acquire 487 00:23:35,519 --> 00:23:39,039 a house in Peru. All these tribes take their goods 488 00:23:39,079 --> 00:23:40,720 to the house and they sell them out of this 489 00:23:40,799 --> 00:23:42,759 house and they ship them to the San Antonio Ze 490 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,359 We sell them send the proceeds back to the indigenous 491 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,359 people because what happens now is if they get sick, 492 00:23:48,519 --> 00:23:50,720 have an illness go through their tribe, the loggers come 493 00:23:50,759 --> 00:23:52,599 in and tell them we'll give you money if you 494 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,680 give us the rights to log your property or log 495 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:56,759 some of your property, and they have basically have no choice. 496 00:23:56,759 --> 00:24:00,480 So we're really trying to prop the people up there 497 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,279 to have an investment or in vested interest in conserving 498 00:24:04,319 --> 00:24:06,799 their environment. So that's been a great program for us 499 00:24:06,839 --> 00:24:09,599 to help those indigenous tribes down there, and it's really 500 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,440 been interesting to watch over the last two years. Now 501 00:24:11,839 --> 00:24:14,440 tribes that have had minimal to no contact with the 502 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,279 outside world are contacting the groups square working with saying 503 00:24:17,319 --> 00:24:18,839 they want to be involved in that. So we're hoping 504 00:24:19,079 --> 00:24:21,359 to be able to sustain those indigenous people done there 505 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,119 so they don't have to sell off their logging rights 506 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,000 and their rights and their mineral rights to their properties. 507 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,319 And they can and have a vested interest in that 508 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,039 property to maintain it and save it for us and 509 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,640 them and for future generations. 510 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,799 Speaker 3: It's fantastic. That's fantastic. I bet a lot of our 511 00:24:34,839 --> 00:24:39,359 listeners had no idea what modern zoo leaders are facing today, right. 512 00:24:39,799 --> 00:24:42,319 I mean, what you've just described is not just what 513 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,359 zoo directors did fifty forty thirty years ago. I mean 514 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,400 you're talking about a global footprint, serious challenges that are 515 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,680 facing our entire society today, broader international society, not just 516 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,599 our local hometown. It's pretty stunning, Tim. Then that brings 517 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,599 me to the question out in the world does one 518 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,680 grow up today to become a zoo, a zoo leader 519 00:25:04,759 --> 00:25:05,200 such as you. 520 00:25:05,599 --> 00:25:07,319 Speaker 6: Well, my path was a total accident, so I'm not 521 00:25:07,319 --> 00:25:08,119 sure anyone will ever. 522 00:25:08,079 --> 00:25:10,079 Speaker 3: Call my tell us your path. 523 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:10,599 Speaker 5: I love it. 524 00:25:10,839 --> 00:25:13,759 Speaker 6: Yeah. I lived in San Antonio as a small child 525 00:25:13,839 --> 00:25:15,839 and came to the zoo in second and third grade. 526 00:25:15,839 --> 00:25:17,920 As a child the field trips with my family, and 527 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,839 then we really moved up to Dallas, and I grew 528 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,039 up in Dallas. After high school, my parents had moved 529 00:25:22,039 --> 00:25:24,200 back to San Antonio, same neighborhood to be with all 530 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,319 their friends. A couple years later, I came back down 531 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,200 here to go to school, to the San Antonio College 532 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,319 and then the University of Texas and San Antonio. Well, 533 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:32,920 while I was going to school, I just started working 534 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,440 at theme parks in the summer, So typical summer job. 535 00:25:35,519 --> 00:25:37,279 I came down. I was a lifeguard in the summer 536 00:25:37,319 --> 00:25:39,119 aut of theme park. The next summer I went back. 537 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,960 I became a supervisor. The next summer, came back promoted again. 538 00:25:42,039 --> 00:25:43,559 So I was there about four years at a park 539 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,559 called Fiesta, Texas. In nineteen ninety six, I got a 540 00:25:46,559 --> 00:25:48,400 call from sea World out of the blue on my 541 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,079 home phone because this was before cell phone, and they 542 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,079 asked me to come run the water park at SeaWorld. 543 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:54,960 And at the time I thought SeaWorld was way too 544 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,039 far out. San Antonio was really grown since this time. 545 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:58,799 But again I had nothing to do in the summer, 546 00:25:58,839 --> 00:26:00,200 so I said, okay, sure, I'll come run the water 547 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,480 park here. And that's where I really fell in love 548 00:26:02,559 --> 00:26:05,160 with animal care and conservation. Was I came to a 549 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,960 SeaWorld as a water park operator, and then it's led 550 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,640 to my path now So my time at SeaWorld, I 551 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,680 did the water park, and then I got a little 552 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,559 more responsibility and I had the Bay of Play, our 553 00:26:14,599 --> 00:26:16,839 big kit Child's area, and then I had the operations 554 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,559 of one of the shows, and then I had the 555 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:22,160 Budweiser Clysdale's and things like that. And then in nineteen 556 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,720 ninety nine I moved to Orlando to open Discovery Cove, 557 00:26:24,759 --> 00:26:28,119 which is a dolphin swim resort with thousands of tropical 558 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,119 fish in the aviary where birds land on you. Are 559 00:26:30,279 --> 00:26:34,519 a very immersive animal connection environment. And was really involved 560 00:26:34,599 --> 00:26:37,400 in helping open design, open and build that park, which 561 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:39,160 was really a lot of fun, and that kind of 562 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,400 led me into the animal design work that I started 563 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,599 to do as I came back to SeaWorld San Antonio. 564 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,720 So I came back to SeaWorld San Antonio and had 565 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,799 the privilege of helping design Aquatica, which is a water 566 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:51,920 park with thousands of animals and it were really guess 567 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,960 connected with animals. In a water park. You can wade 568 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,640 with sting rays, a big aviary that birds land on you, 569 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,119 and you can interact with and tortoises, and then just 570 00:26:59,319 --> 00:27:01,640 animal and bath on the pathway. So lots of animals 571 00:27:02,079 --> 00:27:04,559 in that water park environment where people are kind of 572 00:27:05,079 --> 00:27:10,000 enjoying a water park in this natural, beautiful scenery with animals. 573 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,000 And then before I left SeaWorld to come to the zoo, 574 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,799 I helped this Discovery Point, which is their Dolphin Interaction Pool. 575 00:27:16,839 --> 00:27:19,279 It was really a big expansion for the dolphins at 576 00:27:19,319 --> 00:27:21,200 that pool. It was an original pool built in nineteen 577 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,799 eighty eight, so it was really fun to build a bigger, 578 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,480 more enriching pool for those dolphins. So it's doing a 579 00:27:26,519 --> 00:27:28,160 lot of capital projects at SeaWorld, and I had a 580 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,920 lot of different areas of responsibility from running concerts to operations, 581 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:36,279 to landscaping, to warehouses to pr to front gate you 582 00:27:36,559 --> 00:27:38,640 pretty much anything you could do at SeaWorld, I did 583 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:40,920 it at some point or another, which gave me a 584 00:27:41,039 --> 00:27:44,119 great background of experience in a lot of areas. And 585 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,880 then I think zoos, as they've changed and modernized, have 586 00:27:48,079 --> 00:27:49,920 kind of been looking for that more of that sort 587 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,119 of person that is well versed, well rounded in lots 588 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:56,079 of different areas. And so a firm reached out to 589 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,440 me about the San Antonio Zoo job. And I loved 590 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,119 the zoo as a child and been is I have 591 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:02,680 an older child now, I was twenty two and I 592 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:04,279 brought him to the child and then I have some 593 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,200 a three and a five year old. So I've really 594 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,680 been the demo of this zoo three times and I 595 00:28:09,799 --> 00:28:12,319 really thought I could make a positive impact on this zoo, 596 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,559 which would in turn make a positive impact on the 597 00:28:14,599 --> 00:28:17,119 city that I love in the worldwide community of conservation, 598 00:28:17,599 --> 00:28:19,359 So it's one of those jobs where people are like, oh, 599 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:20,519 I want to save the world when I grew up, 600 00:28:20,519 --> 00:28:22,799 and like the people that work at zoos and aquiums 601 00:28:22,839 --> 00:28:25,359 really are working to save the world. It's the world 602 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,799 of animals, but it's all affects humans and how we're 603 00:28:27,839 --> 00:28:29,720 going to live in the future, you know, from pollinators 604 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,519 up to the elephants. So it's very important. But my 605 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,480 path was very strange, but I think I was meant 606 00:28:34,519 --> 00:28:36,599 to be here, and I'm really enjoying my time here. 607 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,599 And we've really seen the community get reinvolved and fall 608 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,839 in love again with our zoo with record attendance and 609 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,440 it's been fun to watch. And then all of that 610 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:47,200 allows us to grow our conservation programs and things that 611 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,440 we're doing. So the more we do to enable our mission, 612 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:50,960 the more of the mission weren't able to do, so 613 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:52,720 it's been a very fun process. 614 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 3: Wow, you know, I think that's beautiful, Tim, and I 615 00:28:56,319 --> 00:28:58,720 love the way that you know, you really have brought 616 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,000 it all the way around full circle back in San 617 00:29:01,039 --> 00:29:03,359 Antonio and back doing what you love with the animals 618 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:07,279 and your past is wonderful and so commendable. You know, 619 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,559 I have to ask you, do you have a favorite 620 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:12,759 I'm sure you get this question all the time, probably 621 00:29:12,799 --> 00:29:15,440 from the kiddos that are visiting your zoo today. Do 622 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,200 you have a favorite animal? 623 00:29:17,599 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 6: I do literally get that question at least twice a week. 624 00:29:20,519 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 3: I know you did people. 625 00:29:22,079 --> 00:29:24,359 Speaker 6: I tell people it changes, it really changes all the time. 626 00:29:24,559 --> 00:29:27,640 So it's been the elephants, and it's been the giraffe. 627 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:30,359 When we Bill opened our Savannah habitat to just you know, 628 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,880 we hadn't had drafts in several years, so to bring 629 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,160 those back and watch people just be in awe of 630 00:29:35,319 --> 00:29:37,640 seeing a draft in person in real life and how 631 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:38,920 big they are and how tall they are and how 632 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,119 fast they're able to move and those kind of things. 633 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,640 And then recently we had lion cubs and then jaguar cubs, 634 00:29:44,799 --> 00:29:47,400 so and now we have this gorgeous little Tamandua baby. 635 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:49,720 So it really changes all the time. And with the 636 00:29:49,799 --> 00:29:53,359 diverse collections that zoos have, and specifically this zoo has 637 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,160 a very diverse question, it really does change all the time. 638 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,920 Of course, we love all the animals, but those favorites 639 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,920 change where I'm really expending more time at one place 640 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,000 or another, And it also sometimes depends on what we're 641 00:30:03,039 --> 00:30:05,839 working all We're working right now on an incredible design 642 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:09,400 for an overhead jaguar catwalk that'll connect two big spaces 643 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:11,519 for the jaguars and take them down next to a 644 00:30:11,599 --> 00:30:13,559 river where they can sit by the river. And so 645 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:15,920 that's a very exciting project for us, especially with our 646 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,240 two cubs that are coming up on being a year 647 00:30:18,279 --> 00:30:19,880 old now that that's going to be a very fun 648 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,559 project for me. So I'm sure jaguars are going to 649 00:30:21,599 --> 00:30:23,880 be my favorite for a while while we do that project, 650 00:30:24,559 --> 00:30:26,759 and then in the future, whatever we decide to do 651 00:30:26,839 --> 00:30:28,640 with our master plan that aligns with our mission and 652 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,680 our vision and our conservation efforts and these amazing animals 653 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:33,240 that we can bring to San Antonio for our guests 654 00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:34,960 to see, that those will probably become my favorite. So 655 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:36,720 it really does change all the time. 656 00:30:37,079 --> 00:30:37,559 Speaker 4: I love it. 657 00:30:37,759 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 3: I love it well, and I love your animals, and 658 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,559 I especially love those golden girls. They're quiet quite something, 659 00:30:43,759 --> 00:30:47,640 and I encourage everyone to go and see that video. Tim. 660 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:49,960 How can more of our listeners learn more about what 661 00:30:50,039 --> 00:30:51,400 you're doing at San Antonio Zoo. 662 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:53,839 Speaker 6: One of the best ways is to visit our website, 663 00:30:54,119 --> 00:30:56,640 Essayzoo dot org, and you can see the conservation efforts 664 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,519 we're working on. You can see what the happenings are 665 00:30:58,599 --> 00:31:00,720 at the zoo. We have a lot of we're really 666 00:31:01,119 --> 00:31:03,880 doing more of you know, the old zoo that maybe 667 00:31:04,319 --> 00:31:05,799 you and I went to or our parents went to 668 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,599 was kind of just the static, same zoo all the time. 669 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,359 We're really trying to create memorable, repeatable experiences here. So 670 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:14,160 we're doing more festivals and events, and a bigger Christmas 671 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,160 program and an expanded Halloween program now for the kids, 672 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,480 and celebrating animals in different ways, and so we're always 673 00:31:20,559 --> 00:31:22,559 doing something that keeps us fresh, top of mind where 674 00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:24,000 people are coming to visit us, because, like I say, 675 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,440 the more people that visit us, the more conservation work 676 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,279 we can do. So visiting our website essayz dot org 677 00:31:29,359 --> 00:31:32,039 and then we are very active on social media. We're 678 00:31:32,039 --> 00:31:33,839 probably one of the most active zoos in the country 679 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:37,599 on social media. So our Facebook page is Facebook, dot 680 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,960 com slash San Antonio Zoo, and that applies to Twitter 681 00:31:40,039 --> 00:31:42,000 and Instagram and all the places that you can find 682 00:31:42,039 --> 00:31:44,640 everyone these days. But we're very active out there talking, 683 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,359 telling our stories and also responding to guests questions good 684 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,039 or bad, because people have a lot of questions about zoos, 685 00:31:51,319 --> 00:31:53,480 especially the younger generations, and the importance of zoos. So 686 00:31:53,599 --> 00:31:56,000 really telling everyone what we've been talking about for the 687 00:31:56,079 --> 00:31:59,000 last you know, twenty thirty minutes is critical to our 688 00:31:59,079 --> 00:32:01,440 future to really tell people this is the purpose of 689 00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:03,920 zoos in a quarians These days, it's not just the 690 00:32:04,039 --> 00:32:06,480 menagerie collection of things to come look at like it 691 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:08,640 was of yesteryear. So it's very important for us to 692 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,039 be out there ahead of the curve and telling our story. 693 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 3: That's beautiful, Tim Well, congratulations again on being certified by 694 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:18,359 the American Humane Conservation Program. You were the number twelfth 695 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:23,000 institution worldwide to be certified in our rigorous third party 696 00:32:23,079 --> 00:32:26,359 assessment of zeus and aquariums around the world. That's quite 697 00:32:26,359 --> 00:32:28,680 an achievement and I believe you were the first zoo 698 00:32:28,799 --> 00:32:31,400 and the great state of Texas to be certified by 699 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:35,400 American Humane. So that's incredible. Kudos to you and congratulations 700 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:36,359 and all the great work. 701 00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 6: Well. 702 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,839 Speaker 3: Please, listeners do go visit Tim's site and I also 703 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,359 encourage you to follow him on Twitter. Tim Morrow on 704 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,079 Twitter is a treat. I just learned recently that hippos 705 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:52,039 spend sixteen hours submerged in water, so thank you Tim 706 00:32:52,119 --> 00:32:55,400 for that bit. I learned lots on your Twitter, so 707 00:32:55,559 --> 00:32:57,279 thanks so much. I also learned a lot about the 708 00:32:57,319 --> 00:32:59,559 San Antonio Spurs, so thank you for that too. 709 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 6: Supporting less you have it, one more championship, at least 710 00:33:02,759 --> 00:33:03,079 one more. 711 00:33:03,279 --> 00:33:05,759 Speaker 3: That's great. That's great. Well, Tim, thanks so much for 712 00:33:05,839 --> 00:33:09,160 being our very special guest on today's show and sharing 713 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,000 your love for animals. We're so grateful. 714 00:33:11,319 --> 00:33:12,799 Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you for having me the honor to 715 00:33:12,839 --> 00:33:14,400 be on and it's, like I said, honor to be 716 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,799 part of the American Humane certification program and we're very 717 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:18,279 proud of that. 718 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:20,559 Speaker 3: Thank you, Dan, Thanks so much, and keep up the 719 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,640 great work for animals around the world. Friends, thank you 720 00:33:23,839 --> 00:33:26,599 for joining us for such an important episode with this 721 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:31,359 current sixth mass extinction that we're experiencing in which twelve 722 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:34,480 plus species are dying out every day. It's more vital 723 00:33:34,559 --> 00:33:37,480 than ever to work towards protecting the special creatures whom 724 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:39,920 we share the world with. To learn more about what 725 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,640 American Humaine is doing how we're helping to conserve and 726 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:47,440 protect species, please visit www dot Humane Conservation dot org. 727 00:33:47,759 --> 00:33:50,559 Across the world and here at home. We're loving animals, 728 00:33:50,759 --> 00:33:52,680 and I know you are too. Thanks for tuning in. 729 00:33:52,799 --> 00:33:55,200 We'll see you next week here on Loving Animals with 730 00:33:55,319 --> 00:33:56,559 me doctor Robin gancer 731 00:33:57,319 --> 00:34:01,119 Speaker 2: Let's talk bets every week on them and only on 732 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,160 petlifradio dot com.