Tag archives for Jordan Schaul
Former AZA Director/William Conway Chair of Conservation & Science Discusses the State of Zoos & their Future
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on December 2, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews his friend and colleague Dr. Michael Hutchins, one of the foremost experts on zoos in the world, to continue discussion about the future of zoos, related conservation breeding facilities and their role in global species preservation. Michael is the Director of Conservation and Science for Safari Professionals (SP), one…
Shedd Aquarium Studies Invasive Fish Species Impacting the Great Lakes Ecosystem
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 29, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews Shedd Aquarium researchers about the facility’s Great Lakes conservation research programs, which include studies on invasive species. In the face of all the threats that challenge the Earth’s pelagic and coastal zones of fresh water, marine and brackish water bodies, Shedd Aquarium remains committed to the conservation of aquatic…
Actor Eric Roberts Talks Animal Rescue from Russian Brown Bears to Backyard Bees
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 29, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul and legendary celebrity animal advocates the Barbi Twins interview actor Eric Roberts about his animal rescue work and his family’s love for the animal kingdom. Eric Roberts is a Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated actor, vegan animal activist and environmentalist. He began his career in 1977 playing the original…
Grizzly Bear Activity in Response to Traffic Volume and Road Densities
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 21, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul reports on the first study to examine grizzly bear behavior in response to spatial and temporal variations in traffic patterns using traffic models. In April, while filming a segment for the BBC series Dangerous Roads with actor Charley Boorman, I reported on the impact of roads on wildlife for Nat…
Richard Pryor’s Legacy Lives On—Advocating on Behalf of Laboratory Animals
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 17, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul and legendary celebrity animal activists—the Barbi Twins—interview Jennifer Lee Pryor, wife of the late Richard Pryor about his legacy as a crusader for the voiceless members of the animal kingdom. Jennifer Lee Pryor was twice married to Richard Pryor—one the most influential comedians of the 20th century. Richard was an…
No Funny Business in Animal Rescue: Interview with Comedian Elayne Boosler
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 15, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul and legendary animal activists—the Barbi Twins—interview funny lady Elayne Boosler about her more serious interest in animal rescue. Elayne Boosler initially began rescue work with Boxer Rescue of Los Angeles in the Mid 90′s. She eventually joined the organization’s Board of Directors. More recently, Elayne founded her own animal rescue…
Shedd Aquarium & Project Seahorse Collaborate in Southeast Asia
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 8, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews Dr. Charles Knapp, Shedd Aquarium’s Vice President of Conservation and Research, to learn about some of the institution’s field conservation work in Southeast Asia. As Shedd Aquarium embarks on new on-the-ground field conservation initiatives to save aquatic environments, they have recently deployed three post-doctoral researchers around the world to…
‘Stars for Stripes’—Celebrities Come Out to Support Tiger Conservation
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 3, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul introduces Katie Cleary’s Peace 4 Animals organization, which has teamed up with Born Free USA to host a Star-Studded Red Carpet Gala—”Stars for Stripes”—in support of Bengal tiger conservation. Two years ago the world celebrated Year of the Tiger. Hopefully it won’t be the last time we pay tribute to…
Zoo Conservation Notes—November 2012 Edition
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 2, 2012 Two of the most prestigious zoological parks in the Midwest have some exciting updates to share for this inaugural edition of Zoo Conservation Notes. Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo announced the release of an endangered Mexican gray wolf at a USFWS refuge in New Mexico last Saturday that was previously held at the suburban Chicago…
Interview with San Diego Zoo’s Animal Enrichment Expert—Dr. Lance Miller
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 2, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews environmental enrichment expert Dr. Lance Miller of San Diego Zoo Global’s Institute for Conservation Research. Today, zoos adhere to strict environmental enrichment protocols to ensure that the animal ambassadors in their respective collections are stimulated and encouraged to perform natural behaviors. Enrichment programs are carefully planned and science-based, just…
‘Housewife’ Joanna Krupa has Cat Fight with Sandy for Hurricane Pets
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 1, 2012 Hurricane Sandy interrupted my regular Q & A blog where celebrity animal activists, the Barbi Twins, interview their celebrity friends, which was going to be Joanna Krupa, the ‘hot’ Miami housewife. Instead, Joanna contacted the Barbi Twins since she was stuck in NY because of Hurricane Sandy, and asked how she could help hands-on with Hurricane Sandy’s…
World Expert on Seals Discusses their Fate in Light of Climate Change
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on October 25, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews one of his first mentors—Dr. David Aurioles Gamboa—concerning the future of seals, sea lions, fur seals and walruses given the predicted impact of climate change on the global populations of these marine mammals. In 1995, Jordan conducted census work and activity budget studies on California sea lions under David’s…
Wildlife SOS-India Ends the 400 Year-Old Practice of Persecuting Bears—a Conservation Success Story
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on October 11, 2012 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul talks with his friends and colleagues Geeta Seshamani and Kartick Satyanarayan, the founders of Wildlife SOS India, and Nikki Sharp (Director of Wildlife SOS USA) about how they put an end to the 400 year-old practice of dancing bears in an exclusive Skype interview across the world. Below is the story…
“Black Bear”—the New Exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo for a Triplet of Orphans
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on October 11, 2012 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul interviews Tom Ness of the Minnesota Zoo about the new bear exhibit in Apple Valley. The Medtronic Minnesota trail at the Minnesota Zoo in Minneapolis is home to one of the most complete living collections of Nearctic carnivorans in the world, if not the most complete. The exhibit features coyote, grey…
Willie Nelson’s Family & Friends Talk Animals
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on October 5, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul recently asked the world famous, celebrity models and animal activists—the Barbi Twins—to find out how some of their celebrity friends are using their clout to help animals around the world. Within a few moments, the Twins arranged a sit-down interview with two other celebrity sisters—Amy and Raelyn Nelson—children of Willie…
Namaste—National Yoga Month is Here!
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 13, 2012 Namaste! How is your yoga practice going? Whether it is going well or just “going,” it will be cheaper this month in celebration of National Yoga Month. Designated by the Department of Health and Human Services as a month of national observance, the celebratory event is intended to raise awareness for the practice of yoga…
“Don’t Be Slow to Save a Loris”—Announcing Loris Awareness Week
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 10, 2012 Direct you to where you might find an Asian lorisine at the zoo? “Not a chance,” I would say—at least that’s what I used to say—until I was introduced to one as a professional zoo keeper. As a kid, enamored with zoos and zoo animals, I was impressed with charismatic megafauna and utterly unimpressed with…
A Small Tale of Human-Elephant Conflict on Kenya’s Northern Border
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 9, 2012 One of my favorite zoo signs was created by the folks at the world famous San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park (AKA Wild Animal Park). If you’re a zoophile, you have probably seen this sign! For sale in the zoo shop and posted around the two wildlife campuses, the sign lists a whole bunch…
Back to Basics: Green Chamber of Commerce Announces Annual Event
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 7, 2012 I’m excited to be attending the Green Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Event as a special guest this year. The theme is Back to the Basics, which couldn’t be more timely for me, as I’ve chronicled the green endeavors of the zoo and aquarium industry over the past few years. These living natural history institutions serve…
Minnesota Zoo’s Moose Get Waterbeds for Thermoregulatory Study
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 27, 2012 The Minnesota Zoo is known for its innovative exhibits, which include some of the best displays of temperate and subarctic fauna anywhere in the world. Recently, the Zoo has borrowed some husbandry techniques from the livestock industry to help care for moose, a species so hard to manage in captivity that very few zoological institutions…
Bay Area Zoos & Sonoma State University to Release Western Pond Turtles
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 17, 2012 The Oakland Zoo will release 44 western or Pacific pond turtles today as part of a “Headstart” program for the imperiled aquatic chelonians, which once ranged from Baja, California to Washington state. As part of a 5 year collaborative surrogate rearing program, zoo keepers at the San Francisco and Oakland zoos have worked with herpetologists…
Interview with Shedd Aquarium’s Manager of Conservation Communications Development—Meg Matthews
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 13, 2012 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul interviews Shedd Aquarium’s Manager of Conservation Communications Development, Meg Matthews, to learn just how Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, one of the leaders in the industry, has embraced the green movement. With zoo and aquariums contributing over 170 million dollars to aquatic and terrestrial field conservation in as recent as 2010, there is…
Is the “Hype” on Swine Flu for the Birds or People or All of the Above?
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 12, 2012 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul looks at the “hype” surrounding the recent epidemic of swine flu, its ecology, and nomenclature system, and the perception concerning emerging influenza strains in the context of domestic and exotic animal species. As a zoo aficionado, and professional, I’m always concerned that novel strains of influenza—those infecting people, but of animal…
To Trek or Lek: A Guide to Dating for Grouse and Humans
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 2, 2012 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul takes an interesting look at the birds and the bees and lekking behavior with a human twist. When I first learned about lekking behavior in an undergraduate behavioral ecology class, I felt blessed for two things: First, and foremost, I was grateful not to be a gallinaceous bird like a quail,…
Two-fold Increase Reported in Grizzly Bear Deaths in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on July 24, 2012 A spike in the mortality rate for grizzly bears has been reported in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem earlier in the season than is typical according to my colleague Frank van Manen. Dr. van Manen is the Team Leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and President of the International Association for Bear Research &…
