Sustainability Now! | Dan Maloney | Louisville Zoo Director | Aug. 22, 2022

On this week’s show, your host, Justin Mog, puts down his binoculars for a chat with Dan Maloney, who stepped in as the new Director of the Louisville Zoo (http://louisvillezoo.org) last fall. Dan comes to us with over 39 years of experience working in zoos around the world. He speaks about what is so special about the Louisville Zoo and what drew him here. The Louisville Zoo is a non-profit organization, but it’s also an agency of Louisville Metro Government, and it is the state zoo of Kentucky! In fact, the Kentucky Legislature recently made their first appropriation to support the zoo to tune of $10 million.

Opened in 1969, the Louisville Zoo currently exhibits more than 1,100 animals on 130 acres of natural settings representing zoogeographical areas, specific habitat types or special education areas including: Glacier Run, Africa, Islands, New World Exhibits (North, Central and South America), Australian Outback, the HerpAquarium and the Metazoo Education Center. The Zoo’s award-winning Islands, Gorilla Forest and Glacier Run exhibits have been recognized by AZA for their excellence and innovation. The 2016 Master Plan address the challenges and vast opportunities for the Louisville Zoo.

Listen in to learn about the zoo’s role in conservation and preservation of endangered species, including their highly successful captive breeding population of black-footed ferrets, North America’s most endangered mammal, their newest Hartmann’s mountain zebra born in May, and how the Louisville Zoo is a Certified Sensory Inclusive Location.

And be sure to join us out at the Louisville Zoo for their adults-only annual fundraiser: Brew at the Zoo & Wine Too on Saturday, August 27, 5:30-9:30pm with tastings from craft breweries & wineries, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, animal encounters, and musical entertainment from the duo Kevin and Lauren. All proceeds will benefit the Zoo’s education, conservation, preservation and cultivation projects.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com