Zoo Logic
326 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago - ★★★★★ - 85 ratingsZoo Logic with animal trainer, zoo advocate, and ZOOmility author, Dr. Grey Stafford, is a weekly conversation with zoo, aquarium, and animal experts about Nature, wildlife, pets, animal training with positive reinforcement, health and welfare, research, conservation, and education, sustainability, zoo politics, activism and legislation, and all things animals! On Zoo Logic, we’ll go behind the scenes with animal professionals and influencers from around the world to explore the latest Zoos News and issues affecting wildlife, wild places, and people. Communicating with humor, cool stories, and candor, we’ll discover the interdependent connection between civilization, conservation, and commerce.
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Episodes
"There's no public opinion tooth fairy"
October 10, 2018 08:00 - 29 minutes - 22.5 MBShould zoos partner with animal rights groups in those rare instances where there's a common interest, even if the larger, long term mission of these groups is to close all zoos and aquariums? Zoo Logic's guest is Will Coggin from Berman & Co, the driving force behind the watchdog website www.HumaneWatch.org. 18:00. Has there been any indication of a shift in anti zoo groups' thinking about zoos? 20:00. Ending the chimps in research exemption under the ESA: a notable example of zoos part...
Dolphin Research Center's Training Institute
October 04, 2018 08:00 - 25 minutes - 19.4 MBFor more than 30 years, Florida's Dolphin Research Center has connected people and animals through trust-based relationships and fun. The DRC's Training Institute prepares post high school students to work with and train marine mammal, zoo, and domestic animals with positive reinforcement. Plus, in a new installment of Science Fact or Science Fiction, Dr. Kelly Jaakkola asks, is a small variety of fish self aware? https://dolphins.org http://www.ireinforce.com
What rugby teaches about life, better zoos, and saving animals
September 27, 2018 08:00 - 59 minutes - 42.6 MBFew have had as long and impactful an animal career as Brad Andrews. Best known for his many years as Chief Zoological Officer for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, he shares how lessons learned playing college rugby helped him oversee the display and care of the largest terrestrial and aquatic animal collection in the world. The same lessons may just help us save more species from extinction. Today, he directs the American Humane Association’s (http://www.americanhumane.org) Humane Conservation ...
The OdySea Couple
September 20, 2018 08:00 - 39 minutes - 28.9 MBZoo Logic features a wife and husband animal care and training team that has successfully worked in the same field and at the same facilities for more than 20 years. Jess and Dave Peranteau are part of the senior team that built the OdySea Aquarium located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Phoenix-- it's the largest aquarium in the desert southwest. From competing for the same full-time trainer job when they first met at SeaWorld of Ohio to building a life, a family, an...
When animal laws conflict with veterinary ethics
September 13, 2018 08:00 - 33 minutes - 25.1 MBZoo veterinarian Dr. Lara Croft discusses the conflict that arises when new animal laws and regulations crafted by anti-zoo interests place veterinarians at odds with their professional ethics to “do no harm." In the most notable case to date, when CA Governor Jerry Brown signed the ironically named Orca Protection and Safety Act in 2016, he placed zoo veterinarians at legal odds with their professional ethics. Specifically, this law and increasingly, others like it require veterinarians v...
Fires, Smoke, and Bears, Oh My
September 06, 2018 08:00 - 35 minutes - 26.7 MBSanta Barbara Zoo's Dr. Julie Barnes joins Zoo Logic's Dr. Grey Stafford to discuss the zoo team's evacuation response to 2017's record-breaking Thomas fire. From evacuating every creature to mobilizing a defensive position within a zoo to protect large, dangerous and not easily relocated animals like elephants and predators, every wildfire is different. Increasingly, zoos and aquariums must adapt and prepare for a variety of crisis situations including having little to no warning of unfoldi...
Helping Hungry Whales
August 30, 2018 08:00 - 47 minutes - 34.5 MBDr. Marty Haulena, a veterinarian with the Vancouver Aquarium provides Zoo Logic with a breaking Zoos News update about first of its kind medical efforts to help the malnourished wild and endangered southern resident killer whale known as J50. In a related story, with nearly 70% of all humans depending on the world ocean as their source of protein, Michelle Garis, with McRoberts Sales discusses their efforts to promote sustainable use of fisheries and to provide zoos and aquariums with in...
Good Animal Welfare: do we know it when we see it?
August 23, 2018 08:00 - 38 minutes - 28.6 MBWhat is good animal welfare and how do we measure it? Sabrina Brando, Animal Welfare Coordinator for the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums, talks with Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford about WAZA's work to increase collaboration among animal facilities and professionals to improve the lives of all animals across the globe. Also, a breaking Zoos News extended update with Marine Mammal veterinarian, Dr. Lydia Staggs on the Red Tide crisis along SW Florida's coastline harming thousands of...
Kong is King of the Animal Training World
August 16, 2018 08:00 - 43 minutes - 31.7 MBHow did an old part from a VW bus and a rock chewing German Shepherd dog named Fritz lead to the most recognizable pet toy on earth? Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford asks Kong Company cofounder, Joe Markham and lead behavior and training specialist, Mark Hines about the history of the classic dog toy that's still made in the USA, and how it has helped solve problems for animals and people for more than 40 years. Hear how Kong's unique design and quality construction continues to find new beh...
EATM: America's first college zookeeping program
August 09, 2018 08:00 - 31 minutes - 23.8 MBLong time Moorpark College professor Gary Wilson joins Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford to discuss the Exotic Animal Training and Management program, America's oldest professional zookeeping academic curriculum. Gary describes the early history of EATM at Moorpark first as a student and now as a long serving professor. Students develop advanced skills and gain practical experience learning and working at a functioning public zoo with about 130 animals. Gary and Grey discuss the evolution of...
Elephant in the Courtroom: defending against activist threats
August 02, 2018 08:00 - 47 minutes - 34.7 MBAnimal Law attorney Michelle Pardo joins host Dr. Grey Stafford to discuss legal challenges by animal rights groups using landmark laws such as the ESA, MMPA, and AWA to attack, not just zoos, but all domestic, pet, and wild animal activities, agriculture, and stakeholders. She describes important court rulings like PeTA's defeat in the "monkey selfie" case, the multimillion dollar settlement activist groups had to pay Ringling's parent company, and the evolving litigation strategies of zoo ...
Zoos and researchers join forces to preserve Nature
July 26, 2018 08:00 - 40 minutes - 29.6 MBDr. Jason Bruck joins Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford to talk about the increasingly important collaborative role between scientists and zoological facilities in order to preserve wild species. Jason describes his research on how complex social systems in cetaceans, primates and other vertebrates drive the evolution of complex learning and memory skills. They also discuss the role of a researcher and that of a paid lobbyist to answer whether a scientist can or should publish scientific pape...
"Don't Be Shy," the legacy of the panda-looking porpoise called vaquita
July 19, 2018 08:00 - 48 minutes - 35.3 MBNOAA Fisheries scientist, Dr. Barbara Taylor, joins Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford to discuss the progress of women in science, her field work to help endangered marine mammals like the Bowhead whale rebound in numbers, and the recent efforts through vaquitaCPR.org to save the nearly extinct vaquita porpoise. While the fate of the vaquita may be sealed, the cooperative model and painful lessons learned over the past few years by scientists, marine mammal veterinarians, animal trainers and ...
Zoos and Aquariums: "our time is now!"
July 12, 2018 08:00 - 41 minutes - 30.4 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Doug Cress, Chief Executive Officer of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. With nearly 400 facilities and regional associations, WAZA members wield great influence with 700M visitors per year. As the new CEO, Doug describes changes to WAZA leadership, direction, and plans for growth in membership as a more balanced and representative global organization. We also get WAZA's bold take on recent news that mega food producer, Nestle, has been ...
Leaving behind a Legacy of Kindness
July 05, 2018 08:00 - 30 minutes - 23.1 MBAnimal training consultant, Barbara Heidenreich, talks with Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford. Barbara specializes in avian, exotics and zoo animal training. She lectures and consults worldwide working with zoos, universities, veterinary professionals, pet owners and conservation projects. She has worked with over 80 facilities in over 20 countries. She is an adjunct clinical instructor at Texas A & M University. Much of her work focuses on training animals with positive reinforcement to coop...
Wear a Wetsuit to Work
June 28, 2018 08:00 - 33 minutes - 24.8 MBTrainer, media personality, and author of the book, Wear a Wetsuit to Work, Kyle Kittleson talks with Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford about his journey from growing up in the desert to successfully becoming a marine mammal trainer. Kyle's journey prompted him to write a helpful how-to guide for those aspiring to become marine mammal trainers in a highly competitive field. Plus the latest Zoos News, a legislative update from whyanimalsdothething.com’s Rachel Garner, and an all new That Sou...
Julie Scardina, conservationist, trainer & author
June 21, 2018 08:00 - 31 minutes - 23.3 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Wildlife Heroes author, media personality, and retired SeaWorld and Busch Gardens animal ambassador, Julie Scardina and her continued work with several conservation groups around the world. Seemingly busier than before retirement, in addition to live audience and media appearances, Julie is a member of several boards including the SeaWorld-Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which means evaluating hundreds of worthy funding proposals each year. At a c...
Killing Keiko author, Mark Simmons
June 14, 2018 00:00 - 53 minutes - 38.6 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Mark Simmons, author of Killing Keiko, the true story of Free Willy's return to the wild. As the behaviorist tasked with preparing Keiko mentally, physically, and behaviorally for possible release to the waters off Iceland, Mark describes firsthand why this gentle orca was never a good candidate for return and how those behind the project sealed his fate by ignoring the law and the best welfare interests of Keiko in favor of media attention and mar...
Jungle Jack Hanna
June 07, 2018 08:00 - 36 minutes - 26.8 MBJungle Jack Hanna, Emmy Award winning host of Into the Wild joins Zoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford to talk about his love for animals and the important role of zoos and aquariums as "arks" to save wildlife and wild places. From his humble beginnings cleaning cages as a kid, Jack describes his 40-year zoo career and the tremendous growth of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the adventures of filming all over the globe, and his focus on "filming with respect." Plus the latest Zoos News, a new...
International Rhino Foundation's Susie Ellis
May 31, 2018 08:00 - 24 minutes - 19 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Dr. Susie Ellis, Executive Director of the International Rhino Foundation (Rhinos.org) about the status of rhinos in Indonesia and Africa. For 25-years the IRF has been supporting research, education, and on the ground protection for the world’s remaining species of rhinos. Susie describes some of the challenges the IRF team faces to prevent rhino extinction due to habitat loss, human encroachment, and record levels of poaching. Plus the latest Z...
Elephant trainer, international consultant and animal welfare advocate, Erin Ivory
May 24, 2018 08:00 - 25 minutes - 19.6 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with elephant trainer, international consultant and animal welfare advocate, Erin Ivory about her work since leading the effort to bring Mila, New Zealand's lone elephant to the U.S. to live out her days with other elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Erin discusses her work with SE Asia zoos and elephant camps to improve positive reinforcement-based training and expand the use of enrichment. According to Erin, sometimes the biggest impediment to achieving b...
Clicker Training's Ken Ramirez and the importance of behavioral science to saving wild species
May 16, 2018 23:44 - 36 minutes - 27.3 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with long time marine mammal, pet, and wild animal training expert, Ken Ramirez, about the growing importance of science-based behavioral management for preserving wild populations of animals. Ken recalls his efforts to encourage primates through operant conditioning to use their natural distress call to alert nearby park rangers to the presence of poachers. He also describes his successful efforts to mitigate human - polar bear conflicts in the arctic....
Dolphin Cognition: reality vs public perception with Dr. Kelly Jaakkola
May 16, 2018 23:23 - 18 minutes - 14.6 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Dr. Kelly Jaakkola, the Director of Research for the Dolphin Research Center on dolphin cognition and how scientists describe animal intelligence. Kelly and Grey discuss how the public narrative and widespread misperceptions about dolphins and orcas affect public attitudes of these animals living in the wild and those living in human care. Plus the latest Zoos News and an all new That Sounds Wild.
Carolyn "mob lawyer" Hennesy's journey to animal advocate (part 1)
May 16, 2018 23:18 - 23 minutes - 18 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Emmy Award winning actor, best selling author, and zoo animal advocate, Carolyn Hennesy on the difference between advocacy and activism, and why the difference matters. Fans of Carolyn from her work on General Hospital, True Blood, Jesse and more will enjoy her candor describing her own personal journey from activist to vocal zoo advocate. Plus the latest Zoos News, a legislative update on the progress of the Big Cat Public Safety Act by whyanima...
Dr. Kelly Jaakkola and the role of science in the debate over the need for zoos
May 16, 2018 23:00 - 22 minutes - 17.2 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Dr. Kelly Jaakkola, the Director of Research for the Dolphin Research Center on the importance of science in the debate over whether animals like dolphins should be kept in human care. Kelly and Grey discuss how the public narrative and widespread misperceptions about dolphins and orcas affect public attitudes of these animals living in the wild versus those living in human care. Plus the latest Zoos News, an all new That Sounds Wild, and a legis...
Animal Advocacy vs Activism with guest Carolyn Hennesy (part 2)
May 16, 2018 21:22 - 25 minutes - 19.6 MBZoo Logic host Dr. Grey Stafford talks with Emmy Award winning actor, best selling author, and zoo animal advocate, Carolyn Hennesy on her experiences with elephants in SE Asia. Fans of Carolyn from her work on General Hospital, True Blood, Jesse and more will enjoy her candor describing her own personal journey from activist to vocal zoo advocate. Plus the latest Zoos News, an update on efforts to remove Los Angeles Zoo's Billy the elephant to a sanctuary, and an all new That Sounds Wild.