INTERVIEW: Nat Geo keeps exploring ‘Secrets of the Zoo’
Photo: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the largest facilities in the United States. Photo courtesy of National Geographic / Beth Caldwell Photography / Provided by High 10 Media with permission.
Visiting the zoo is an American pastime shared by children, parents and everyone in between. Secrets of the Zoo, now airing on National Geographic, takes viewers behind the scenes of one of the largest institutions in the United States — the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium near Columbus, Ohio.
New episodes of the reality series air Sundays at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo receives full access to the facilities, providing the TV audience with a 360-degree look at the work of caretakers and the animals in their care.
Tom Stalf serves as president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He started as a zookeeper and then worked his way up to several jobs in zoo management. When he was selected to head the Niabi Zoo in Illinois in 1995, he was the youngest zoo director in the country.
Suzi Rapp is vice president for animal programs at the zoo and has served in several capacities for the institution over a multi-decade career. She is also in control of animal ambassadors who travel from the zoo.
Both Stalf and Rapp recently exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about Secrets of the Zoo. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When dealing with live animals, is every day at the zoo different than the last?
Stalf: As president and CEO of the zoo and The Wilds, I am ultimately responsible for the 10,000 animals in the care of our expert team members, which includes keepers and animal management specialists, certified animal nutritionists and veterinarians who have advanced certifications in exotic animal medicine and animal welfare. Similar to how people feel about their pets at home, the animals in our care are like family members. Together, we celebrate our successes and mourn the inevitable losses. Our animal care is science-based but can also [be] an emotional roller coaster for our devoted team members.
Rapp: I am the vice president for animal programs at the zoo, and I oversee the coordination of all animals that travel from the zoo for outreach programs. On any given day, we are in our community doing educational programs for schools and organizations, presenting in theaters, and being interviewed during local and national TV appearances. We are also leaders in providing up-close and personal experiences to our in-park guests. We connect people and wildlife and inspire them to make a difference to join us in saving species. Each experience is different, and I never tire of seeing the amazed expression on people’s faces when they make that connection with wildlife.
Were you immediately into the idea of being followed by cameras for the reality series?
Stalf: Secrets of the Zoo showcases the amazing bonds between our team members and the animals in their care. In my current role as president and CEO, I strive to provide our team with the opportunities and resources to excel at providing the very best animal care that result in forming those bonds. That means I am no longer involved in the day-to-day care of individual animals, which is the focus of the show. I guess that makes me a proud member of the supporting cast!
Rapp: We love the film crew! From the beginning, everyone agreed that animal care and welfare would never be compromised by filming, and the crew has become trusted members of our extended team. They are ever-present in the background as we go through our day. The hardest part is remembering I’m wearing a microphone when having personal conversations!
When did you first fall in love with animals? When did you realize working with animals would be a lifelong passion?
Stalf: I always knew that I wanted to work with animals and began working at my first zoo after receiving a degree in biology. I started as a keeper 28 years ago and held my first zoo director position just four years later. The zoo world is a collaborative community, and I’m surrounded by passionate people who have committed their lives to saving wildlife and wild places.
Rapp: I was born and raised in Columbus and always knew I wanted to work at our zoo. As soon as I was old enough, I began volunteering as a teenager and then worked seasonally in our education department during college. After college, I was hired full time, and I never left! I feel privileged and blessed to work with amazing animals and dedicated professionals each and every day.
There are criticisms of zoos and having animals in captivity. What do you say to these critics?
Stalf: Secrets of the Zoo provides us with an incredible opportunity to tell our stories and to show people the work that goes on behind the scenes. I believe that if everyone had a true understanding of what we do, how we do it, and more importantly, why we do it, they would be an advocate for accredited zoos and aquariums. We are the leader in animal care and welfare, and we are saving species from extinction with our zoo-based programs as well as global conservation initiatives.
Rapp: One of my personal projects is a collaborative effort with The Ohio State University’s Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research and Education. Together, we are conducting research-based studies regarding the impact that seeing live animals has on the public’s desire to save species. While the results have not yet been published, I can tell you definitively that zoos matter!
What does the future of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium look like? What’s on the horizon?
Stalf: The Columbus Zoo and The Wilds provide more than 3 million people with wildlife experiences each year. The 10,000 animals in our care represent almost 700 species, more than half of which are listed as threatened or endangered. In addition to participating approximately 150 Species Survival Plans with the animals in our care, we currently support 105 conservation projects in 42 countries. Wildlife species face many challenges, but we are seizing each and every opportunity to save animals from extinction with boots-on-the-ground initiatives and engaging experiences to inspire others to make a difference for wildlife locally and globally.
Rapp: We are always growing and expanding our efforts to connect people with wildlife. We are currently constructing an expansive new area of the zoo. Opening in 2020, Adventure Cove will include habitats for sea lions and seals with educational (and entertaining!) presentations throughout the day. It will also include a new Animal Encounters Village for meaningful and impactful guest experiences and interactions with a variety of animals. Our mantra is ‘Touch the Heart to Teach the Mind,’ and this new area will provide multiple opportunities for us to further this goal so we can continue to inspire guests to take action in protecting the future of these incredible species.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Secrets of the Zoo airs new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. on Nat Geo. Click here for more information.
