New Zoo Review

It's been 11 years since my beginning at the zoo. Shortly before my father passed, I was accepted as a technician in service of the zoo's mechanical systems. Several years back, due to a variety of circumstances, I was promoted to middle management. Many stories to tell but nowadays I find the "regime", which is always changing it seems, has hastened down the road to corporate imbecility. Now I have no inherent problem with capitalism, as it were, but what was once a family of generally like-minded individuals harmonizing and having a single purpose (we're really all there for the animals) it feels like a job which all too often is a chore. I am not privy to all happenings and decisions but something feels wrong. People are looking for answers. Why are we still here?

In contrast to the amazing press we are getting these days the atmosphere sometimes seems more like a forced-labor camp. Employee to employee relationships seem strained and all too defensive a posture is taking place zoo-wide. In spite of the fact that our pride Sumatran rhino, Emi, has given birth thrice to successful captive-born calves (never happened before anywhere on earth) and we introduced one back into the wild recently (well a preserve, actually, where he'll have a chance to mate in a wild setting) and besides the fact that our Center for Reproduction is doing tremendous work and realizing some of the institution's highest goals, something is wrong in Zooville.

I love my job. I am passionate about the ideals, the animals needs and the people I interact with daily. Lately, however, I find myself staring after the world I have created for myself and wondering what it's all about. Summary dismissals of long-term employees (who had done nothing apparent to bring on such treatment ) have been counted. More than a few found themselves being hastily ushered out the door. These are people who have felt this place their second home being told they have two hours to be off the premises (with no forewarning).

What happened to our zoo? The zoo where its people AND its collection of flora and fauna were its pride? The original charter could perhaps shed some light (together with its recent revisions). This over 100-year old institution has a amazing history of successes. I am not one to run out on a work in progress, so these days, I search for an answer...


"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone."

John Maynard Keynes