Zoo Logic

Dr. Jason Bruck returns to discuss the seemingly increasing erosion of the peer review process by some authors looking to expand their legitimacy through overuse of self-citations and passing opinion articles off as science. The most egregious offenders of the process produce commentaries devoid of data or that refuse to address credible criticisms or contrasting data sets raised by other scientists through peer-reviewed rebuttals. Jason describes what structural business model changes and other obstacles have occurred to scientific publishing which have contributed to the rise in dubious publications printed in historically rigorous journals. Animal Care Software [https://animalcaresoftware.com]

Susan Kleven is the long time director of the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX.  She returns to Zoo Logic to discuss her upcoming children's book telling the true story of Nzuri, a premature giraffe whose first time mother was unable to nurse or otherwise care for him.  Nzuri Grows Up: A Preemie Giraffe's Story coauthored by Jennifer Keats Curtis is due out in wide release this fall through Arbordale Publishing [https://www.arbordalepublishing.com]. Now more than six years old, Nzuri is thriving with the zoological team that beat the odds and gave this underdeveloped calf a chance at life. Animal Care Software [https://animalcaresoftware.com]

Behaviorist Tim Sullivan has been with the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for 47 years, nearly half the history of that leading institution. After two decades as a marine mammal trainer and leader, Tim moved to an internal consultant role at the zoo by guiding the change from free to protected contact with their elephant team. Needless to say those were challenging times early on, which led Tim to examine his teaching methods, not so much with animals, but with humans!  Since then he has temporarily (often for years at a time) led 4 other areas and departments.  These days he is happy to settle back into his role as behavioral coach for the entire collection and its animal care teams. He shares his insights on where we've been as an industry and where he thinks animal husbandry is headed in terms of an increasingly wholistic approach combining behavior, exhibit design, veterinary and nutrition. Animal Care Software [https://animalcaresoftware.com]

John M. Kinder is director of American Studies, professor of history at Oklahoma State University and author of the new book, World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo245346797.html]. He chronicles the horrific effects of war on zoos throughout Europe, the US and the South Pacific and the sometimes heroic efforts by keepers and the public to preserve their animal charges even in times of scarcity and personal starvation. Zoos that were spared bombing still had to wrestle with difficult questions such as which animals should be euthanized when food supplies were low? Or which should be killed to prevent the escape of dangerous animals? Kinder examines the era from the Great Depression through the Cold War and its cumulative effects resulting in the zoological institutions and some of the policies we see today. Animal Care Software [https://animalcaresoftware.com]

Tom LaRock is a long time zoo administrator turned wildlife safari travel operator.  He founded Rewild Safaris [https://rewildsafaris.com] to connect his travel organization with conservation organizations around the globe working on the ground to solve problems and preserve species and habitats. For him, the meaning behind rewild extends beyond the effort to return species to recovered habitats but also to connect travelers with the wild and wildlife. Animal Care Software [https://animalcaresoftware.com]