In December, I trekked the Indian Himalayas for two weeks in search of snow leopards with Spanish couple I didn’t know, a tour guide, and five local trackers. It was as cold as you can imagine – reaching temperatures of -35° F at night. We slept in tents on frozen ground, and in homestays… Continue reading.
“I think the biggest role that we play as zoo designers is in creating the connective threads that link people to animals and their conservation stories. And we do that through really visual, relatable storytelling and by creating powerful emotional experiences that really remind people that they can have a hand in conservation.… Continue reading.
Our 2016 Mardi Gras show-stealer, Elphie, returned to the public scene this weekend at Earth Day to continue to gather support to ban the sale of illegal ivory. More than 62,000 people attended St. Louis Earth Day 2016, taking countless selfies with Elphie, making our big purple elephant a big star on Instagram and Twitter… Continue reading.
Recently, PGAV Destinations embarked on the implementation of a corporate volunteer program, PGAVIA, focusing (at least initially) on conservation efforts. A sizable portion of our work involves animals (at zoos, aquariums, and theme parks) and usually attempts to communicate a conservation message to the public in an effort to inspire guests to take conservation action. We therefore… Continue reading.
A year after my divorce, I sat across from a very uncharacteristically uncomfortable Al Cross, vice president at PGAV, for my annual review—me, in the full throes of emotional breakdown: a flood of tears, hitching breathing, hiccups, the whole nine yards. Not because the criticism was too harsh, the salary too low, my future bleak; but… Continue reading.
Below is the third and final of three installments of a recent research report. “Enriching the Visitor Experience: PGAV Destinations and Environmental Design,” clearly defines and gives examples of what enrichment is today; how exceptionally well-designed enrichment can greatly benefit the visitor experience; and why enrichment isn’t a luxury in zoo design, but rather an… Continue reading.