Necessity is the Mother of Invention: How Small Institutions Meet Everyday Challenges When Resources are Limited

The plight of the small zoo or aquarium is one of creatively resolving big challenges every day. These challenges are often met with not only limited funds, but also limited resources and personnel. Despite all of this, pound for pound small institutions make impressively significant impact by connecting people to wildlife and wild places in unique and personal ways. Small zoos and aquariums also contribute in the fight to save species from extinction, just like their larger brethren. At a time when Earth is facing its 6^th great extinction, zoos and aquariums, regardless of size, are critical to help educate the public about the need to preserve our natural resources and to help restore the natural balance of our delicate ecosystems.

PGAV Destinations director of zoo and aquarium planning & design Stacey Ludlum will moderate this session, identifying some of the unique issues that small zoos and aquariums face while trying to make the greatest impact on guest engagement, conservation, animal care, and facilities management. Utilizing a Question and Answer format, a team of five panelists, representing five small zoos and aquariums in various forms, leadership organization, AZA accreditation status, and age, will be on hand to answer questions, lead discussion, help identify and solve problems, and share solutions.

This session will utilize a mixture of pre-selected questions directed at each institutions unique situation, natural discussion flow, and will crowdsource questions via a Twitter feed and text.

Panel

• Bob Cisneros
  • Curator / Director
  • Big Bear Alpine Zoo

• Nikii Finch-Morales
  • Director of Wildlife
  • CuriOdyssey

• Jessica Hoffman-Balder
  • General Curator
  • Greensboro Science Center 

• Gretchen Ziegler
  • Director
  • Sequoia Park Zoo

• Andy Allison
  • Director of Living Collections
  • National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium