Went to the zoo
- Thread starter Kent E
- Start date
Hehhe, yeah, unfortunately, they are aware that corals are part of the animal kingdom....
Admittedly, the 'concerns' that come up, can be argued 'valid' in certain circumstances (no zoo-keeper in their right mind would house something incompatible w/ tigers)... And they apply that logic in a blanket affect to the entire population. I see where they're coming from, and understand why they have those rules - to the zoo, their accredation is everything, so there's really no wiggle room the staff can take (I even went so far as to bring up the idea of selling the corals through a LFS and using it as a means to promote responsible aquaculture - positive PR for the zoo, and we can pay for our stuff as well).. can't take livestock out of the zoo. I met up w/ Mitch Carl (in charge of the tanks at the Omaha Zoo) at a conference in Michigan a few years back, talked to him about trading corals, was very keen to the idea... Brought it up to the zoo (c'mon, swapping frags w/ another zoo, that's a no brainer, right?)
Well, maybe if we could get the right forms....
... I don't disagree it seems very silly to you and me, but I do see where the folks from the zoo are coming from - their hands are tied too. They were all very excited at the prospect of the tank paying for itself (money is just huge over there, it's sad, really, how much that holds things back), but the one girl had to put a stop to the conversation immediately: "We can't allow live organisms to leave the property."
Sigh.. So, there's a will, it's just the way, that's complicated. You just have to read between the lines....
- Mac
Admittedly, the 'concerns' that come up, can be argued 'valid' in certain circumstances (no zoo-keeper in their right mind would house something incompatible w/ tigers)... And they apply that logic in a blanket affect to the entire population. I see where they're coming from, and understand why they have those rules - to the zoo, their accredation is everything, so there's really no wiggle room the staff can take (I even went so far as to bring up the idea of selling the corals through a LFS and using it as a means to promote responsible aquaculture - positive PR for the zoo, and we can pay for our stuff as well).. can't take livestock out of the zoo. I met up w/ Mitch Carl (in charge of the tanks at the Omaha Zoo) at a conference in Michigan a few years back, talked to him about trading corals, was very keen to the idea... Brought it up to the zoo (c'mon, swapping frags w/ another zoo, that's a no brainer, right?)
Well, maybe if we could get the right forms....
... I don't disagree it seems very silly to you and me, but I do see where the folks from the zoo are coming from - their hands are tied too. They were all very excited at the prospect of the tank paying for itself (money is just huge over there, it's sad, really, how much that holds things back), but the one girl had to put a stop to the conversation immediately: "We can't allow live organisms to leave the property."
Sigh.. So, there's a will, it's just the way, that's complicated. You just have to read between the lines....
- Mac
dreaminmel
New member
:eek2:
Has the prospect been taken directly to the powers that be? It seems they are taking it all a bit too literally. What do they do when they DO have live organisms leave the property such as the animals that don't live in our climate year round that get brought in occassionally? There has to be some kind of form that can be drawn up on all of this. I can understand that they must protect all animals that are in their care and I can appreciate the position that they are in but fragging corals is quite a bit different than letting a tiger stroll around Rochester...
Red tape is in all actuality able to be cut it's just that the process needs to be carefully undertaken with great attention to detail and I'm sure the zoo needs to have in writing that they wouldn't be held liable for any negative affects from frag trading.
I know... there's been a few things over the years that still have not been resolved with the zoo completely but am sure that where there is a will there is a way. Maybe I'm just to optimistic?
Has the prospect been taken directly to the powers that be? It seems they are taking it all a bit too literally. What do they do when they DO have live organisms leave the property such as the animals that don't live in our climate year round that get brought in occassionally? There has to be some kind of form that can be drawn up on all of this. I can understand that they must protect all animals that are in their care and I can appreciate the position that they are in but fragging corals is quite a bit different than letting a tiger stroll around Rochester...
Red tape is in all actuality able to be cut it's just that the process needs to be carefully undertaken with great attention to detail and I'm sure the zoo needs to have in writing that they wouldn't be held liable for any negative affects from frag trading.
I know... there's been a few things over the years that still have not been resolved with the zoo completely but am sure that where there is a will there is a way. Maybe I'm just to optimistic?
dreaminmel
New member
Na Kent, the cooler's for the frozen fish food....
It's not the animal crossing the borders of the property, that's at issue. If we wanted to create a touch-tank to take on tour w/ Nemo to bring to the local schools, I'm sure it could get approved. What they don't want to get into, is (essentially) selling livestock.
And yes, the power's that be are of this feeling. I had a frank conversation w/ one of the zookeepers in charge about the topic, as she was sitting there on a golf cart w/ the director... They're not interested in selling frags at the LFS (even if it means losing a source of funding) A "Fund Raising Raffle" as part of a URS meeting got an even icier reception. I get the impression the red tape is a little thicker than normal when it comes to stuff like this. Taking an animal off site and bringing it back, while under supervision is one thing. Outright selling? Far different.
- Mac
And yes, the power's that be are of this feeling. I had a frank conversation w/ one of the zookeepers in charge about the topic, as she was sitting there on a golf cart w/ the director... They're not interested in selling frags at the LFS (even if it means losing a source of funding) A "Fund Raising Raffle" as part of a URS meeting got an even icier reception. I get the impression the red tape is a little thicker than normal when it comes to stuff like this. Taking an animal off site and bringing it back, while under supervision is one thing. Outright selling? Far different.
- Mac
