Zoology at Maymont

Outline

•Background on Maymont Park

•Wildlife department

•Role of zoologists

•My internship duties

•Park management issues

•Ties to environmental studies

History of Maymont

Estate built by James and Sallie Dooley in 1893. When they died, it was left to the people of Richmond,

including: architectural complex 100-acre landscape collection of furnishings

Their wishes were set in the will

Current Attractions

Maymont House Nature and Visitor

Center Gardens Carriage Collection

Wildlife Exhibits Children’s Farm Arboretum and 100 Acre

Park

Map

Wildlife Department

Over 700 animals Approximately 150

species Mostly fish 5 full time zoologists Also aquarists and

environmental educators on staff

Maymont’s Wildlife

Farm animals: goats,sheep, rabbits, pigs, chickens, ducks, donkey.

Zoo animals: bears, bobcats, raptors, red foxes, deer, bison, cows, horses, aviary birds.

Nature center: otters, turtles, snakes, fish.

Zoologist Description

Each worked full time keeping wildlife department running

All held BA or BS in wildlife or environmental field

Salary of approximately $20,000/year($11 per hour)

Regular duties:– cleaning– feeding– projects

Some visitor interaction Assisted regularly by

volunteers, part time staff, and/or community service participants

Intern Morning Duties

Clean barn Examine bear habitat Clean bear and otter

habitats Prepare meat Clean nature center

animal areas

Intern Afternoon Duties

Count deer and bison Feed animals around

park Put animals back into

inside enclosures for the night

Projects

Animal Care

All the animals have unique needs, zoologists work to find the best ways to meet these.

Most care (such as cleaning and feeding practices) are uniform for each species, and developed from current knowledge and experimentation.

Always working to maintain park and expand, through enrichment and research.

Spotlight: Pigs

Donation Funding Training Process Study Education

Environmental and Community Contributions

Public access to nature. Cares for orphaned and

injured animals. Environmental

education.– current issues– programs– animals

Park Management Issues

Fundraising limitations:

City of Richmond and Maymont Foundation

Budgeting difficult when dependent on donations

Conflicting interests between departments: Maymont unity

Adopt a Living Thing

Fundraising program Directly to animal care Encourages community

involvement

Environmental Studies

Interesting Facts

Otters more dangerous than bears

Animals bond with people

Not allowed to give names

There is such a thing as a stupid question