IT"S ALL HAPPENING AT THE (OAKLAND) ZOO!!

Our speaker on June 15 certainly has the aura of an Indiana Jones. And indeed, he has something to do with nature and wild animals.Dr. Joel Parrott (right) is President & CEO of the Oakland Zoo.Born in the Adirondack region of New York State, Dr. Parrott spent his high school years in Miami, before moving to Colorado to attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After graduating from veterinary school, he completed an internship at the Denver Zoo and later went into private practice in Castro Valley. His specialty is exotic animals and he was a consulting veterinarian for Oakland Zoo until 1984, when he became the Staff Veterinarian and Assistant Director. A year later, he became the Executive Director at Oakland Zoo, which was founded in 1922 and now encompasses 100 acres (comparable to the renown San Diego Zoo).

Dr. Parrott is an avid conservationist and naturalist. His presentation demonstrated the Oakland Zoo's commitment to animal conservation with their new "California Trail" project that will include 20 acres for new animal enclosures, an interpretive overlook with dramatic vistas of San Francisco Bay, a California Interpretive Center, a camping area with platform tents for overnight experiences at the Zoo, and a children’s play and learn area.  Within large enclosures that support natural habitats, Zoo visitors will discover several of California’s native animals including the grey wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, mountain lion, jaguar, bison, bald eagle, and California condor.  Dr. Parrott recounted the particular challenge of obtaining and transporting bison to their new home at the zoo -- and related the significant environmental and sociological impact that bison had on the West, particularly for Native American people. The new exhibit will also include a gondola, a restaurant overlooking the Bay and other state-of-the-art facilities.