Columbus zoo news full#
Columbus zoo news tv#

Columbus zoo news tv#

The film tied the zoo and Hanna to the big cat trade, showing that some tiger, lion and snow leopard cubs that had been Hanna’s fuzzy and adorable companions on TV neither came from nor returned to the zoo. Yet even more wrenching were the accusations leveled in the documentary “The Conservation Game,” which premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on April 6. Twenty-nine full- and part-time employees were furloughed, and 33 non-animal care positions across the zoo and The Wilds were eliminated. Yet, that year, it was closed for weeks, ultimately sustaining $20 million in operational losses. More than half its earned revenue comes from admissions and other sales, such as food and gift items. Typically, Columbus Zoo is open 363 days a year. The spending abuse was a particularly painful blow after the pandemic-related financial hardship of 2020. Investigations by Ohio’s state auditor and attorney general are still underway, their spokespeople said. The findings were confirmed in subsequent reviews, including a forensic analysis that found financial abuses by Stalf, Bell and two other former executives cost the zoo more than $630,000. Interim CEO Jerry Borin has overseen zoo business since then-CEO Tom Stalf and his chief financial officer, Greg Bell, resigned in March after a Columbus Dispatch investigation found they allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo and sought tickets for family members to attend entertainment events. “The people who took liberties in their power are gone, and the people who are cleaning up the mess in the room, under new leadership, we’re moving forward. “We can’t change what happened in the past, but we’ve done a lot to admit those wrongs, to apologize and to address our shortcomings,” said zoo spokesperson Nicolle Gomez Racey. Former CEO Thomas Stalf agreed to pay back $400,000, although Stalf’s attorney said he agreed to pay back the money so that he could move forward with his life, but alleged that his client was made a scapegoat.įormer Columbus Zoo director Jack Hanna was also under fire last year after being accused of having improper ties with the big cat trade industry, allegations that were made public in a documentary titled 'The Conservation Game.Keith Shumate, chair of the zoo’s board, called Schmid “extremely smart, ethical and passionate about zoos and wildlife conservation.” The two agreed to pay back funds they misused while employed by the zoo.

In January the zoo's board agreed to settlements with former Columbus Zoo CFO Greg Bell and former Director of Purchasing Tracy Murmane. The Ohio Attorney General also launched an investigation into the zoo, as well as an outside law firm.

The top two officials at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium resigned following a Columbus Dispatch investigation about the improper use of zoo resources. The zoo was facing multiple scandals before losing its AZA accreditation. The Columbus Zoo had held accreditation from AZA for over 40 years.

The AZA cited financial mismanagement and concern for animal welfare as two major reasons for denying the zoo's accreditation. 'Meeting or exceeding all accreditation standards only benefits the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at every level and supports our commitment to fulfilling our mission to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo Family of Parks.Īfter losing its accreditation from AZA last year, the zoo appealed the association's decision, but that appeal was ultimately denied.

Columbus zoo news full#

The Columbus Zoo said the accreditation comes following a four-day, on-site inspection of the zoo in March by a team of zoological professionals, a review period by the ZAA accreditation committee, and full ZAA Board of Directors approval and voting process. This comes after the zoo lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) last year. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced Wednesday that the Zoo has earned accreditation from the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), an international association and accrediting body.