A rhino encounter at a 'small but mighty' zoo

Angela:I’m at the Racine Zoo getting a behind-the-scenes look, checking out their conservation efforts and how they care for the variety of animals here.

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That care happens rain or shine, from little penguins to large lions, with Executive Director Beth Heidorn leading the pack.

Beth Heidorn:So, we are part of AZA, which is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. So, we adhere to the gold standards of care, animal welfare, animal well-being, and all of us, together, to both in your local areas as well as internationally are taking care of the planet. Our job is to make connections between people and nature. What we want really to have happen is that people, kids, adults, become stewards of this planet. We’re all on one planet together, so we gotta make sure that we take care of it, and making those wonderful connections so people feel, they get that empathy, they understand it, they’re going to take care of it.

Angela:That connects to your conservation efforts?

Beth Heidorn:Absolutely. We do conservation efforts, both local, national, and even international. So, we even send some of our funds to international areas for international giraffe conservation, African penguins. So, we are global in our efforts.

Angela:And is there a main thing that you want visitors to the zoo to take away from their experience?

Beth Heidorn:Yeah, I want them to understand that, first of all, we’re a community zoo. We’re 102 years old, and we have had people that have come here when they were little, and now they’re parents or grandparents or great-grandparents, and we’ll take ’em all. As you can see, you’ve had a really good day, you’re close to lots of different things, and that makes that connection. We are for all ages, we’re fairly flat, so we’ve got the stroller moms that come, we’ve got senior groups that come, and everybody in between. We have programming for all ages, and we just wanna be here for everybody so that they can see how valuable an accredited zoo is.

Angela:I love that. Is there anything else that you’d like to talk about that we haven’t already discussed?

Beth Heidorn:Well, actually, what I’d like to know was what was your favorite part of today?

Angela:Hmm. Well, I will say I appreciate it, in general, the way the zoo was organized, it felt like there was not this big divide between myself and the animals, which, on the surface, could feel scary a little bit. [both chuckle] But at the same time, it was nice to have that close encounter with them. So I appreciate that design element.

Beth Heidorn:Right, and I think that’s also why people love this zoo. They’re not so far away that you don’t really appreciate them, but they are a little, so you can respect them.

Angela:Right, absolutely.

Beth Heidorn:So, you get that close once you get the respect. So, I appreciate that, thank you. I love this zoo. This is a small but mighty little zoo, but I tell you, I have the best staff here and we have the most amazing animals. So, come on out! You gotta come see us at the Racine Zoo!

Angela:Now was my chance to get an even closer look, heading behind the scenes to feed a 3,000-pound animal that demands nothing but respect…

Keeper:This is Temu.

Angela:…a rhino.

Keeper:Can she be pet?

Angela:It’s like a treat, yep.

[Angela exclaims]There you go.

[Angela laughs]Some rhino slime!

Keeper:She did good. She did great.

Angela:Thank you.

Keeper:Yes, of course.

Angela:Whether it’s being slimed by a rhino or hopping with the kangaroos, there are wild times to be had here.

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