Zoo Peeps (Home of Zoo Talkin' Radio)

Biography

Jordan is a former zoo keeper and currently a curator/conservation biologist at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Jordan is also a science writer and Contributing Editor for National Geographic Society’s editorial news blog. He is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Jordan is interested in health, science, education, and marketing programs for living institutions, museums, and conservation NGOs dedicated to the advancement of special species animal welfare, conservation and outreach. He holds a PhD in conservation and veterinary preventive medicine from The Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in zoology. His specific interests are in carnivoran (mammalian carnivores.) conservation medicine, conservation education, as well as collection husbandry science and management. Jordan completed course work towards a doctorate in ectotherm (herpetile/fish) physiological ecology and climate change ecology and went on to work in an avian disease surveillance laboratory. He also attended veterinary school before taking a leave to pursue projects with international conservation organizations and living collection management. Jordan has worked with captive wildlife in zoos, aquariums, marine parks, sanctuaries, rehabilitation facilities and laboratories. He also co-hosted a zoo-oriented television program produced by a local network affiliate.

Jordan is an advisor to the National Wildlife Humane Society and a Fellow of the Conservation Science Institute. He serves as an ex officio council member to the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and an advisor to the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Bear Taxon Advisory Group (AZA BEAR TAG). Jordan also serves as an editor for International Bear News, an IBA/IUCN publication and as a member and Coordinator for Education and Outreach for the Bear Specialist Group (SSC IUCN). He served as an editorial assistant to the Editor of the Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine (AAZV/EAZWV/ACZM) and as a reviewer for the journal, Herpetologica. He also served on committees for AAZV, EAZWV, AAZK, ZRA and others. Jordan produces and co-hosts two wildlife oriented radio programs with actress and media trainer/consultant, Sandra Dee Robinson, celebrity animal behaviorist and zoo conservationist, Dr. Grey Stafford, an apprentice of Jungle Jack Hanna and colleague Steve Mendive.

“Don’t let school get in the way of your education.” -Mark Twain

Jordan created the Zoo Peeps brand which hosts web media resources, new media communication venues, a global, web-based, zoo professionals’ directory zoo peeps network, and two radio programs. The newly launched blog (zoopeeps) features his own column along with articles from expert, guest contributing authors and reposts of contributions he has made to other forums. The purpose for the blog which caters to over 2200 zoo professionals is to provide husbandry, health, collection-based researchers and non-animal care personnel with current information on advances in animal welfare and updates on the conservation status and biology of species of concern. The radio programs he produces and co-hosts with veteran day-time TV actress Sandra Dee Robinson, the founder of Charisma On Camera, a media training and consulting firm based out of Hollywood, California and Dr. Grey Stafford are his latest projects. They were inspired by his colleague and author of Animal Investigators, Dr. Laurel Neme. Laurel is the host of the popular radio program, The WildLife, and she is credited with suggesting that he take Zoo Peeps on the air. Zoo Talkin’ Radio, our original series, highlights the diverse backgrounds of husbandry professionals working in the captive wildlife conservation field through live interviews. Their newest program, launched in June of 2010, focuses on the careers of bear biologists and conservation researchers and educators, with intentions to raise awareness concerning the plight of the world’s bear species. The name of the program is Bears on the Air. Archived episodes for both programs are available here.

“I also have been consulting NGO’s and some new projects for living institutions. I am very excited to have been invited to join old friends and colleagues as they embark on plans to build a state-of-the-art education, conservation, and science institute dedicated to raising awareness for bears of Alaska on the campus of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This proposed interpretive learning center (B.E.A.R.S. of Alaska) will be a welcomed addition to the already spacious and natural bear enclosures (including the largest brown bear exhibit in the U.S.) that have drawn many visitors to the center, including many prominent professionals from zoological parks in the lower 48 states and from around the world. The AWCC does display and provide sanctuary for several North American carnivores, including two species of bears, but they have been most recently recognized for their state- endorsed and supported reintroduction of the functionally extinct (in AK) wood bison, the largest mammal in North America. The restoration program has earned international acclaim as a joint partnership between AWCC and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. If you are interested in this project, please contact me at jordan@alaskawildlife.org.”

Brochure on B.E.A.R.S.

Promotional Video for B.E.A.R.S.

Promotional Video for Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

“Miscellaneous Activities: In 2008, I hosted the first international bear husbandry conference in Los Angeles. I conceived of the Bear Informational Exchange for Zoos, Rehabs. & Sanctuaries (BIERZS) conference after visiting a WSPA bear sanctuary outside of Hungary. The sanctuary was serviced by veterinarians from the Budapest Zoo and served as a temporary home for the zoo’s brown bears. The collaboration inspired me to invite zoo, rehab, and sanctuary personnel to convene for an unprecedented opportunity to exchange practical information for managing bears in captivity. Historically, disparate philosophies have impeded effective communication efforts and segregated different factions of captive wildlife sectors. This event was sponsored in- part by the AZA BEAR TAG, Polar Bears International, WSPA, the Los Angeles Zoo and others. The conference proceedings can be downloaded from the IBA website or my dated Bear Keepers’ website, Bear Ambassadors (best viewed w/ Internet Explorer) or at a new site under development: Bear Keeper’s Forum . “