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Disney's Animal Kingdom Guided by Prestigious Panel
An advisory committee selected from the nation's leading zoologists and conservationists is contributing its world-class expertise in conservation to the design and development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the company's conservation programs. The distinguished group has already assisted Disney Imagineers in shaping the park into a place that will inform millions about the importance of conservation through the powerful medium of entertainment. "A project like Disney's Animal Kingdom carries with it a tremendous responsibility for animal conservation," explains Judson Green, president of Walt Disney Attractions. "It was imperative that we seek the best minds in conservation and the zoological profession to guide us. The blend of ideas between Disney's creative team and these conservation experts resulted in a park that exceeds even our original high expectations." Advisors are helping shape facility designs, conservation information programs, animal management policies and guidelines for an expanded animal conservation program. The expertise each advisor brings to the project ranges from Terry Maple's internationally respected counsel on working with gorillas to William Conway's and Russ Mittermeier's advice on developing successful conservation programs worldwide. Karen Allen - Karen Allen is a conservation communications specialist with The Communication Office, Inc., a company which she founded in 1994. Ms. Allen has broad experience with environmental issues as a result of her work as director of public affairs for Conservation International and as public affairs director for both the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and the Audubon Park and Zoological Gardens. P. Dee Boersma, Ph.D. - Dee Boersma is a professor in the Department of Zoology and the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. She is a research fellow for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which supports her field research of Magellanic Penguins at Punto Tombo, Argentina. She has trained Argentine students in conservation biology and has been outspoken in the need to conserve biodiversity. She is both president-elect and a member of the Board of Governors of the Society for Conservation Biology. William Burnham, Ph.D. - William Burnham is the president and director of the Peregrine Fund, as well as director of the World Center for Birds of Prey. His expertise on birds of prey makes him a highly sought advisor to conservation groups around the globe. An adjunct professor at Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, he has authored more than 50 scientific publications. Roger Caras - Roger Caras is president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), A naturalist, author, broadcast correspondent, and animal welfare advocate, he has a distinguished history of promoting wildlife conservation. He has written more than 60 books, all relating to domestic and wild animals. Mr. Caras has received three honorary doctoral degrees. Linda Chapin - Linda Chapin is the chairman of Orange County Government, Orlando, Florida. A life-long resident of Central Florida and an advocate of the environment, Chairman Chapin is also affiliated with the Orlando Science Center, the League of Women Voters and Channel 24 public television. As county chairman in one of the country's most rapidly growing metropolitan areas, she has been involved with water quality, recycling and conservation education issues and is a strong proponent of environmentally-oriented development. William Conway, Ph.D. - William Conway is president and general director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society). He has played a leading role in the redevelopment of zoological gardens and aquariums as environmental science and conservation centers. Known as the father of the Species Survival Program of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, he has been honored with the zoological profession's highest honor, the Marlin Perkins Award. He has also received the prestigious conservation honor, the Order of the Golden Ark from Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Michael Hutchins, Ph.D. - As director of Conservation and Science for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Michael Hutchins coordinates the conservation and science programs of more than 170 professionally managed zoological parks and aquariums in the United States and Canada. He is also adjunct professor at the University of Maryland's graduate program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology. John Lukas - John Lukas is director of White Oak Conservation Center, a private breeding preserve for endangered species located in North Florida. Previously, he was head biologist for the New York Zoological Society's St. Catherine's Island, off the coast of Georgia. Active in international conservation, he is president of the International Rhino Foundation. Terry Maple, Ph.D. - As director of Zoo Atlanta for the past 10 years, Terry Maple has developed the facility into one of the country's premier zoos. He is also professor of Psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Affiliate Scientist at Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center of Emery University. Dr. Maple is author and editor of over 85 scientific publications focusing on great ape behavior. He recently was instrumental in relocating a gorilla which had been caged in a shopping mall for 25 years. The gorilla -- named Ivan -- was made famous in the National Geographic television special "Urban Gorilla." Ray Mendez - Prior to starting his own natural history consulting business, Ray Mendez was a scientific assistant in Entomology for the American Museum of Natural History. He remains a field associate for that institution. Combining his knowledge of natural history with his talent in media, he has worked on more than 200 television commercials and been a principal photographer in over 50 animal-related magazine articles. He has designed numerous natural history exhibits in the United States, including the insect exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Russell Mittermeier, Ph.D. - Russell Mittermeier is president of Conservation International, an organization dedicated to field-based conservation in highly threatened, biologically rich areas of the world; A world-renowned primatologist, he has done extensive field work in South America and Madagascar. As a leader in tropical forest conservation, he has dedicated his life to spreading the word of the global importance of biological diversity and the fact that its loss, an irreversible process, is the most critical issue of our times."
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