WCS Annual Report 2012 - Wildlife Conservation Society

Kathleen LaMattina
For close to two
decades, Kathleen
LaMattina has
been helping teach
students and other
guests to the Bronx
Zoo about conservation
and wildlife
through up-close
encounters with the
zoo’s program animal
collection. As she
describes here, these
animals are a wonderful
teaching tool and
bring out children’s
innate fondness for
nature. And, if they
are a certain wallaby,
they might even make
for a good golf cart
companion.
What is your assignment with WCS?
Collections Manager, Program Animals
How long have you been with WCS?
It will be 20 years on Valentine’s Day!
What drew you to zoological or
conservation work in the first place?
I always loved nature and being around animals.
I also loved teaching. I taught math and science
in Brooklyn before coming to the zoo. The job
I have now combines the two things I am most
passionate about. I really am very lucky.
Were you interested in animals as a
young person?
Absolutely. I was always way more comfortable
around the furred, feathered, and scaled than
with members of my own species. My dad would
take me to the duck pond so I could watch and
feed the ducks. I would catch and release frogs
and salamanders during summer break and
bring home injured birds, stray animals – it
drove my mom crazy!
What are the biggest challenges you
face in your work?
Some animals, such as various reptile species,
spiders and others, are maligned and don’t enjoy
good reputations with people. It’s both a challenge
and an opportunity to successfully break
down these stereotypes and help people understand
that all animals are important, have their
place in nature, and deserve protection.
What are program animals?
They are animals that serve as our “animal ambassadors.”
They help inspire and educate people
about wildlife, wild places, and conservation.
How do these animals help in our
education work?
The one-on-one, up-close, and personal interaction
we can provide with our program animals is an
incredibly effective teaching tool and allows us
to engage with our audience in a really unique
and dynamic way. It is an experience that will
always be remembered and inspires people to learn
more about our conservation mission.
How will our new Animal Ambassador
Center help us to expand our program?
It is a beautiful new facility designed to provide
for the individual species needs of a really
diverse collection. It will house mammals, birds,
reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
The design and space allocations will allow us
to incorporate larger and even more charismatic
species into our program.
Are there certain animals that stand out
most in your time at WCS?
Each one of them is amazing in their own way
and I’ve loved them all! Nachman, a beautiful
little wallaby we raised after he was rejected by
his mom, was probably our most famous animal
ambassador. He was a very special little guy who
had a rough start in life. He was tossed out of his
mom’s pouch during a thunderstorm. Nachman
was less than a pound when we rescued him
and he was battling a bad infection. This little
joey overcame many obstacles to develop into
a happy, healthy wallaby. He was an invaluable
member of our collection and helped educate and
inspire people of all ages. We often would ride
through the zoo together in my golf cart and meet
and greet zoo visitors – an unexpected surprise
for so many. Nachman was truly one of a kind.
Kevin is our young emu. She was hatched two
days after I first saw the movie “Up,” which has a
tropical bird whose gender is originally mistaken.
Just like in the film. our Kevin was thought to
be a male, but a part of me always suspected she