Meet Your
Zoo Director...
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Steve H. Taylor, Zoo Director
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo |
Steve H. Taylor
became Director of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in January of
1989. Under Taylor's leadership the Zoo has achieved national
prominence with award-winning exhibits, educational programs
and annual attendance averaging well over a million visitors.
Taylor's vision for Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, as laid out
in the Zoo's Master Plan, utilizes a physical plan dividing
the Zoo into biomes, or habitats, to better demonstrate
relationships between plants, animals and humans. In fulfilling
that plan, several state-of-the-art exhibits have opened
during Taylor's tenure, including The RainForest, Wolf Wilderness,
and Australian Adventure.
Each exhibit
has a strong conservation message that supports the Zoo's
mission: to improve the future for wildlife.
Prior to working in Cleveland, Taylor was Director of the Sacramento Zoo. As Director there, Taylor opened new exhibits for orangutans and chimpanzees and accomplished many other smaller capital projects. During his time at the Sacramento Zoo, attendance doubled from 300,000 to 600,000 annual visitors. Membership to the Sacramento Zoological Society exploded, growing from 400 members to 6,000 members. Prior to working in Sacramento, he worked at both the San Francisco and Los Angeles Zoos. Taylor started his zoo career in Los Angeles as an animal keeper - an experience which gave him insight into the "heart and soul" of the Zoo business.
Taylor's professional associations are vast:
- Board of Directors for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), 1987-1993 (served as AZA president in 1992)
- AZA Strategic Planning Task Force Chairman.
- Board of Regent of the AZA Management School
- AZA Accreditation Commission member; Chair 1998 & 1999
- Board member of The Wilds, a wild life conservation center in Central Ohio
- Member of Organization of World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA)
- Board of Directors of the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau
Taylor is a world traveler. In 1989 he was part of a State of Ohio and Cleveland Metroparks delegation to China. He has led Cleveland Zoological Society tours to Ecuador, Galapagos, Costa Rica, Belize, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Namibia
A California native, Taylor was born in Inglewood, California. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from University of California - Irvine, and attended graduate school at Long Beach State University and Golden Gate University. Taylor and his wife Sarah live in Rocky River, Ohio.
In the almost 20 years that Steve Taylor has been at the helm of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, it has grown incredibly both in size and prestige. Each new exhibit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo relates to the Zoo's Master Plan and mission. Pictured below are some of those exhibits.
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The RainForest opened to the public in November of 1992 and
showcases more than 10,000 plants and 600 animals from the
jungles of Africa, Asia and South America. This unique two-story,
two-level exhibit is one of the largest of its kind in the
country. The RainForest is displayed in naturalistic settings
and features special attractions like a 25-foot waterfall,
a working research hut, a tropical rainstorm exhibit with
thunder and lightning effects, a weather station and interactive
exhibitry.
Virtual Tour: Find out more about the animals and exhibits in The RainForest. |
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Wolf Wilderness
Wolf Wilderness: Wildlife of the Great Lakes opened in May of
1997. Located on approximately 2 wooded acres in the Zoo's
Northern Trek area, Wolf Wilderness is a unique multi-species
exhibit depicting animal and plant life in a northern temperate
forest. Wolf Lodge anchors the exhibit and serves as
an orientation, education and viewing center for gray wolves,
beaver, and a variety of wetland species. Recent fascination
with wolves and reintroduction programs in the United States
make this exhibit extremely popular.
Virtual Tour: Find out more about the animals and exhibits in Wolf Wilderness. |
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| Kookaburra Station |
Yagga Tree |
Australian Adventure
Australian
Adventure opened in June of 2000. Australian Adventure is
an innovative, interactive children's zoo that depicts life
in the Australian outback and educates young visitors about
animals and how to improve the future for wildlife. The
exhibit features three fascinating areas: Kookaburra Station,
Wallaby Walkabout and Koala Junction. Kookaburra Station
is a 5.6-acre Australian ranch with an animal barn, contact
yard and camel ride area. In a 19th century style station
house where children can interact with small animals and
view educational displays. Nearby, children can explore
a 55' yagga tree that juts out from the landscape. Kookaburra
Station has a demonstration area with seating for regularly
scheduled Australian-themed shows. Wallaby Walkabout is
a public walkway that allows visitors to get an up-close
look at wallabies and kangaroos. Koala Junction, located
at the entrance to Kookaburra Station, completes the Australian
experience with both indoor and outdoor viewing of the charismatic
koala.
Virtual Tour: Find out more about the animals and exhibits in Australian Adventure, including seasonal information. |
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The Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's commitment to the best
in animal care and conservation has a new center of "operations."
The Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine,
in the Zoo's
African Savanna, opened to the public in September 2004.
This world-class zoo veterinary hospital supports groundbreaking
research and engages Zoo visitors in veterinary care issues (more information and details about the vet hospital).
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Thanks Steve...What's next?!?
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