922 PARKS 



This society was charted by the state in 1910. The membership is 

 divided into three classes: Annual, $5; honorary, $100; life, $250. The 

 affairs of the society are handled by a board of directors composed of 

 twenty members which include the six officers. The secretary-manager of 

 the park department is the secretary of the society and a member of the 

 board of directors. The director of the zoo is also a member of the board 

 of directors. The membership of the board of directors is divided into the 

 following standing committees : Finance, membership, entertainment, emer- 

 gency, purchase and conference, publicity, printing and auditing. Regular 

 monthly meetings are held by the board of directors. 



By far the larger majority of the collections of wild animals on exhibit 

 in the public parks in the United States are under the direct administrative 

 control of the park authorities. Up to the present time it cannot be said, 

 in general, that the administration of zoological parks directly by public 

 park authorities has been eminently successful. There are a few exceptions 

 and these exceptions are largely due to the fact that the park authorities 

 have had the wisdom to secure capable directors, give them fairly ample 

 funds and then leave them free to handle the administrative details. In the 

 majority of instances the duties and responsibilities of park authorities have 

 been so varied and their financial resources so inadequate with all kinds of 

 public demands calling for the expenditure of the finances that a single 

 feature like the zoo often is neglected, both financially and administratively. 

 Moreover many park authorities fail to understand the absolute necessity 

 of utilizing expert knowledge both in the planning and construction and in 

 the management of zoos. Wherever politics enters into the administration 

 of a zoo the result is sure to be disastrous. 



Any public agency attempting to develop and manage a zoo is likely 

 to find a local zoological society very helpful in dealing with the problem, and 

 where no such society exists might well take the initiative in forming one. 



The Director and Staff. 



While adequate finances, proper equipment and a sympathetic, work- 

 ing general administrative authority are fundamentally important factors 

 in the successful conduct of a zoo, the key to the continuous successful 

 operation is to be found in the executive head or the director. Too much 

 care cannot be exercised by the general administrative authority in selecting 

 this official. The director should be, as far as possible, a man who has a 

 natural love for animals and who has had more or less experience in the 

 field and in the care of wild animals. He must also have executive ability, 

 a general knowledge of natural history and a lot of common sense, as prob- 

 lems are arising daily, each different from the rest, and many requiring 

 quick and true judgment. 



