Jeff Ettling
President and CEO of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Photo: laird
Before coming to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (JZG) in 2022, you were the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Saint Louis Zoo for 21 years. What inspired your passion for wildlife and why did you decide to channel that passion into a career working at zoos?
I was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri metro area and developed an interest in wildlife, particularly snakes, at an early age. My parents encouraged my interests and allowed me to keep a large collection of snakes and other reptiles in the basement during my youth. As a child I loved to explore nature and knew I wanted to get a biology degree and work in a zoo, as it was a way to learn and care for a wide variety of species as well as connect and educate people about wildlife. During the final year of my bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, I was introduced to Charlie Hoessle, then director of the Saint Louis Zoo. Within a year there was a keeper opening in the zoo’s herpetarium and I was interviewed and hired. That was 37 years ago. It’s been a great journey and I’ve truly been living the dream!
In 2017 you became president and CEO of the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas which led you to coming to JZG in the same capacity. What did you wish to accomplish by assuming leadership roles rather than continuing to work as a curator?
In 2005 the Saint Louis Zoo provided me with the opportunity to pursue a PhD at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Over the next eight years I only spent two or three days a week at the zoo and the remainder at either the university or my dissertation field sites in Armenia. My time away provided me with the opportunity to look at the zoo from a “30,000-foot view” and think about the big-picture perspective outside of the animal area that I managed. I also had the good fortune to work with a wonderful executive leadership coach who opened my eyes to advanced senior leadership positions based on the skills in my “toolbox.” With all of this in mind, I decided to expand my career horizon and pursue the role as president and CEO of a zoo. What I hope to accomplish are goals including building an inclusive work culture with open, transparent communication; enhancing animal well-being to ensure that the animals in our care are thriving and living the best life possible; and connecting our community to our conservation mission through interactive and educational experiences.
When you came to JZG two years ago, one of your top priorities was oversight of the Rezoovenation campaign. What are the highlights of some of the projects that have come (or are close to coming) to fruition since you’ve been president and CEO of JZG?
There is a lot of construction activity underway here at JZG. The largest project is the new 330,000-gallon J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River and 25,000 square VyStar SkyScape new entrance. The overall site is seven acres and is slated to be completed in late 2025. We also have a new pier at the southeast corner of the property and guests will soon be able to come to JZG via their private boat or the downtown water taxi. In addition, we have a multitude of projects underway or about to start across our entire campus including new exhibits for warthogs and cassowaries, renovation of the Africa reptile building, a new Watering Hole bar on the river by the Gardens at Trout River Plaza, and much more. Over the next year these changes will provide a fresh look and new experiences for everyone visiting JZG.
Given that Arbus is an arts and business magazine, we’d like to ask about your thoughts on how the arts can fit into your overall vision for the zoo?
As one of a select number of zoos in this country that are also a botanical garden, we feel that the arts play an important part by bringing beauty into our gardens, telling a story, and adding a human element. We currently have several sculptures incorporated into our gardens and we are discussing ways to add more in the future.
You’ve been known to emphasize the importance of connecting children with conservation education. How can JZG help to make these connections so that our future generations can make good decisions for our planet?
We live in an era where both children and adults spend an inordinate amount of time indoors connected with technology rather than being outdoors in nature. This is often referred to as nature deficit disorder. Zoos and aquariums are often the only experiences that many children have with the natural world. Data shows that pro-environmental behaviors develop at an early age and that unforgettable experiences, like being nose-to-nose at the glass with a tiger or touching a snake as well as participating in zoo education programs are pivotal to developing these behaviors. Zoo research also shows that zoos and aquariums create emotional connections with wildlife and wild places that leads to empathy and sustainable actions. Our goal is to inspire our guests to assist us with our conservation mission and to be good stewards of the planet.
As a relative newcomer to Northeast Florida, what do you love about Jacksonville?
As an outdoor enthusiast, the access to a multitude of green spaces and parks has been phenomenal. I try to walk four to five miles every day and can often be found at the University of North Florida’s nature trails enjoying the sights and sounds of nature while getting my daily steps.
Visit Jacksonville’s JAX Ale Trail not only provided me with the opportunity to visit the 20+ craft breweries that call Jacksonville home but also to explore the region. My first two years here in Jacksonville have been absolutely wonderful!
