Ep67: Lisa Smith - Buffalo Zoo, Conservation, and the Accidental CEO

John sits down with Lisa Smith, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo - the third oldest zoo in the United States, a 151-year-old institution that has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and 115 days of Covid closure, all starting from a donated pair of deer in 1875. Lisa spent nearly 30 years as a zookeeper and curator before becoming what she calls the Accidental CEO: an interim appointment that turned into a permanent role after a national search of over 100 candidates. She is one of the most grounded and genuinely interesting guests the show has had. The conversation covers everything you never knew about what happens inside a zoo: AZA accreditation and why only 10% of animal exhibition facilities in the country qualify, Species Survival Plans and how Lisa personally coordinates the global breeding program for 50 East African black rhinos, the Khora mud turtle that wasn’t even known to science until a few years ago and is now being researched in a secret room at the Buffalo Zoo, Tashi the rhino who is the only animal in the world known to have delivered two calves via artificial insemination and raised all five of her offspring. Lisa also walks through the new campus development plan, the first project (an outdoor gorilla habitat), what conservation actually means in practice, and how to get the most out of your next visit. Enjoying the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share Angles with John Richmond with a friend. Visit www.richmondvona.com/angles-podcast/ for more 🎧 New episodes every week. 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @anglesjohnrichmond @johnrichmondlaw @richmondvona 🎥 Follow us on TikTok: @richmondvona @johnrichmondesq 📺 Watch on YouTube: @angleswithjohnrichmond Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the guest and host are their own and do not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Chapters 00:00 --- Introduction 01:06 --- Lisa’s love of animals from day one 01:59 --- The Cleveland internship and the rhino moment 02:57 --- The zookeeper career across six zoos 03:37 --- How to become a zookeeper 05:12 --- Generalist vs. specialist keepers 06:07 --- Nine venomous snakes and specialized training 06:42 --- Knowing which doors to open 08:05 --- Coming to Buffalo and the path to CEO 08:29 --- The Accidental CEO story 10:36 --- How she approached the interim role 11:26 --- Ask a lot of questions first 13:23 --- The Buffalo Zoo’s 151-year history 14:35 --- Pan-Am Exposition and WPA buildings still on the grounds 15:14 --- How to modernize a 151-year-old zoo 16:13 --- The second most visited attraction in Western New York 17:13 --- The zoo in Olmsted’s original Delaware Park plan 17:34 --- Catie Stephenson shoutout and shared mission 18:25 --- The new campus development plan 18:38 --- First project: outdoor gorilla habitat 19:54 --- Lion and tiger yard renovation plans 20:40 --- Who builds zoo habitats 21:26 --- AZA accreditation explained 22:47 --- What inspectors actually look at 24:22 --- Species Survival Plans and breeding management 25:22 --- Lisa as black rhino species coordinator 26:21 --- How you move a 3,000-pound rhino 27:27 --- Captive breeding at the Buffalo Zoo 27:31 --- Tashi: five calves, two by artificial insemination 29:06 --- The Khora mud turtle: a species no one knew existed 30:54 --- The secret room and what we don’t know yet 31:27 --- How zoos acquire animals today 32:10 --- What an institutional collection plan is 43:37 --- The annual gala and the Zoological Foundation 44:04 --- How the endowment saved the zoo during Covid 44:41 --- Conservation in everyday life 46:01 --- The zoo’s global conservation partnerships 47:27 --- Is it surreal to have this much impact 47:50 --- Leadership lesson: believe in yourself 49:23 --- What the community doesn’t know: hidden tunnels 50:08 --- Lisa’s insider guide to the zoo 51:21 --- The Dinosaur Trail and the reptile house 51:49 --- Animal welfare and giving animals choice 52:06 --- Best times to visit and viewing tips 52:43 --- Most dangerous animal at the Buffalo Zoo 53:07 --- Animal escape drills 53:51 --- How keepers care for dangerous animals 55:11 --- Animals that can be vaccinated voluntarily 57:06 --- How to follow the zoo and stay connected