THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

WE ARE ON LOCATION AT BALTIMORE'S INNER HARBOR SOON TO BE A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY AS THE TALL SHIPS CONVERGE ON BOMBER TO CELEBRATE THE NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT IS K4EUS CHRIS DIRECTOR OF SAIL250 MARYLAND THANK YOU FOR ARE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR COMING DOWN AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EVENT.

IT IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

THE BIGGEST THING BALTIMORE HAS SEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THE BIGGEST SHIP EVENT SINCE THE NATION'S BICENTENNIAL IN 1776.

>> Jeff: AND ANYBODY INTERESTED THERE'S AIRSHOWS WHICH WE'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE FOR A MINUTE BUT W50E8'S COME BACK TO THAT.

ON THE TALL SHIPS HOW MANY?

>> WE HAVE 14 WHAT THEY REFER TO AS CLASS A TALL SHIPS COMING TO TOWN.

WE'VE GOT OUR OWN COAST GUARD SHIP EAGLE COMING TO TOWN.

AS WELL AS THE ONE COMING FROM THE FURTHEST AWAY WHICH IS THE IS COMING FROM INDIA.

AND WE HAVE ONE OTHER THING THAT IS INTERESTING WE HAVE FOUR SHIPS THAT ARE SISTER SHIPS.

SO WE HAVE THE EAGLE IS ONE OF THEM.

THE ONE FROM GERMANY.

ROMANIA, AND PORTUGAL.

AND THEY WERE ALL BUILT BY THE GERMAN NAVY BEFORE WORLD WAR II.

SO THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH CLOSE ON ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD.

THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY HERE AS WELL.

>> Jeff: TALK ABOUT WHY PEOPLE LOVE TALL SHIPS?

WE WERE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CONSTELLATION THE LAST VESSEL BUILT BY THE U.S.

NAVY AN ANCHOR FOR THE INNER HARBOR FOR HALF A CENTURY OR MORE.

TALL SHIPS THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THERE'S THE MYSTIQUE, THE ROW HANS OF THE SEAS.

AND ALSO FOR VISITORS IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THEY ARE FREE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU NAILED IT ON THE HEAD RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS A CERTAIN ROMANTIC ASPECT TO IT.

YOU KNOW SHIPS FROM FOREIGN LANDS COMING TO YOUR PORT.

AND THE DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT THEN INTERMINGLE ALL PART OF THE EVENT.

IT'S WHAT MAKES IT IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, BALTIMORE GETS TO SO ITS HOSPITALITY TO SAILORS FROM LITERALLY AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT, YEAH, THERE IS THAT MYSTIQUE OF THE TALL SHIPS AND SAILING ACROSS THE OCEAN.

AND YEAH, I THINK JUST PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY THAT A LOT.

>> Jeff: MOST WILL BE OPEN FOR TOURS?

>> YES, ALL THE SHIPS WILL BE OPEN FOR TOURS.

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ACTUAL TIMES.

BUT BASICALLY IT'S FROM 11:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

SOME SHIPS WILL BE GETTING UNDERWAY ON MONDAY.

BUT, AGAIN, CHECK OUR WEBSITE AND ALL THE INFORMATION WILL BE THERE.

>> Jeff: AND THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS THE SHIPS ARE COMING UP AS WE SPEAK FROM NORFOLK, AFTER ABOUT A WEEK IN BALTIMORE THEY WILL HEAD NORTH PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CITY HIM.

YEP THEY WILL BE HEADING TO NEW YORK FOR THE INTERNATIONAL NAVAL REVIEW FOR JULY 4TH.

AND THEN HEADING UP TO BOSTON AF THAT.

AND THEN HEADING OFF BACK ACROSS THE OCEAN OR SOUTH TO SOUTH AMERICA FROM WHENCE THEY CAME.

>> Jeff: I SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER TO BUT DON'T THERE'S FLEET WEEK.

DOES THAT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR?

AND THAT'S LIKE MORE NAVEL VESSELS THAN TALL SHIPS?

>> IN BALTIMORE WE HAVE BEEN DOING FLEET WEEKS EVERY OTHER YEAR THE LAST TIME WAS IN 2024.

WE ARE WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NAVY ON THIS EVENTS AS WELL.

ITS A FLEET WEEK WE WILL HAVE TWO NAVY SHIPS IN TOWN THEY WILL BE DOCKED AT BALTIMORE PENINSULA.

SO IT IS A FLEET WEEK BUT WE HAVE BEEN JOKING IT IS A FLEET WEEK ON STEROIDS WITH THE OTHER SHIPS COMING.

>> Jeff: WITH THE SAILS.

>> YES.

>> Jeff: HOW DO PEOPLE GET AROUND SAY YOU WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING AND THERE WILL BE CROWDS AND PARKING WILL BE A CHALLENGE AND TRAFFIC?

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.

YES.

IT WILL BE BUSY.

THERE WILL BE LINES I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE COME DRESSED APPROPRIATELY, DRESS FOR THE WEATHER IT'S GOING TO BE WARM IT'S BALTIMORE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

BRING WATER.

WEAR PROPER SHOES ON THE NAVY SHIPS YOU CAN'T WEAR SANDALS YOU CANNOT WEAR CROCKS.

BUT THAT IS THEIR RULE.

SO BASICALLY COME DRESSED FOR THE WEATHER.

EXPECT TO BE IN LINES BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF GANGWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYBODY.

PLUS, CONSTELLATION AND THE HISTORIC SHIPS ARE OPEN ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE AGAIN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ON CONSTELLATION OR THE SUBMARINE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AS WELL.

WE HAVE A COUPLE SHIPS IN ON PIER 13 IN CANTON, THE SA VAN 23457B THE JOHN W. BROWN IS ONE OF ONLY TWO LIBERTY SHIPS AROUND.

AND THERE WILL BE A SHUTTLE FROM FELL'S POINT TO CANTON PIER 13 SO PEOPLE CAN GET ON THOSE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF GANGWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS.

I'M HOPING THE LINES ARE KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND GET HERE EARLY.

THURSDAY WILL BE A LIGHTER DAY BECAUSE IT'S DURING THE WEEK.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY GET HERE EARLY AND COAL DRESSED PROPERLY.

>> Jeff: AND LOOKING AT THE CONSTELLATION PEOPLE WALKING ON TO IT AND OFF OF IT FOR TOURS THE SHIP LOOKS GREAT.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THERE WAS A MAJOR MAKEOVER.

THIS IS AN OLD BOAT?

>> IT IS AN OLD BOAT, OLD SHIP.

SHE JUST UNDERWENT A BIG REFIT TO HER RIGGING.

SO OVER THE PAST WINTER.

HER RIGGING IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS RIGHT NOW IT'S FANTASTIC.

THE HULL WORK THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WAS BACK IN 1996 TO 99 WHEN SHE WAS AWAY FROM HERE FOR THREE YEARS GETTING A LOT OF WORK DONE.

AND SHE IS A WOODEN SHIP SO THE WORK NEVER STOPS WHEN ANYBODY IS ONBOARD YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE FIXING RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: THE TALL SHIPS ARE TALL BUT THE AIRSHOWS ARE TALLER.

AND THIS PEOPLE AROUND HERE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE BLUE ANGELS EVERY YEAR IN UNHAPPY LIST THIS IS THAT ON STEROIDS.

>> YES, THE AIRSHOW TAKES PLACE OUT IN THE OUTER HARBOR OF BALTIMORE.

SO AND WE HAVE THE BLUE ANGELS, WE HAVE THE FRENCH.

>> THAT SOUNDED GOOD.

>> I'M GETTING BETTER.

WE HAVE THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, RED AEROS HERE AND WE HAVE THE U.S.

AIR FORCE F16 DEMO TEAM TOO.

WE HAVE FOUR JET TEAMS IN THIS AIRSHOW WHICH IS PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED.

PARTICULARLY THE INTERNATIONALS.

>> Jeff: ARE THEY ALL BASED AT MARTIN OR SOME OUT OF ANDREWS?

>> THE FRENCH WILL BE BASED OUT OF ANDREWS LAST TIME I CHECKED.

AND THE BRITISH WILL BE UP IN HAR CONTINUE STATE AIRPORT, BLUE ANGELS WILL BE AT MART TIP AND THE F16'S THERE AS WELL.

IN ADDITION TO THE FESTIVALS AT THE INNER HARBOR THEY WILL BE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM 10-5 AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE JETS TAKE OFF AND LAND MEET A PILOT.

SEE AIRCRAFT UP CLOSE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE COOL, TOO.

>> Jeff: THE GREAT THING ABOUT AN AIRSHOW EVEN IF IT'S CENTERED OVER THE OUTER HARBOR AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE WHERE THE KEY BRIDGE USED TO BE.

>> INSIDE OF THAT, YES.

>> Jeff: BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT THERE TO SEE IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY DID FAST THEY DON'T TURN ON A DIME, THEY MAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS ON THE WATER WOULD BE GREAT.

FORT McHENRY WILL BE PACKED.

>> IT WILL BE BUSY AND THERE'S ONE ROAD IN AND ONE ROAD OUT.

WHAT WE SAY WHETHER IT'S FLEET WEEK OR SAIL250 USE YOUR FEET TO SEE THE FLEET.

ENOUGH LIGHTS AND THE FESTIVALS.

BUT WE'RE THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN AIRSHOW BALTIMORE PENINSULA WAS NOT AROUND.

THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AMENITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IT IS A NICE PLACE TO SEE THE AIRSHOW.

CANTON WATERFRONT PARK AND PATTERSON PARK IS A GOOD PLACE BECAUSE IT'S UP HIGH AND ALSO FOR THINK RESIDENTS YOUR ROOFTOP DECK IF YOU HAVE ONE.

>> Jeff: I'VE HAD LUCK FINDING A CENTRALLY LOCATED PARKING GARAGE.

>> PARK ON TOP.

>> GO UP THE STEPS TO THE TOP AND YOU GET A NICE 360 VIEW.

I REMEMBER WATCHING ONE FROM THIS REMOTE AREA AROUND THE PORT OF BALTIMORE.

OUTSIDE THE FENCE.

IT WAS FINE.

BUT NO CROWDS AND YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES.

>> YEP.

ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS AIRSHOW THIS IS NEW, IS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STREAM THE AIRSHOW NARRATION ON-LINE.

SO WE HAVE THAT LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AND OUR SAIL250 APP, WHICH OPENS IT UP TO AIRSHOW TECHNOLOGIES AND SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THE BLUE ANGELS COMMENTATOR DESCRIBING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

I AM TOLD WITH MINIMAL LATENCY BECAUSE THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH ON-LINE STUFF.

AND THE ANNOUNCER WILL BE TALKING TO THE PILOT YOU WILL HEAR ONE OF THE PILOTS THAT WILL BE THE SAME FOR ALL OF THE PERFORMANCES THERE WILL BE LIVE NARRATION SO YOU CAN STREAM IT.

>> Jeff: GO TO MARTIN STATE AND THAT WILL BE OPEN FOR.

>> THE OPEN HOUSE.

>> >> Jeff: AND SOMETHING HAPPENING OVER HERE ON LIGHT STREET AT THE VISITORS CENTER NAVEL HISTORY?

>> THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN NAVY WHICH IS BASED DOWN AT THE NAVY YARD IN DC IS OPENING UP A NEW TRAVELING EXHIBIT HERE AT THE VISITORS CENTER.

SO THAT'S A NAVY HISTORY EXHIBIT IT WAS ACTUALLY FIRST OPENED UP FOR THE NAVY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY IN PHILADELPHIA LAST OCTOBER.

AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE HERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE HERE I BELIEVE THROUGH OCTOBER AS WELL.

SO IF FOLKS DON'T GET TO SEE IT DURING SAIL250 THEY CAN SEE IT AND IT'S FREE.

AND APPARENTLY IT IS AN AWARD-WINNING EXHIBIT AS WELL.

I'D ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SEE THAT STHOOR BEFORE WE GO, WE ARE IN THE CLASSROOM'S ATTIRE PART OF THE HISTORIC SHIPS OR VICE VERSA TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING 59 LIVING CLASSROOMS.

>> ALL SORTS OF STUFF IS HAPPENING.

BUT RELATED TO THIS EVENT, RIGHT NEXT TO US HERE IN THE PRATT STREET PAVILION THEY WILL BE HOSTING THE STEM EXPLORATION ZONE.

WE'LL HAVE 30 DIFFERENT EXHIBITORS IN THERE WHO ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO KIDS AND FAMILIES ABOUT ALL SORTS OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND COOL SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO INSPIRE KIDS TO LEARN ABOUT CAREERS IN THE TECHNICAL FIELDS AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND WE'RE ALL ABOUT EDUCATION.

SO THAT'S OUR EDUCATIONAL PIECE FOR THE EVENT.

>> Jeff: SAIL250 MD.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> CHRIS WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING EVERYBODY AT THE INNER HARBOR.

>> GOOD WEATHER AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW, LET'S GO TO THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE WHERE WE'RE JOINED BY C.E.O.

KIRBY FOWLER WHO IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BRAND NEW RED PANDA EXHIBIT.

KIRBY TELL US ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, JEFF, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

THIS IS THE GREAT NEW RED PANDA HABITAT WE OPENED A FEW DAYS AGO.

WE HAVETH THIS YARD THE YOUNGEST OF THE TWO AND SHE IS STARTING TO EXPLORE THE HABITAT A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE NERVOUS BUT HAS BEEN SHOWING MORE INTEREST IN THE LAST DAY OR SO.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT RED PANDAS THIS IS THE FIRST NEW SPECIES IN A WHILE, I BELIEVE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE HAD NEW HABITATS LIKE PENGUIN COASTS.

BUT WE HAD THE PENGUINS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS WE'VE HAD NEW HABITAT AND NEW SPECIES AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME COMING.

WE HAD RED PANDAS 25 YEARS AGO AND EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BACK.

>> Jeff: DO THEY HAVE NAMES YET?

>> ONE DOES.

IN THE OTHER YARD AURORA, SHE CAME FROM THE CAPE MAY ZOO AND THE NEW ONE WE ARE HAVING A NAMING CAMPAIGN SO THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN CHOOSING A NAME FOR THE NEW RED PANDA.

>> Jeff: THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS.

THE FUR IS SPECTACULAR.

AND THEY ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO BALTIMORE SUMMERS LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AT LEAST, BOTH OF THESE COME FROM -- THE PANDA BEHIND ME CAME FROM VIRGINIA MOST RECENTLY.

NEW JERSEY, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE VIRGINIA WEATHER THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE WEATHER BUT WE DID BUILD IN THE LOG HAS TWO HOLES WITH AIR-CONDITIONING AND THE BUILDING THEY HAVE ACCESS TO WITH AIR-CONDITIONING.

THEY ARE GOING IN AND OUT INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC.

LET ME TALK ABOUT RED PANDAS FOR A MOMENT.

THEY WERE THE FIRST SPECIES WITH A PANDA NAME THEY LOOK RELATED TO BEARS BUT THEY WERE NAMED BEFORE THE GIANT PANDAS GOT THEIR NAME.

THEY ARE NATIVE OF NEPAL AND MOST OF OUR ZOOS DO IN OUR COUNTRY WE TRANSFER ANIMALS FOR THE BENEFIT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OR MAKE BETTER SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANIMALS THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE TWO PANDAS TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER ZOOS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Jeff: THIS IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES SO YOU ARE HOPING TO REPRODUCE TO BREED THEM WHICH WILL MEAN A TRADE WITH SOMEBODY, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

WE HAVE TWO FEMALES RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL HAVE A MALE AND THE POINT OF THIS HAT AT THAT TIME IS TO ALLOW FOR BREEDING AND IT WILL BE EXCITING TO GET TO THAT POINT.

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THE FEMALES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: I READ THEY ARE RECLUSIVE.

MAYBE ESPECIALLY ON A HOT DAY IN THE SUMMER SHOULD VISITORS TO THE ZOO EXPECT TO NOT SEE A LOT OF THE PANDAS?

OR WILL THEY?

>> THEY WILL.

IN FACT, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.

IF GOING TO A SAFARI YOU DON'T SEE ALL THE ANIMALS ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU ARE PATIENT YOU WILL SEE THEM.

THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND OUT AND THEY HAVE BEEN EXPLORING AND ENJOYING THE AIR-CONDITIONING AND THEY CAN HANDLE THE HEAT.

BUT THEY ARE NOCTURNAL ANIMALS AND THEY LOVE WINTER.

SO DEFINITELY WINTERTIME IT WILL BE ACTIVE FOR THEM.

THIS IS MY THIRD OR FOURTH DAY AND THEY HAVE BEEN OUT EVERYDAY, NOT EVERY HOUR, NOT EVERY MINUTE.

BUT CERTAINLY ENOUGH TO ENJOY.

>> Jeff: OVERALL WHAT -- I WAS GOING TO ASK YOUR MOST POPULAR EXHIBITS THERE AND DO YOU EXPECT THE RED PANDA HABITAT TO BE NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST GOING FORWARD?

>> YES.

PENGUIN COAST IS POPULAR.

MOST OF THE HABITATS IN AFRICAN JOURNEY ARE POPULAR.

SO YOUR POINT THIS IS GOING TO BE COMPETING WITH THOSE IN A HEALTHY WAY TO BE POPULAR HABITAT.

WHAT WE ARE STANDING IN IS MAIN VALLEY FOR 17 YEARS IT WAS CLOSED AND FOR A GOOD REASON.

THIS IS WHERE THE TWO STARTED 150 YEARS AGO AND AS YOU MIGHT RECALL THERE WERE CAGES SMALL NOT GOOD FOR ANIMALS.

MY PREDECESSORS SENT ANIMALS OUT TO BETTER HABITATS IN THE BACK PART OF OUR ZOO OR OTHER ZOOS.

AND SO THAT MEANT FOR 17 YEARS WE HAD NO HABITATS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANIMALS BACK IN THE SMALL CAGES.

WE REOPENED MAIN VALLEY IN 2021 AND BROUGHT BACK BIRDS AND RESTORED BUILDINGS AND THIS IS OUR FIRST NEW HABITAT IN MAIN VALLEY.

IT IS COVERING ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE HISTORIC MAIN VALLEY.

SO WE THINK IT WILL BE VERY POPULAR.

ALREADY IT'S POPULAR WE OPENED A FEW DAYS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE COME TO SEE THE RED PANDAS.

>> YOU ARE LOCATED IN BALTIMORE FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE MIGHT BE WATCHING MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE ZOO.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LOCAL?

I MEAN IT IS A GREAT PARK AND YOU ARE PROTECTED FROM A LOT OF CITY NOISE.

I THINK THERE WAS A ZOO IN NASHVILLE WHERE THEY ARE GETTING NOISE FROM A GIANT DATA CENTER OR SOMETHING.

HOW DOES THE ZOO RATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT THAT THE ANIMALS NEED?

>> WE OFTEN GET RAVE REVIEWS FOR THE HABITAT FOR THE HUMANS OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE IS GORGEOUS WE ARE IN ROLLING HILLS AN OLD GROWTH FOREST PEOPLE LOVE BEING HERE WE ARE IN THE CENTER OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARKS IN AMERICA IN AN URBAN SETTING.

SO BASICALLY, YOU FEEL SO REMOTE COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND IT'S NICE WAY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE VERY FAST PACE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> Jeff: CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR TIME THERE.

YOU WERE RUNNING THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP IN BALTIMORE.

VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD UP UNTIL YOU TOOK THIS JOB A FEW YEARS AGO.

WHAT WAS YOUR TRANSITION LIKE?

I NOTICE YOU DON'T WEAR A TIE ANYMORE?

>> THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST PART TO HAVE ALL.

THE ANIMALS ARE.

BUT IT WAS THE NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD THAT REALLY, I FELT COULD BE BENEFICIAL HERE.

I HAD NO ANIMAL EXPERIENCE.

BUT CERTAINLY, UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO A DESTINATION THAT WAS THE POINT TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CITY TO LIVE.

ALSO TO CREATE NEW CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS TO GENERATE NEW PROJECTS TO BEAUTIFY THE AREA.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

I DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT ANIMALS AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND THE PROFESSIONALS ARE AMAZING I LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS LIKE?

THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN TERMS OF VISITORS AND STAFF?

>> SURE.

SO WE HAVE 2,000 ANIMALS ABOUT 130 SPECIES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FROGS BECAUSE WE ARE THE LEADS IN THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR SAVING PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROGS AND YOU WILL HEAR US INTRODUCING THE FROGS BACK INTO THEIR WILD HABITATS THEY HAVE BEEN EXTINCT IN THE WORLD.

BUT WE ARE THE ONES BRINGING THEM BACK.

STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

2,000 ANIMALS 130 SPECIES.

THERE'S 200 EMPLOYEES AND 400,000 GUESTS EVERY YEAR WHICH INCLUDES 70,000 KIDS ON FIELD TRIPS THAT ARE FREE.

>> Jeff: THE OTHER BIG ZOO IN OUR VIEWING AREA DOWN IN WASHINGTON OF COURSE IS FREE TO ENTER OWNED BY THE SMITHSONIAN.

DO YOU FEEL YOU CHARGE A FEE YOU HAVE TO.

THAT IS FAR ENOUGH AWAY IT'S NOT DIRECT COMPETITION?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE DO HAVE FREE PARKING WHICH IS A BENEFIT.

BUT ALSO WE'RE PARTNERS WITH THE SMITHSONIAN, PANDA BEHIND ME CAME FROM THE NATIONAL ZOO.

NOT IN THE PUBLIC ARENA BUT THE FRONT ROYAL FACILITY OUT IN VIRGINIA.

SO WE'RE PARTNERS.

WE CELEBRATE EACH OTHER BUT YOU ARE RIGHT WE PULL FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE DO CONSIDER OURSELVES A NATIONAL ZOO.

AND THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT.

HOWEVER, HEAVILY RELIANT ON THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY.

HOWARD COUNTY AND BEYOND AS WELL.

BUT WE ARE ABOUT MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: AND YOU GET SUPPORT FROM THE STATE?

THE MARYLAND ZOO SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AS WELL.

AND TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ATTENDANCE.

IT HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT SEASONAL?

>> IT IS SEASONAL AND IT IS VERY TOUGH FOR US WITH THE WAY CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN IMPACTING OUR WORLD WE HAVE SOME VERY HOT DAYS.

AND THEN ON THE REVERSE SIDE WE HAVE COLD DAYS IN THE WINTER.

AND IT'S TOUGH TO ATTRACT AUDIENCE YEAR-ROUND WE HAVE TO ADD ANIMALS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BEING OUT IN THE WINTER IS IMPORTANT PART OF OUR THU PLAN.

WE'VE HAD SO MANY ANIMALS WHO ARE THERE NATIVE HABITAT IS AFRICA WHEN WINTER ROLLS AROUND WE HAVE TO BRING THEM IN.

OFTENTIMES YOU CAN SEE THEM BUT IT IS THAT THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS IN THE SUMMER.

AND NOW WE WILL BALANCE IT OUT.

AND PRIMATES BEHIND ME WILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE OUT TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE WINTER.

I'M LOOKING AHEAD AT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A SPLASH PAD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

YOU HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WEATHER IS A TOUGH, TOUGH THING TO HANDLE FOR US.

>> Jeff: THE SPLASH PAD IS FOR KIDS NOT THE RED PANDAS THEY ARE REALLY CUTE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON BUT THERE IS A WATER FEATURE FOR THE PANDAS.

THERE IS A WATERFALL FOR THE OTHER RED PANDA AND THE SPLASH PAD WILL BE FOR EVERYBODY.

AS MOSTLY KIDS BUT I THINK I WILL ENJOY IT ON CERTAIN DAYS AS WELL.

IN ADDITION WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE WEDDINGS NOT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE SPLASH PAD BUT A WATER FEATURE AS A BRIDE OR GROOM ARE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL WHEN WE GET IT DONE.

>> Jeff: COOL.

BEFORE WE GO, JUST LET'S PLAN A VISIT FOR SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE.

THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THE RED PANDAS.

HOW LONG SHOULD SOMEBODY ALLOCATE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS AND SEE THE TOP FEATURES?

>> I THINK THE TYPICAL STAY IS BETWEEN TWO AND THREE HOURS THERE IS A LOT TO DO BEYOND THE ANIMALS.

WE HAVE A CAROUSEL THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ADMISSION PRICE AND A TRAIN AND ALSO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOOD AND RETAIL.

BUT TWO TO THREE HOURS THEY WOULD HIT FIRST THE CRANE BAR WITH THE BIRDS.

RED PANDAS AND YOU GET DOWN TO THE OTTER IS POPULAR THERE.

PENGUIN COAST BIG HIT AND AFRICAN JOURNEY.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE.

THE AVERAGE STAY IS BETWEEN TWO AND THREE HOURS.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO KIRBY FOWLER AND THE RED PANDAS AT THE BALTIMORE ZOO.

TWO REMINDERS.

TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY, BE SURE TO VOTE AND JOIN US FRIDAY FOR "STATE CIRCLE" WITH ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTION RESULTS.

AND REGARDING THE TALL SHIPS AND THE AIRSHOWS COMING TO BALTIMORE, MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AT SAIL250 MD.ORG.

NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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