New Zoo Director named, new animals announced as County Executive McMahon visits Rosamond Gifford Zoo
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon visited the Rosamond Gifford Zoo to announce the arrival of two extraordinary additions, and a new Zoo Director.
Dan Meates has been appointed to the top job, following his successful tenure as Interim Director which he took on last year. Previously, Meates was General Curator at the zoo for nearly 10 years. During that time, he was responsible for all aspects of animal collection management, oversaw exhibition planning and supervised staff and volunteers involved in animal care. Meates also has extensive experience working with animals at various facilities in both the United States and his native United Kingdom.
County Executive McMahon also announced the Rosamond Gifford Zoo now has a pair of Black-and-Rufous Elephant Shrews, small mammals which are native to the forests of East Africa and have pointed snouts that resemble an elephant’s trunk.
The zoo has also acquired a critically endangered Amur leopard. There are fewer than 100 Amur leopards in the wild, meaning they are among the rarest of big cats.