Stories from a 40+ Yr Career at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Interview with Henry Kacprzyk

Few people can say they’ve delivered a baby giraffe (let alone 3…), spent time with Steve Irwin, or that they traded Steelers tickets in exchange for a Komodo Dragon… but Henry Kacprzyk can share all those stories and more!

He spent 43 years dedicating his career to the animals and guests at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, and he has a lot of stories to tell! 

I was lucky enough to accidentally meet Henry at my latest trip to the zoo, when I asked him question about the tail of a red panda. He had an absurd amount of knowledge and I said something like, wow, how do you know so much about these animals?!? I learned he was a long-time curator at the zoo, and retired not too long before meeting him. 

 

Be sure to check out watch or listen to this interview to hear Henry’s behind-the-scenes look at his career at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. It was such a pleasure to learn about his story!

 

Topical time codes:

 

00:43 - From substitute teaching to the zoo 

3:29 - Career path through the career 

5:34 - Vets at the zoo

7:35 - Education and conservation efforts 

11:34 - Raising animals for release (tigers and wolves)

14:26 - Sea turtles

17:28 - The story of the red panda and the Komodo dragon

22:17 - Species survival plan

24:35 - Favorite animals and one he’d like to work with

25:53 - White gators 

31:04 - Going to Australia for conservation work & meeting Steve Irwin 

34:00 - Getting bitten and family live

35:35 - Fulfilling career

37:27 - The zoo location and horticulture 

38:55 - Curator role, safety of animals and staff

41:48 - Global role in conservation 

43:08 - Key to success: Always be willing to learn

44:03 - More than just an animal guy

Learn more about the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org 

Learn more about the zoo’s conservation efforts: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/conservation/