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/
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.