Julie
Peeler has announced her resignation as director of the Henson Robinson Zoo.
Peeler,
who was named zoo director in 2013, has accepted a job on the East Coast, said
Derek Harms, director of the Springfield Park District that owns and runs the
zoo. He said he believes Peeler, who could not immediately be reached, will be
a zoo director at her new job. Her last day on the job will be in January, he
said.
“She’s
going home,” Harms said. “We’ll soon be advertising for a new zoo director.”
Harms
said the park district, which conducted a nationwide search three years ago
before promoting Peeler from assistant zoo director to the top post, plans on
advertising nationally for the position, but he did not preclude hiring an internal
candidate. He said he did not know how long it will take to replace Peeler.
“We’re
putting together a timeline right now,” Harms said.
The
zoo is due for accreditation renewal next year. After citing concerns about
animal escape policies, the need for a quarantine building and a lack of
emergency drills, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums initially tabled
consideration of accreditation renewal in 2012, but ultimately gave its seal of
approval in 2013, after zoo officials addressed issues identified by the association
that accredits zoos. Harms stopped short of saying that the zoo will seek
renewal of its accreditation.
“We’d
look at the criteria to see if that is something we want to continue,” Harms
said. “If ‘yes’ is the answer, we’ll put together a plan to address that. … I
think, right now, we’re focusing on filling the director’s position.”
Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2016.
