Traveling with Pets / Compassionate Travel / America's Best Zoos


This week Let's Travel is all about animals. We have pet-friendly tips for traveling with your "best friend" as well as how to be "compassionate" when you travel. Next, Michael and Susi explore "America's Best Zoos" and learn about the Tabiano family, zoo aficionados who visited 52 zoos in 52 weeks. (Their story appeared on the CBS Morning Show, Sat. Aug.8, and the show gave us a leg up on some of the premier zoos in the US). And from Allen Nyhuis and Jon Wassner whose recent book America's Best Zoos, A Travel Guide for Fans and Families, you'll learn about what there is to see in the best of 'em.







Guests

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Sharanya Krishna Prasad, U.S. Program Officer
World Society for the Protection of Animals


Sharanya Krishna Prasad joined the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in 2007, and works on a wide range of U.S. and international campaigns. Based at the WSPA U.S. office in Boston, Massachusetts, she focuses on campaigns including: whaling; dolphin captivity; factory farming; and WSPA's compassionate travel campaign, which provides practical alternatives for animal-friendly travel. She also works on the initiative for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare from the United Nations.

Prior to joining WSPA, Sharanya worked as a consultant to the U.S. government's National Marine Fisheries Service focusing on domestic and international marine mammal and endangered species policy. Originally from Madras (now Chennai), in southeastern India, Sharanya has volunteered with various non-governmental organizations to spread awareness on wildlife conservation, responsible pet ownership and environmental protection.

Sharanya holds an undergraduate degree in Zoology, two Master's degrees in Environmental Science, Policy and Conservation, and a diploma in International Environmental Law.







Ani E. Ajemian, Environmental Lawyer and Former Eco-Volunteer


Ani E. Ajemian is currently an associate at Sherin and Lodgen LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. Her practice focuses on environmental, real estate and land use law. From February through May 2003, Ani traveled to Costa Rica to volunteer for the country’s ministry of environment and energy. Her volunteer experience included environmental and community-based projects focused on endangered species and rainforest preservation. During her trip she spent two weeks on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast at the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge to patrol beaches for nesting endangered leatherback turtles. Her work included collecting turtle eggs and relocating them to protected hatching locations. Ani holds a Juris Doctor degree in from Suffolk University with a concentration in International Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Vermont.







Allen W Nyhuis, Co-Author
America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families


I was born in California but grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I developed my love for travel and for zoos during my family’s frequent zoo visits and many cross-country vacations. After high school, I joined the U.S. Army and spent the better part of three years in Hawaii, training in field artillery. Living there stoked my interest in seeing more exotic locations and the fauna that inhabit them. Following my discharge, I earned my Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at the University of Wisconsin and then went to work for the U.S. Census Bureau for a year in the Washington area (my Master's is in Statistics). I moved to Indianapolis in 1984 when I began my career as a statistician in the field of medical research.

My interest in zoos stayed with me as I grew up, married, and had children. In 1988, just about the time my children were getting old enough to enjoy zoos, the brand new Indianapolis Zoo opened, whetting my appetite still further. I started visiting zoos in other cities while on business trips and discovered how fascinating and different every zoo is. I was so interested in them that I wrote long, detailed descriptions of the zoos I visited to my brother and fellow zoo-lover, David. He finally told me I "ought to" write a book about zoos. So in 1994, I wrote The Zoo Book: A Guide to America's Best. I've been a member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums for over 15 years.

In addition to working full-time for Eli Lilly and visiting every zoo I possibly can — over 200 worldwide so far, I teach statistics part-time as an Adjunct Professor for Indiana University's School of Public Health. My wife Kathy is kind enough to indulge me in my zoo habit. We are the proud parents of four children.