Life Is A Real Zoo

KSAL Staff - Thu 07:06 PM 11/15/2012

His life is a zoo, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Just a couple of weeks into his new job, the new executive director at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure has hit the ground running.

Executive Director Bob Jenkins, who comes to Salina most recently from the San Francisco Zoo tells KSAL News that the Rolling Hills Zoo and Museum facilities are some of the finest he has seen. He says that he was attracted to the facility because of its fine reputation in the industry. Since arriving, he has not been disappointed.

Jenkins says that one of his challenges from the board is to get more people off the interstate, and onto Rolling Hills property. He says "it cannot be over-stated what a great place this is. The taxidermy in the museum is some of the best I have ever seen, and with the combination of the zoo, and the care that goes into the animals and the exhibits, it's something I would like to share with everyone in the country".

According to Jenkins, over the past 15 years Rolling Hills has shown tremendous growth. He says that it is time now to "take the next big step". Jenkins wants get the entire community involved as he and the board put to together a long-term vision.

Jenkins says that Rolling Hills will never be finished. "One of the magical things about this profession is that you never reach the pinnacle. There is always room for improvement. No two days are ever the same".

Jenkins has spent nearly all of his adult-life working in and around zoos and aquariums. He comes to Rolling Hills most recently from the San Francisco Zoo, where he had served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Vice President for Government & External Affairs, and Director of Animal Care & Conservation during his seven-year tenure. Prior to his association with the San Francisco Zoo, he was the Director of the Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, for nine years, and held the positions of Senior Advisor for Environmental Affairs and Director of Operations and Husbandry at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

As director at Rolling Hills, Jenkins is responsible for oversight of the 100-acre zoo, currently home to over 100 species of animals, and the 64,000-square-foot Wildlife Museum, housing one of the world's finest collections of full mount animals on display in immersive, naturalistic dioramas.

Jenkins takes over for Kathy Tolbert, who has been the Park Director since July 2005. Tolbert is stepping down, but will remain as assistant director, the position she held from December 1994 until becoming Director in 2005.

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