Ted Fox, the longtime director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, will retire next month after 34 years of service. He began his career at the zoo in 1991 as a zookeeper and later became collection manager for the bird department. He was named curator in 2006 and has served as zoo director for the past 14 years.
Fox is widely credited with the success of the zoo’s nationally recognized Humboldt penguin exhibit, which has hatched more than 50 chicks since opening in 2005. He also played a key role in helping the zoo earn and maintain accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a benchmark of excellence in animal care and facility standards.
Onondaga County, which owns and operates the zoo, says it will launch a nationwide search to find Fox’s successor.