(Syracuse, NY - June 27, 2011) Onondaga County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney today announced the appointment of Henry “Ted” Fox as director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. He replaces retired director, Charles “Chuck” Doyle.

“Replacing Chuck Doyle is no easy task,” said Mahoney.  “Ted Fox is a well respected and highly skilled curator and I know he is the right choice to lead our world class zoo.”

“We are very fortunate to have a seamless transition and, at the same time, retain local expertise. We wish the Chuck the best in his retirement and look forward to a successful future with Ted,” said William Lansley, commissioner of parks.

Fox has worked at the zoo since 1991, serving most recently as curator, a position he has held for the past five years. A graduate of Cornell University, he has a bachelor’s degree in animal science.

Fox sits on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) passerine Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). In this role, he collaborates with zoo experts across the country to examine the conservation needs of the entire taxa, and to develop recommendations for population management and conservation based upon the needs of the species and the facilities that house them.

“Ted Fox is respected throughout the AZA community for his knowledge and expertise,” said Janet Agostini, president of Friends of the Zoo. “The board of directors and I look forward to continuing to build on our partnership and successes at the zoo with Ted at the helm.”

Among his many achievements, Fox was instrumental in the development of the zoo’s Humboldt penguin exhibit, which opened in 2005. Though industry experts forecasted that it would take five years for the penguin pairs to become established and produce chicks, the first chicks hatched just one year after the exhibit opened. To date, 29 chicks have hatched in Syracuse, an accomplishment for which the zoo is nationally recognized. Fox regularly consults with zoological institutions around the country in preparation for new exhibit openings and about penguin management, especially as it pertains to breeding.

He was also instrumental in raising the first Andean condor chick to be used for conservation education in Venezuela by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in conjunction with Bioandina Foundation and Inparques, the Venezuelan National Park Service, through a program that funds various components of a conservation program, the goal of which is the establishment of a viable population of Andean condors in Venezuela. To date, the bird has met thousands of people and spread the word about the importance of protecting the species, which is threatened in the wild.

Doyle, a 33-year zoo employee, was initially hired as a park laborer by Syracuse City Parks. He worked his way up the ranks as a keeper, senior keeper and curator before becoming director in 2005. He is internationally known for his work with Asian elephants and has been honored with the President’s and Founder’s awards by the Elephant Managers Association, an international non-profit organization of professional elephant handlers, administrators, veterinarians, researchers and elephant enthusiasts dedicated to the welfare of the world’s elephants through improved conservation, husbandry, research, education and communication.