THE BALLOON MAN

Time to explore new wildlife for Naples Zoo executive director

 
David Tetzlaff pets a poisonous Eastern diamondback snake.
 Andrea Stetson/Special to Coastal Life
For 43 years the Tetzlaff family has been associated with the Naples Zoo.from: news-press.com
Written by andrea stetson , special to the News-Press
Nov 22, 2012
Naples. FL--For the past 43 years there has been a Tetzlaff at the reins of the Naples Zoo. Now the era is coming to an end as executive director David Tetzlaff leaves for a new zoo job in Sanford.
His resignation was a shock to the community and to those who worked with him, but Tetzlaff said it was time to move on and explore new opportunities.
The child who began his career shoveling elephant droppings at age 14 is leaving as the top executive at age 50.
Tetzlaff’s parents Larry and Jane were well-known expedition leaders and zoo operators in the Midwest. They traveled everywhere, from the Amazon rain forest to African roads. On their expeditions, Larry Tetzlaff recorded the cultures and animal life on 16mm motion picture film while his wife took still photos. Then they shared the work in person and on television.

 

David Tetzlaff pets a poisonous Eastern Diamondback Snake.
Andrea Stetson/Special to Coastal Life
1967 they visited Naples while doing a film in the Everglades and discovered the lush gardens that were first established there in 1919.
“We visited Naples and there was a tiny attraction called Caribbean Gardens. Mom and Dad thought it would be a good place for the animals to winter rather than in a barn in Ohio,” David Tetzlaff explained.
In September 1969 they opened Jungle Larry’s African Safari.
“It was a great collection for a private zoo,” Tetzlaff said as he listed animals such as lions, tigers, cheetahs, snakes, alligators, crocodiles and even elephants that were there.
David Tetzlaff was turning 7 when the family moved to Naples.
“I was a zoo brat,” he said. “I was in and out of here all the time.”
read more:
http://www.news-press.com/article/20121123/COASTAL_LIFE/311230005/Time-explore-new-wildlife-Naples-Zoo-executive-director?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs