Columbus Zoo hires its first conservation biologist

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium recently made a big announcement, the appointment of its first Conservation Biologist.

The Zoo has a huge focus on conservation from their efforts to rehabilitate manatees to preserving Ohio’s endangered hellbender population. But this is the first time they’ll have someone examining all the efforts and forging partnerships to expand them using data gathered at the zoo and beyond.

Greg Lipps, who calls central Ohio a “biodiversity hotspot”, says being named the Zoo’s Conservation Biologist, a dream job and he’ll have a big focus on saving multiple species.

Greg Lipps conservation biologist the Columbus Zoo and aquarium

“You know we have more fish species in our Scioto River than some European countries. We have more muscles species in the Columbus area, than continents have,” said Lipps. “We have an incredible diversity. Our turtle diversity is great. So, we have a responsibility to that because we are the keepers of that biodiversity and it’s important that we make sure that it’s well carefully and managed so that it isn’t gone for future generations.”

Zoo leaders say this is all about planting the seed for central Ohio to take up a role in saving wildlife.

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