A. LaMar Farnsworth, director for 32 of his 43 years at Hogle Zoo, will change assignments in the next few months at the zoo, and a new director will be sought.
An announcement regarding Farnsworth and the search for a new director was to be made Wednesday by zoo officials.Farnsworth, 63, said Tuesday evening that he had talked with the Utah Zoological Society Board, telling them of "my intention to step back a bit."
Farnsworth confirmed he will
step down from his present job and assume a new role at the zoo as "director emeritus" after a new director is named. The zoo board will look for a new director.
"But will still be involved in a consulting situation, doing quite a bit of work, but not as director," he said.
Farnsworth, whose first job at the zoo was as an animal keeper, was named director following the death of director Jerry DeBary in 1964. DeBary died at age 37 after being bitten by a puff adder snake at the zoo.
Farnsworth said he made the decision to change assignments at the zoo of his own volition.
He has served as director during a time of strong growth and development at the zoo but also during recent times when the animal preserve was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"I am just tired," he said. "It has been a hectic time. I will still be the director for at least another five or six months while they (the board) look for a replacement."
He said he will be "a consultant . . . wherever they (the board) might need some help and want me to be involved."
James E. Hogle Jr., president of the board, could not be reached for comment.
In past interviews, Farnsworth has said he is proud of his work at the zoo and the "many accomplishments" made under his leadership.
"An awful lot of good" things have taken place at the zoo, Farnsworth said Tuesday.
Hogle strongly backed Farnsworth and his staff during the Department of Agriculture's investigation.
Farnsworth began work as a keeper at the zoo at a time when about 80 percent of the older animals were housed in the old Elephant Building, the site of the present zoo auditorium. Over the years, the zoo has opened a number of new exhibits and displays.
The zoo, which relies heavily on state funds and private donations, has about 1,400 animals. It is located on approximately 54 acres of property at the mouth of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City.