Jack Throp

Jack Throp (born c. 1927 in Arizona) was director of the Birmingham Zoo from 1989 to 1992.

Throp grew up in Arizona and learned to make saddles before becoming an animal keeper at the San Diego Zoo. From there he took a job at a large exotic bird sanctuary, which led to an opportunity to help wrangle animals for the 1960 Walt Disney motion picture The Swiss Family Robinson.

After the film's release, Throp was hired as general curator for the Phoenix Zoo, helping build up the collection for the newly-opened attraction. From there he went on to direct the Honolulu Zoo for 15 years, then the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. While there he helped create the Western Plains Zoo, a spacious park similar in concept to the San Diego Zoo. He also met his wife Dorothea, a member of the Philharmonic Choir at the Sydney Opera House.

Throp was required to retire from the Taronga Zoo when he turned 62 in 1989. He was hired as director of the Birmingham Zoo that year and served for three years before retiring again in 1992. He and his wife remained in their Mountain Brook home and are active patrons of the arts. Throp is also the author of several stories.

References

• Huebner, Michael (April 12, 2009) "Birmingham writer and former zoo director Jack Throp writes about not-so-wild animals." Birmingham News