CONSERVATION?  Hardly. 

Although the Zoo bills itself as an organization with a mission of "conservation," it spends less than one percent annually for conservation.

OBSCENE SALARIES? - Yes.   (read the Philadelphia Magazine article HERE)

$297,000.00 - Zoo Director Pete Hoskin's annual compensation according to Charity Navigator (2005).

FOR 2006, Pete Hoskins made $216,723 for five months work (that's $43,344.60 PER MONTH.  Annualized it is $520,135.00)

VIK DEWAN's salary for six months work was $193,110 (that's $32,185 PER MONTH.  Annualized it is $386,220.00)

Together, the two CEOs made a total of $409,833.00, or 1.26 percent of the entire zoo's annual budget.

2006 Salaries for just TWO employees of the "non-profit," tax-exempt Philadelphia Zoo:

Name	Title	Compensation	% of Expenses
Vikram Dewan (six months)	President, CEO (The person identified as holding the highest position of management, and therefore who would normally be responsible for carrying out the mission of the charity and leading the organization on a day-to-day basis.)	$193,110	0.59%
Alexander Hoskins (five months)	Former President, CEO (Using information reported on an organization's most recent Form 990, we include as compensation an individual's salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and other allowances. We do not include contributions to benefit plans or compensation deferred to a future date.)	$216,723	0.67%

 http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/4801.htm

By comparison:

The Elephant Sanctuary's (Hohenwald, TN) CEO annual compensation is $21,000.

The Performing Animal Welfare Society's ( Galt, CA) CEO annual compensation is $35,861.

The Memphis (TN) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $118,400.

The Oakland (CA) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $144,400.

The San Francisco (CA) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $150,000.

The Denver (CO) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $154,172.

The Phoenix (AZ) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $163,231.

The Atlanta (GA) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $175,000.

The Pittsburgh (PA) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $181,196.

The Columbus (OH) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $192,186.

The Woodland Park (Seattle, WA) Zoo'sannual compensation is $202,058.

The Lowry Park (Tampa, FL) Zoo's annual compensation is $204,158.

The Houston (TX) Zoo's CEO annual compensation is $206,051. 

 

 

 

 

2003 Expenses of the Philadelphia Zoo

 

Exhibit and Garden Care 6,491,000 - 19%

 

Animal Care $ 5,064,000  - 15%

 

Contributed Goods and Services 4,579,000 - 14%

 

General Management and Administration 4,456,000  - 13%

 

Guest and Member Relations 3,430,000 - 10%

 

Marketing and Development 3,692,000  - 11%

 

Depreciation 3,531,000 - 10%

Education and Conservation 2,531,000 - 8%

 

 

 

According to the Philadelphia Zoo's annual report for the year 2002, the number one expense of the Philly Zoo was "General Management and Administration," which accounted for over $5,000,000, NEARLY $800,000 MORE THAN THE ZOO's EXPENDITURES ON ANIMAL CARE THAT SAME YEAR 

 

2004 Expenses of the Philadelphia Zoo

 

Exhibit and Garden Care $ 11,973,000 - 34%

 

Animal Care $ 5,512,000  - 16%

 

General Management and Administration 4,491,000  - 13%

 

Guest and Member Services 4,790,000 - 13%

 

Contributed Goods and Services 2,082,000 - 6%

 

Marketing and Advertising 1,535,000  - 4%

 

Development and Fundraising 2,590,000 - 7%

Education and Conservation 2,436,000 - 7%

 

 

 

 

 

AUDIT OF THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO - read about recommendations made by city officials over ten years ago, few of which have been implemented.