Dismissal of Zoo Director

I was appalled and saddened to read (Times, June 6) of the firing of Dr. Warren Thomas as director of the Los Angeles Zoo, and I was irate at the reasons given for the action and the manner in which it was done.

I have been associated with the zoo for 13 years as a docent and have given several thousand volunteer hours in support of the zoo. When I began as docent, the L.A. Zoo was, quite frankly, an embarrassment. Under the aegis of Dr. Thomas, it has become a world-class zoo, respected and acknowledged as such. Not only has Thomas brought the zoo to its present prestigious state, he has also brought a warmth, a confidence and a sense of commitment to the volunteers who serve the zoo.

This action by James Hadaway, the general manager of the city Recreation and Parks Department, indicates more of a personal vendetta than a reasoned action taken as a result of grave offenses. It is indeed a tragic day for the zoo and for the wildlife it attempts to preserve to lose a director with the eminence, talent and dedication of Warren Thomas.

Hadaway states that his department will make a “concerted effort to find a top-notch administrator to succeed Thomas and to continue the Los Angeles Zoo’s status as one of the nation’s leading zoos.” The fact that we are now “one of the nation’s leading zoos” is due to Thomas’ abilities and there is no director more “top-notch.”

ELEANOR V. REDACK

Los Angeles