2020…it was a zoo out there
Jan 27, 2021
Sean Putney
2020…it was a zoo out there

Sean Putney is the CZO (Chief Zoological Officer) of the KC Zoo. He joins our meeting to discuss the impact of 2020 on the Zoo.

Sean is originally from Meadville, Pennsylvania, a small town just south of Erie. He went to college at Bowling Green State University in NW Ohio and graduated with a BS in Biology with an emphasis in marine closed systems. He spent two years at the Cataline Island Marine Institute off the coast of Los Angeles where he taught visiting students about marine biology, oceanography, island ecology, and a few more ologies during the school year and was a dive master during the summers.

In 1994, he moved to Omaha and was an aquarist for the soon-to-be-opened aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo. He spent the following 13 years learning, growing and advancing in Omaha and eventually was in a curatorial position there.

In 2007, he moved to the Kansas City Zoo to expand his horizons as an animal curator. In 2012, he became the Director of Living Collections. In 2015, he expanded his role to help with the facilities department and his title became Sr. Director of Zoological Operations.

In 2019, he landed in his current role as Chief Zoological Officer where he helps lead the Living Collections, Facilities and Animal Health Departments.

He has been married for 25 years. He has one adult son who is married, teaches in the Joplin area, and has given us a wonderful 18 month old grandson.

His youngest son is a sophomore at NW Missouri State who is a dual major in finance and accounting.