Terry L. Maple (1946-2023)
Prepared by Sue Margulis, Historian, Animal Behavior Society
Photo from Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC Staff Photo/William Berry)
Terry L. Maple, Professor Emeritus of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Director Emeritus of Zoo Atlanta, passed away at the age of 77 on Dec 3, 2023. Terry’s long career spans both the academic world and the zoo world and his efforts to enhance animal welfare in zoos and support zoo-based research have forever altered the zoo field. Throughout his career, Terry seamlessly melded together his academic interests and zoo design and management. A native of southern California, Terry Maple completed his undergraduate degree at the University of the Pacific. Terry was an NCAA Division I athlete, serving is co-captain of the Pacific Tigers, where they excelled during his time there. Terry completed his Masters and PhD in psychology from UC Davis in 1971. He joined the faculty at Georgia Tech in 1978, following several years at Emory University. Much of his research focused on primate behavior in the zoo, and the role of environment in shaping behavior and influencing welfare.
I first met Terry when I was an undergraduate, in 1981, while interning at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Terry was spending a sabbatical at the zoo, serving as its interim director, to explore what this sort of career path might be like. During this time, he told me about the summer animal behavior field course he offered, in Kenya. It was a life-changing experience for me, and I came to know Terry well during this trip. His experience at the Audubon Zoo was equally life-changing for him, and would shape the rest of his career.
In the early 1980’s, the Atlanta Zoo was considered one of the worst zoos in the country. Terry Maple was tasked with reinvigorating the zoo. During is undergraduate years, he was a frequent visitor to the San Diego Zoo, and the zoo’s exhibits served as inspiration later in his career as he set out to re-think Zoo Atlanta. Focusing on several high-profile species and individuals, most notably gorillas, Terry was able to generate a strong donor base and community support. Re-branded as Zoo Atlanta, the zoo remains a model in the zoo world of expansive exhibit design, animal welfare, evidence-based management, and zoo research. Terry remained as the director and CEO of Zoo Atlanta until 2002. During this time, he maintained his academic position at Georgia Tech, and trained over twenty graduate students, many of whom went on to careers as zoo curators and zoo directors. His influence in the field is substantial. Maple and his students and research collaborators published over 200 scientific articles and books on a wide range of species, focusing on behavior, welfare, and conservation.
In 2005, Terry became the President and CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo in Florida. Following on his successful zoo-academic collaboration in Atlanta, he established a relationship with Florida Atlantic University. He moved the Palm Beach Zoo forward in its animal welfare and conservation programming, including an emphasis on sustainability. New construction at the Palm Beach Zoo was LEED-certified.
Terry Maple was honored by many academic and professional societies, most notably being elected a Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society in 2023. He was also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association of Psychological Science, and served a term as president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He was a founding member of the American Society of Primatologists, and a founding editor of the journal Zoo Biology. The journal served to elevate “zoo research” from a marginal niche to a well-recognized and established field. In addition to his many academic honors, he was inducted to the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of the Pacific in 2000.
Terry’s “larger than life” personality helped him generate donor support and funding for the zoos that he headed, and for field conservation efforts. As vice-chair of the Field Conservation Committee of the AZA, he was instrumental at encouraging zoo support for field conservation efforts. He served as an advisor and consultant to numerous NGOs, included the World Wildlife Fund, and the African Wildlife Society, among others, and as Chair of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
Terry’s loss is felt profoundly by his family, friends, and colleagues in both the zoo and academic world. His legacy will live on.