Description

Bieler was in the United States Army and became captain. He met his wife, who was from San Diego, in Europe. They moved to San Diego in 1959. He became a member of the San Diego Zoological Society when it was a "small, family-type organization where everybody knew everybody." It was an exciting time for the Society, what with the development of the Wild Animal Park. He was on the Society's Board of Directors and oversaw the operations of the Park in 1972, and served as president of the Board from 1983-1984. He was also Director of the San Diego Zoo Global from 1973, eventually becoming director emeritus in 1985. In 2014 his more than 40 years with the Zoo were celebrated by giving him the Conservation Advocate Medal. He tells stories about the Zoo and Park, the hummingbird house and koalas, and talks about the financial difficulties at the Zoo and Park. The interview was held at the San Diego Zoo. Charles Schroeder is mentioned during the interview.