Trevor Zoo renamed to honor renowned conservationist and biologist

MILLBROOK — Millbrook School announced that its on-campus zoo will be renamed the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo, in honor of the late Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy III, a distinguished alumnus and one of the world’s foremost conservation biologists.

The name change will be formally recognized during a rededication ceremony at the zoo on Saturday, June 7, at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.

“Renaming the zoo honors the lasting impact of one of Millbrook’s most meaningful teacher-student relationships and underscores the school’s mission to prepare students for lives of purpose through care for the natural world,” the school said in a press release.

Dr. Lovejoy, who passed away in December 2021 at the age of 80, credited his formative years at Millbrook — especially under the mentorship of the zoo’s namesake Frank Trevor — as the spark for his lifelong dedication to conservation. Often referred to as the “planet doctor,” Lovejoy coined the term “biodiversity,” played a key role in efforts to preserve the Amazon rainforest and inspired generations of scientists around the world.

The Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo located on a high school campus in the United States. It houses over 170 animals, including nine endangered species. Millbrook students are deeply involved in daily zoo operations, gaining hands-on experience caring for species such as the critically endangered American Red Wolf. Nearly 100 students participate each year as part of the school’s integrated academic and service-learning programs.