Question: Where are you encouraged to feed the non-native fauna, let the PowerPoints run free, and get motivated to go wild in your career?

Answer: Why, only the largest event for zoo and aquarium professionals, that's where.

All this week, the Houston Zoo — by way of the George R. Brown Convention Center — plays host to the 2010 Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference. It's a six-day extravaganza for more than 2,000 animal-devoted virtuosos from around the globe, with topics ranging from "Climate Change Interpretation - Learning from Reflective Practice in Aquariums" to "Accreditation: A Thru Z."

Although we were a bit disappointed to find exactly zero lions, tigers, or bears roaming the ruby red halls of the GRB with a registrant name badge, the event didn't exactly throw up tame expectations, either.

Kicking off the conference, esteemed author of Good to Great, Jim Collins, inspired the knowledge-hungry crusaders with notable quotables about success ("Success starts with having the right people."), leadership ("Leadership isn't about the leader. It's humility, and the will to do what it takes for the cause."), and rock 'n roll ("Mediocrity is persistent inconsistency!").

While top-notch speakers lead a flock of top-notch sessions over the course of the conference, it also pays to hang back from the pack in the Exhibit Hall.

That's because this ain't your run-of-the-mill showcase. Say goodbye to cheap Koosh ball giveaways bearing the logos of companies you've never even heard of. The AZA's got animal exercise and care equipment (someone has to create climbing toys strong enough to hold a gorilla!) that'll make your itty bitty Mitzi cower in its wake.

Not to mention there are a few animatronic dinosaur encounters that might be a little too close for comfort for the squeamish lot. If you linger long enough, the congenial exhibit consultants at Billings Productions will even give you and a special prehistoric buddy the paparazzi treatment — with a big oaf of a Tyrannosaurus Rex wannabe with the tiniest forelimbs you've ever seen on a theropod.

But if you can't attend the conference, because, well, your CEO doesn't know you aspire to a zookeeper while you're daydreaming through data entry, fear thee not. Cyberstalking the attendees and the presentation highlights is permitted.

How? By either refreshing Houston Zoo staff photographer Stephanie Bledsoe-Adams' Flickr shots (updated throughout the day!), or by following the #AZA2010 hashtag on Twitter.

That inner growl? This is your chance. Let. It. Out.