Ken Redman, who is retiring as Honolulu Zoo director after 17 years there, plans to continue sharing his knowledge of the animal kingdom when he leaves the Kapi'olani Park facility June 30.

Redman, 66, is headed to Tanzania later this year to escort a tour group. It will be his 12th trip to Africa, which he said "calls out to me."

He and his wife, Evelyn, are also taking a trip to the Kingdom of Bhutan in South Asia. Redman said the lure of having time to travel to "broaden horizons" convinced him to announce his retirement three weeks ago.

"This profession is one of the greatest in the world and I would have liked to see our next project done but I know there'll just be another one after that," Redman said in confirming his retirement plans.

Redman came to Honolulu from Wichita, Kan., in 1991 as assistant zoo director, and served as director for 15 years.

"In his time, he brought education to the forefront," said Sidney A. Quintal, city Enterprise Services director.

Quintal cited as an example the two-year-old Keiki Zoo, a $5.1 million complex that lets visitors get up close to appreciate a wide range of animals, from fish and guinea pigs to horses and cows. Quintal also noted as some of Redman's accomplishments as director the construction of the zoo's veterinary clinic, and an improved relationship with the Honolulu Zoological Society.

Redman said, "We are reaching out to residents and visitors with our education programs such as vacation adventures, snooze-in-the-zoo and outreach to schools and I'm very proud of that."

Quintal said the city will soon begin a nationwide search for a new director for the 42-acre zoo. "I think we've worked hard to get the zoo to where it is now and want it to continue," Quintal said.