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professionally speakingFrom 2006-2007, I completed three internships while intermittently waiting tables at a local restaurant near my hometown. My first ever animal experience was working with black rhinoceros at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, TX. I always knew I wanted to be a zookeeper and I had a few favorites, but I did not have a specific animal in mind; however, after this internship, I knew rhinos were the only animal for me. I helped take care of five black rhinoceros there, including a 6-month old calf, Inkosana. My fondest memory was when I cut some sumac for the rhinos - it was the first time Inkosana had ever seen browse - definitely a fun observational experience.
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Despite the extensive knowledge base garnered from Fossil Rim, including facets of nutrition, immobilization techniques, behavioral observation and training, it was not quite enough to get a job, so I completed a tiring yet completely fun and rewarding internship at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL. It was an entirely different facility and worked an entirely different way, but it solidifed my interest in animal care. I was able to work closely with bobcats, servals, lynx, ocelots, binturongs and more. The larger cats were around as well but required most experienced keepers. Despite my childhood fascination with tigers and even though I had no negative experiences there, I realized cats - big or small - could not bump rhinos from the top. |
I continued to apply for jobs and I did not seem to be getting enough "bites," so I decided to head to the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I had previously been accepted into their program, but opted to go to Fossil Rim instead, so it was fairly straightforward to apply a second time. I was the first intern there for the summer and spent five weeks in the black rhino area - which also included pronghorn, alpaca, guanaco, rhea, emu, Galapagos tortoise, American alligators, and a camel. Because of the rhinos (and the camel), it was my favorite area in which I worked. I spent the remaining five weeks in three other areas that included waterfowl, small primates, penguins, bongo, zebra, warthog, giraffe, ostrich and cheetah. It was while I was in South Dakota that I interviewed via phone with the Houston Zoo and was subsequently offered a job there in their hoofstock department. I took it!
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In August 2007, I packed up my car and headed to Texas. I was ecstatic to finally have a job in the field I loved. Living in Houston was definitely a lot different than my small town in Massachusetts, but in the previous year, I had lived in three different states, so adjustment was a learned behavior. It was challenging learning the four different hoofstock areas and balancing the personalities of my co-workers, but I persevered and became good friends with all of them in the (almost) three years I was there. My former co-worker and my best friend, Brianna, and I visit each other annually - swapping who travels to whom. I was involved in the Greater Houston Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (GHCAAZK), acting as Secretary for the years I was there. Unfortunately, the zoo's only rhino (at the time) passed away within months of my arrival (he was very old) - I did not get a chance to work with him. However, I found a new love - tapirs! They certainly remain a close second to rhinos, but for my time in Houston, they were my favorites. I also worked with ankole, giraffe, okapi, bongo, yellow-backed duikers, blue duikers, red-flanked duikers, warthogs, giant eland, zebra, gazelle, nyala, cranes, hornbills, marabou storks, tortoises and anteaters. It was an awesome assortment of animals to work with on a daily basis. As times (and personnel) change, so must I. After several of my friends - including my best friend - left the department (and the zoo field), I made a decision to look for another job - one that hopefully included rhinos and/or hoofstock and was closer to home. I told myself, 'At least in the same time zone as my parents.' And I was lucky enough to interview for several...and astronomically lucky enough to be offered my current position. The week before I left Houston, as a tribute to my favorite animal, Nick, a Brazilian Tapir, I got a tattoo of his profile on my right shoulder. About nine months after I left Houston, at the time of his euthanization, he was the oldest tapir in managed care in the United States - 32 years old! You can read about Nick in this post from the Houston Zoo's blog.
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Currently, and since March 2010, I work as a Senior 1 Animal Care Specialist in the rhinoceros "department" at Busch Gardens Tampa. My co-workers and I care for 0.1 black rhinoceros and 1.4 white rhinoceros as well as ostrich, marabou storks, saddle-billed storks, mute swans and Egyptian geese. Additionally, I have cared for another 1.1 black rhinoceros and 3.5 white rhinoceros, but they were sent to other accredited zoological facilities as part of the rhinoceros SSP. I am also active in the Tampa Bay AAZK for which I am the Fundraising Chair. This means I coordinate all the chapter's fundraisers including the largest one of the year, Bowling for Rhinos, which raises money via bowl-a-thon/silent auction/raffle for rhinoceros conservation. I am also active in the International Rhino Keeper Association (IRKA) - I am the Election committee chair. I am happy I made the move to Tampa. I enjoy the city and its offerings and Busch Gardens is a great place to work. It also helps that I work with 6 rhinoceros every day. :o)
personally speaking
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I was born and raised in rural Massachusetts, in a house my father built with his best friend that borders a section of state forest. Yes, it was scary the first time I was home alone - it is in the middle of nowhere. But, I would not have traded my small-town childhood for anything. My parents, who have been married for over 40 years, grew up in small towns nearby and most of my extended family is in the same area. I attended grade, middle and high schools with the same kids, and remain close friends with some of them to this day. I did not want to leave the small-town existence upon graduating and so I attended Middlebury College in Vermont. I knew I wanted to work with animals, so I focused on biology. However, I also have other interests that a liberal arts education allowed me to pursue - namely, art and history of classical civilizations. I did also grew to enjoy the Ballets Russes, modern Greek poetry, creative writing, philosophy, and television & American culture.
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I am a huge fan of going to the movies - despite the general populace's many gripes with the practice - there's no comparison to being in a theater and watching a movie on the big screen (go on a weekday!). I also love television, anything outdoors, musicals/operas/concerts (when I can), "oldies" music (thanks, parents), theme parks and all things Disney. And who doesn't like traveling? I've been to Greece and Turkey for a high school Latin class trip and Australia for a 4 month study abroad program. I spent 10 days in Rome my senior year of college. I've been to 37 states, and when I go somewhere new, I like to try to find license plates from all 50 states (thanks, Dad). If I could see any concert, past, present or future, I would like to see Queen at Wembley Stadium in 1986 - or Queen anywhere for that matter. I have seen Michael Bolton (don't ask), Aerosmith, the Pretenders, the B-52's (my favorite), Elton John, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Madonna, George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Journey, Pat Benatar, and Heart. If I could live in any other historical time period, I would choose Ancient Greece. I would like to be born in Macedonia in 356 BC, so I could travel with Alexander the Great, whom I find fascinating. This figure fueled my interest in historical fiction and my second favorite author, Mary Renault - second to the late, great Michael Crichton. I'm still waiting for Jurassic Park 4, which will hopefully feature saber-toothed cats and woolly rhinoceros.
