Thomas R.

Lead Wildlife Specialist San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

San Diego, California, United States

About

Experience

  • Lead Wildlife Specialist-Elephant Odyssey at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
    Nov 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Leads a team of 15 wildlife care specialist and participates in the feeding and general care and welfare of elephant odyssey wildlife (3.1 African Elephants,1.2 Cavendish DikDik, 1.1 African Lions, 0.1 Jaguar, 1.2 Baird’s Tapir, 3.5 capybara, 0.2 Dromedary Camels, 0.2 Guanaco, 2.0 Burros), Administers prescribed medication and nutritional supplements. Keeps feeding records. Observes assigned wildlife. Reports abnormal conditions to superiors. Cleans habitat areas, pools, wildlife sleeping areas and service areas. Cleans and disinfects utensils, work tools and containers. Maintains health and behavior records on assigned wildlife. Answers questions from the public concerning habitat wildlife. Provides habitat security. Participates in capturing, incapacitating and moving habitat wildlife. Assists medical staff in treating wildlife. Performs minor or routine maintenance on habitat enclosures. Reports the need for major maintenance and repairs. Operates a variety of light and medium equipment.

  • Dallas Zoo (2 yrs 5 mos)
    • Assistant Supervisor
      May 2021 - Nov 2021 · 7 mos

      Caring for 2.6 African Elephants. Including providing outstanding animal care for species in the section: food preparation, feeding, exhibit maintenance, pest control, and reproductive management. Monitoring elephants for signs of EEHV and variety of other medical issues. Participating in operant conditioning and husbandry programs, provide approved environmental enrichment, work collaboratively to improve animal exhibits, and prepare and conduct educational presentations and tours for zoo guests. Operation of Bobcat, Kubota tractor, and golf carts. Identification of browse species for feeding out. Mentoring Zoologists, interns and volunteers alongside fellow keepers. Knowledge and use of record keeping software ZIMS. Participate on Zoo’s Emergency Weapons Team.

    • Lead Elephant Zoologist
      Mar 2021 - May 2021 · 3 mos

    • Senior Zoologist Elephants
      Jul 2019 - Mar 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos

  • Zookeeper Elephant/Rhino Team at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
    Nov 2016 - Jun 2019 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    providing a healthy, attractive environment for the animals in a specified area, all aspects of daily animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, observation, enrichment, and encouragement of public interest in the animals, training new behaviors, artificial insemination, construction of new enrichment devices including tire toys and puzzle feeders, experience with geriatric elephants,daily keeper chats

  • Pachyderm Zookeeper at Memphis Zoo
    Aug 2012 - Nov 2016 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    providing a healthy, attractive environment for the animals in a specified area, all aspects of daily animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, observation, enrichment, and encouragement of public interest in the animals, training new behaviors, artificial insemination, construction of new enrichment devices including tire toys and puzzle feeders, experience with geriatric elephants,daily keeper chats

  • Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST- ELEPHANTS at Feld Entertainment
    Jun 2011 - Jul 2012 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Dedication to high quality of animal care and handling of the Asian elephant Daily care and feeding of Asian elephants Maintence of animal yards and barn Support of operant conditioning and training techniques in free contract Operation of forklift and bobcat Handling of elephant and horses in performances as needed Providing answers to public during animal open houses