Highly motivated large mammal keeper with a responsible work ethic, good time management and interpersonal skills. A background in all aspects of large animal husbandry and management including: welfare assessments, behavioral enrichment and operant conditioning.
Skills
Acute observation of animals and their behaviors.
Trained and mentored many keepers through beginning stages of career development.
Works well with minimal supervision.
Works independently as well as part of a team.
Works well with diverse age groups and personalities.
Physically capable of heavy labor required for this job.
Work History
Server Assistant, 06/2020 - Current Rh – North East, MD,
Kept close eye on customers to quickly spot leaving guests and clear tables for future patrons.
Checked dining area supplies, including linens and wrapped silverware, and replenished low stock.
Collected trash, wiped up spills and removed trays to maintain fresh and clean customer areas.
Assisted back of house with cleaning dishes.
Maintained clean restrooms.
Primary Animal Keeper, 05/2005 - 07/2019 Us Government Other Agencies And Independent Organizations – Yuma, AZ,
Five day a week keeper responsible for the health, training, wellness, and welfare of a variety of hoofstock including: black rhinoceros, greater one horn rhinoceros, nile hippo, eastern mountain bongo, yellow-back duiker, warthog, giant eland, tapir, muntjac, blackbuck, and scimatar horned oryx.
Lead role in initiating, implementing and advocating for appropriate geriatric care for female black rhinoceros.
Lead keeper in training 1.1 black rhinoceros for voluntary crate loading for relocation to new area of zoo facility through operant conditioning.
Created shaping plan and implemented training for various medical procedures including advanced behaviors such as voluntary blood draws, foot care, enemas and invasive wound care.
Lead keeper on managing breeding pair of eastern mountain bongo and their offspring.
Lead keeper in training 1.2 eastern mountain bongo to voluntarily load trailer for shipment.
Lead keeper in receiving 1.0 hippopotamus and creating and implementing daily care routine.
Communicates daily with management about all aspects of animal health and well-being.
Administration of all medications both oral and topical.
Diet preparations and feed out.
Cleaning night houses, exhibits and yards.
Creating and evaluating behavior based enrichment.
Frequently leads several behind the scenes VIP tours as well as keeper chats to guests for after hours engagements.
Proficient in daily routine record keeping relating to behavior and health of animals.
Varied horticulture work.
Animal Keeper, 03/1997 - 05/2005 San Francisco Zoo And Garden – City, STATE,
Full time animal care professional, caring for animals such as: Asian and African elephants, black rhinoceros, greater one horn rhinoceros, reticulated giraffes, nile hippopotamus, pygmy hippopotamus, bairds tapir, gray seal, warthogs, scimatar horned oryx, blackbuck, muntjac, yelow back duiker, anteater and capybara.
Maintained exhibits and night houses.
Diet preparation and feeding out.
Administration of all medications either oral or topical
Daily footwork on elephants such as foot soaks and nail/pad trimming.
Daily elephant sessions in front of public followed by a keeper chat.
Assisted with monthly trunk washes of 0.2 Asian elephants for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
Assisted on daily routine of 0.1 Asian elephant with tuberculosis that required specialized quarantine procedures on care and treatment.
Assisted with training elephants for voluntary blood draws.
Trained mega fauna for voluntary crate loading and accompanying animal to new facility. Took the lead role on 0.1 Asian elephant trailer training.
Experience managing breeding pair of 1.1 black rhinoceros and their offspring.
Communicated with management and vet staff on animals health and well being.
Wildlife Rehab Intern, 06/1996 - 09/1996 Wildlife Education And Rehabilitation Center – City, STATE,
Animal health checks.
Clean and maintain enclosures.
Taking phone calls about injured wildlife and providing assistance to caller.
Teaching birds of prey to hunt before release.
Aiding in the release of wildlife.
Education
Bachelors Of Science: Zoology/Marine Biology, Expected in 1996 - Humboldt State University - Arcata, CA GPA:
Certificate Of Completions: Zoological Animal Studies, Expected in 2017 - Cypherworx/Collabornation - Online, GPA:
Online course through World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Received certifications in: Animal Welfare, Rhinoceroses, Giraffes, Elephants, and Stud Books 101.
Additional Information
I have attended the Rhino Keeper Workshop in 2001, 2013, 2017, and 2019.
Nominated to be on the board of International Rhino Keeper Association (2018).
Wrote an article "Foobler Ball Enrichment" for The Crash, published by the International Rhino Keepers Association in March 2018.
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