Zoo Atlanta
Primate Keeper 1
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With a goal of becoming a Curator of Mammals, I am currently working at Zoo Atlanta as a primate keeper with the oh-so-fun and intelligent Gorillas. I started at Zoo Atlanta as an Intern in the elephant department last August. In October, I was offered a Seasonal Primate keeper position which I eagerly accepted, only to find myself falling in love with these primates. I just recently accepted my full-time position as a primate keeper.
I have a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Georgia which is where I found my passion for animal behavior. I worked as a research assistant in Dr. Fragaszy's Primate Cognition and Behavior lab working on a Macaw nest behavior project and helping Caroline Jones with her many projects. Last summer, I helped collect social organization data for her gorilla project. My journey through animal behavior has been short so far but I know it is a life long passion of mine.
I have always had compassion for animals and the environment; always wondering why they are the way they are and developing connections with them. Understanding wildlife is important for conserving our environment. Wildlife gives us cues to what is wrong and what needs to be changed. The hard part if figuring out how to make that change.
July 2018