About

ZOO KEEPER

My interest in animals started early.

Growing up I always had exotic pets in my home and thanks to my mother who sparked that interest, our house was never absent of critters. As I got older this interest of animals turned into passion. In my early twenties I took a leap of faith and signed up for an internship at a zoo. I was at a point in my early career life where I was ready to find my place. I never thought working with animals could have been a career so this internship was a way to find out if that was true or not. Well, it turned out to be very true and within just weeks I was hooked. I even extended my internship once my time was up because I didn't want it to be over. Soon after that I was offered a job as a zookeeper at the zoo. From 2019 to 2023 | worked as a zoologist at this zoo, learning and loving. It taught me many things valuable to my job in the zoological and conservation world an also to my personal life.

TRAVEL & WORK

By 2023 I was ready for the next steps.

I wanted to to continue to excel in the field but I wasn't entirely sure how. The universe must have been listening to my thoughts because a distant friend of mine also in the animal world reached out and said he had a once in a lifetime opportunity job working with animals abroad. Fast forward a few days and I was in! Within two weeks | put my notice with my job, told them how excited I was and moved to Dubai.

After 6 months in Dubai that same job led me to Gujarat, India where I was an animal husbandry manager and helped curate the care of all different species of birds. I also learned quite a bit of falconry and teamed up with another animal expert and trained birds in a free lying bird show. After 6 months I found myself back in the states to welcome my nephew into the world.

A TRANSITION IN CONSERVATION

In the summer of 2025 I ventured to South Africa to spend time with a non profit called Soldiers for Wildlife. This experience opened up a whole different world and showed me the depth of true boots on the ground conservation. I spent 3 months there learning. I even was able to volunteer with The Endangered Wildlife Trust assisting with vulture research. It was heaven. I came back to South Africa again in the beginning of 2026 with the intention of trying to make alive and a living in the world of

conservation here. (Not an east task).

ART WITH A PURPOSE

Since being able to legally work in

South Africa especially in the conservation field is tricky stuff, l switched gears and tapped back into my art background. I've always painted animals for my subjects. I know, it's hard to believe. But this time I wanted to put an idea l've had in my head for years into action. Selling my artwork to help with income but the true reason is