Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society, and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. So we wanted to highlight the amazing work being done here at the Phoenix Zoo!
Shelly Donohue
How long have you been a primate keeper at the Phoenix Zoo?
I have been a primate keeper at the Phoenix Zoo for 3 years as of April 2nd, 2018 and a zookeeper for a total of 8 years.
Growing up, when did you know you wanted to become a keeper?
I knew from a very early age that I was passionate about primates and wanted to be an advocate for the species and contribute to the conservation of our natural world. Jane Goodall was always my role model but it wasn’t until I did an internship during the summer of my undergrad where I experienced the hands on work of caring for primates and building a personal relationship with them that I knew this was the career field I wanted to pursue.
What has been your most memorable moment working at the Phoenix Zoo?
My most memorable moment working at the Phoenix Zoo was discovering our twin Cotton-top tamarins Hazel and Wally the morning they were born. My most memorable moment representing the Phoenix Zoo was receiving the Animal Welfare Grant and getting to volunteer my time and knowledge at the Laos Conservation Trust for Wildlife.
Emily Schaer
How long have you worked at the Phoenix Zoo?
I’ve been a diet tech for three years in April.
Growing up, when did you know you wanted to work with animals?
Growing up I knew I always wanted to work with animals in some way, and didn’t even know that there was a position dedicated to making all their food (amongst all the other oodles of stuff we do!) I was looking for a full-time job at the Zoo and saw this and went for it, and then after a bit realized that not only did I enjoy the work, but I was very good at it!
What has been your most memorable moment working at the Phoenix Zoo?
As for memorable moments working at the Zoo… Even just in the three years I’ve been in the kitchen there’s too many to count.
I’ve got such fun coworkers and so many challenges we’ve had to overcome, but the usual things I think about most fondly are all the food enrichment stuff I’ve made for events, birthdays, and just for fun. Most recently I made some birthday cakes for Bess and Michael’s birthdays. I’ve definitely improved with time and hope to make many more.
Marisa Boyd
How long have you been a bird keeper at the Phoenix Zoo?
I have been a bird keeper at the Phoenix Zoo for six years.
Growing up, when did you know you wanted to work with animals?
I was always fascinated by birds since I was a little girl. I still remember the day I first saw a flock of cedar waxwings. I walked up to the large orange tree and looked up at about 30 birds. They were quietly chatting to each other while searching for aphids for breakfast. It was early experiences like these that captured my curiosity and led me to a career of working with birds.
What has been your most memorable moment working at the Phoenix Zoo?
I was given the opportunity to hand-rear a rare blue crowned pigeon from when he was an egg. It was an amazing experience to be able to see the start of the bird’s life from the very beginning. His name is Francis and he has persevered through many challenges. I am happy to report that he is doing well and has a breeding recommendation from the SSP. His girlfriend is flying in next month!