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Zoo Staff Interests

Members of the Saint Louis Zoo staff contribute their time and talents to Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) programs and other collaborative projects. Media interested in talking to them should contact powell@stlzoo.org or childs@stlzoo.org.

Jeffrey P. Bonner, PhD, President and CEO

Vice Chair, Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Board member, Conservation Breeding Specialists Group (CBSG)
Board member, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
Past chair, International Species Information System (ISIS)
Past chair, Amphibian Ark
Past chair, Madagascar Fauna Group
Member, External Advisory Committee, Duke University Primate Center

Eric Miller, DVM, Dipl. ACAM, Senior Vice President, Director of Zoological Operations

Director, Wild Care Institute
Chair, Madagascar Fauna Group
Board member, AZA Giant Panda Foundation (2003-2006)
Veterinary advisor, Rhinoceros Taxon Advisory Group
Associate veterinary advisor, Tiger Species Survival Plan
Member, Veterinary Specialist Group of IUCN
Member, European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians
Member, Executive Board, World Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
Scientific Advisor, International Zoo Yearbook
Co-Editor, Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 4th through 6th Editions
Member, veterinary subcommittee, CBSG Advisory Board
Project Co-manager, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Avian Health in the Galapagos Islands

ANIMAL DIVISION

Jack Grisham, Vice President of Animal Collections

Coordinator, Cheetah Species Survival Plan
Chair, Canid & Hyena Taxon Advisory Group
Advisor, Lion & Jaguar Species Survival Plans
Institutional liaison for AZA Conservation Programs
Member, IUCN specialist groups for cat; CBSG; hyena and canid
Board member, Global Cheetah Forum
Member, American Society of Mammalogists
Member, Animal Behavior Management Alliance

William Houston, Assistant General Curator

Coordinator, Addax Species Survival Plan
Treasurer and founding board member, Sahara Conservation Plan
Founding member, Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
Director, Center for Sahelo-Saharan Wildlife Recovery, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Member IUCN-CBSG
Member IUCN Pig, Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group
Advisor, Steering Committee, AZA Bison, Buffalo, Cattle Taxon Advisory Group
Advisor, Steering Committee, Wild Pig, Peccary and Hippo Taxon Advisory Group
Advisor, Antelope and Giraffe Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Ratite Taxon Advisory Group

Steve Bircher, curator of mammals/carnivores

Member, Steering Committee, Taxon Advisory Groups for Felid and Small Carnivore
Member, Management Group, Species Survival Plans for Cheetah, Lion, Snow Leopard, Otter
Member, Taxon Advisory Groups for Bear, Canid and Hyaenid
Institutional Rep, Species Survival Plans for Jaguar, Polar Bear, Red Panda
Institutional Rep, Population Management Plans for Amur Leopard, Spotted Hyena
Director, Center for Conservation of Cheetahs, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Member, Global Cheetah Forum
Member, American Society of Mammalogists
Member, The St. Louis Academy of Science

Jeff Ettling, curator of reptiles, amphibians and fish

Coordinator, Ocellated Mountain Viper Population Management Plan
Co-coordinator, Puerto Rican Crested Toad Species Survival Plan
Co-coordinator, Eastern Massasauga Species Survival Plan
Co-coordinator, Virgin Island Boa Species Survival Plan
Member, Management Group, Aruba Island Rattlesnake Species Survival Plan
Institutional Rep, Species Survival Plans for Chinese Alligator, Wyoming Toad, Radiated Tortoise
Institutional Rep, Taxon Advisory Groups for Amphibians, Chelonians, Crocodilians, Lizards, Snakes
Director, Conservation of Near East Mountain Vipers, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Center
Member, The Herpetologists' League
Member, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Martha Fischer, curator of mammals/ungulates

Chair, Equids Taxon Advisory Group
Chair, Antelope and Giraffe Taxon Advisory Group
Subgroup coordinator, Arid Land Antelope, Gazelles and Pronghorn
Coordinator, Grevy's Zebra Species Survival Plan
Coordinator, Speke's Gazelle Population Management Plan
Secretary, Elephant Species Survival Plan/Taxon Advisory Group
Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Grevy's zebra
Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Speke's gazelle
Institutional rep, Caprid Taxon Advisory Group
Institutional rep, Addax, Arabian Oryx, Bongo, Okapi, Grevy's Zebra, Mhorr/Addra Gazelle, Asian Elephant Species Survival Plans
Director, Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Advisor, Wild Pig, Peccary and Hippo Taxon Advisory Group
Chair, Board of Trustees, Grevy's Zebra Trust
Member, Board of Directors, International Elephant Foundation
Member, Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
Member, IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group
Member, IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group
Professional member, Elephant Managers Association

Michael Macek, curator of birds

Chair, Piciformes Taxon Advisory Group
Coordinator, Crested Screamers Population Management Plan
Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Crested, Horned and Black-necked Screamers
Member, Management Group, Species Survival Plans for Cinereous Vulture, Congo Peafowl, Great and Rhinoceros Hornbills, Humboldt Penguin and Micronesian Kingfisher
Member, Steering Committee, Taxon Advisory Groups for Galliformes/Tinamiformes, Penguins and Coraciiformes
Member, Taxon Advisory Groups for Anseriformes (Ducks/Geese), Ciconiiformes, Columbiformes, Gruiformes, Passeriformes, Cracids and Raptors
Institutional rep, Species Survival Plans for Bali Mynah, Wattled Crane, White-naped Crane, Mauritius Pink Pigeon, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Blue Crowned Pigeon and White-winged Wood Duck
Director, Center for Conservation of the Horned Guan, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Director, Center for Humboldt Penguin Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Director, Center for Mariana Avifauna Conservation, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Member, IUCN/SSC Cracid Specialist Group

Ingrid Porton, curator of mammals/primates

Co-director, AZA Wildlife Contraception Center at Saint Louis Zoo
Coordinator, Species Survival Plans for Black Lemur (Black/Blue-eyed), and Ruffed Lemur (Black and White/Red)
Vice-chair, Madagascar Fauna Group
Studbook Keeper, International Studbooks for Black Lemur (Black/Blue-eyed) & Ruffed Lemur (Black and White, Red)
Member, Contraception Scientific Advisory Group
Member, Steering Committee, Prosimians Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Steering Committee, Ape Taxon Advisory Group
Member, CBSG
Member, Gorilla Behavior Advisory Group
Member, Management Group, Species Surival Plans for Chimpanzee, Ring-tailed Lemur, and Macaques
Institutional rep, Species Survival Plan for Eulemur
Institutional rep, New World Primate Taxon Advisory Group
Director, Center for Madagascar Conservation, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Member, Contraception Scientific Advisory Group
Member, American Society of Primatologists
Member, International Society of Primatologists
Member, IUCN Primate Specialist Group
Member, Society for Conservation Biology

Alice Seyfried, Fred Saigh curator/Children's Zoo

Chair, Marsupial and Monotreme Taxon Advisory Group
Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Short-beaked Echidna
Coordinator, Short-beaked Echidna Population Management Plan
Member, Management Group, Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan
Member, Management Group, Koala Species Survival Plan
Director, Center for Conservation in Papua New Guinea, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Director, Center for Conservation in Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute

Ed Spevak, curator of invertebrates

Coordinator, scimitar-horned oryx Species Survival Plan
Member, Small Population Management Advisory Group (SPMAG)
Member, Steering Committee, Antelope Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group
SPMAG Advisor, Addax Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Grevy's Zebra Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Mhorr and Addra Gazelle Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Przewalski's Horse Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Red Panda Species Survival Plan
SPMAG Advisor, Somali Wild Ass Population Management Plan
Member, Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
Member, Saharan Conservation Fund, Conservation & Science Committee
Member, IUCN/Conservation Breeding Specialist Group

Anne Bartin, zoological manager, Children's Zoo

Co-chair, Children's Zoo Interest Group
Advisor, Conservation Education Committee, Children's Zoo Interest Group
Member, Steering Committee, Pangolin, Aardvark and Xenarthrran Taxon Advisory Group

Terri Hunnicutt, zoological manager/great apes

Institutional rep, Western Gorilla Species Survival Plan
Member, Keeper Liaison and Steering Committee, Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan
Member, Steering Committee, Orangutan Species Survival Plan

Joseph Knobbe, zoological manager, primates

Coordinator, Baboon Species Survival Plan
Institutional rep, Guenon Species Survival Plan
Member, Steering Committee, Old World Monkeys Taxon Advisory Group

Rachael Macy, zoological manager, carnivores

Institutional rep, Giant Anteater Population Management Plan
Institutional rep, Malayan Sun Bear, Andean Bear Species Survival Plans
Member, Management Group, Andean Bear Species Survival Plan

Bob Merz, zoological manager/invertebrates

Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for American Burying Beetle
Director, Center for American Burying Beetle Conservation, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute
Member, The Nature Conservancy
Member, Missouri Prairie Foundation

Cory Nordin, zoological manager, elephant

Institutional rep, Rhino Taxon Advisory Group
Institutional rep, Black Rhino Species Survival Plan and Studbook

Tim Thier, zoological manager, antelope

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Somali Wild Ass
Coordinator, Somali Wild Ass Population Management Plan
Institutional rep, Cervid Taxon Advisory Group
Institutional rep, Species Survival Plans: babirusa, Chacoan peccary, Visayan warty pig, banteng
I-rep, Taxon Advisory Groups for wild pig/peccary/hippo and bison/buffalo/cattle

Anne Tieber, zoological manager, birds

Species manager, Golden White-eye
Manager, Bearded Barbet Population Management Plan
Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Bearded Barbet
Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Red and Yellow Barbet

Mark Wanner, zoological manager/herps and aquatics

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Armenian Viper
Studbook keeper, Historic Studbook for Green Tree Python
Manager, Armenian Viper Population Management Plan

Matt Edgar, keeper, amphibians and reptiles

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Ocellated Mountain Viper

Eric Jeltes, keeper, birds

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Sarus Crane
Coordinator, Sarus Crane Population Management Plan
Member, Steering Committee, Gruiformes Taxon Advisory Group

Melissa Miller, senior keeper, birds

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Lesser Kudu

Christy Poelker, senior keeper, antelope

Studbook keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Grant's Gazelle
Coordinator, Grant's Gazelle Population Management Plan

Rae Lynn Haliday, registrar

Registrar Advisor, Prosimian Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Animal Data Information Systems Committee

Research Department

Cheryl Asa, Ph.D., director of research

Co-director, AZA Wildlife Contraception Center at Saint Louis Zoo
Member, IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group
Reproduction Advisor, IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group
Reproduction Advisor, Mexican Gray Wolf Species Survival Plan
Member, Scientific Advisory Groups for Behavior, Biomaterials Banking, Reproduction, and Research Coordinators Committee
Project Manager, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for MesoAmerican Conservation, Bosawas
Chair, Contraception Scientific Advisory Group
Member, Survival Service Commission, CBSG
Member, Science and Technology Committee
Member, Editorial Board, ZOO BIOLOGY
Member, Taxon Advisory Groups for Buffalo/Bison/Cattle, Canid/Hyenid, Antelope and Giraffe, Small Carnivore and Equid
Member, Executive Advisory Board, International Center for Tropical Ecology UMSL
Founding member, Mesomerican Society of Biology & Conservation
Member, Society of Conservation Biology
Consultant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mexican Wolf Recovery Team
Member, U.S. National Park Service Channel Island Fox Recovery Team

Karen Bauman, laboratory manager

Coordinator, Fennec Fox Species Survival Plan
Studbook Keeper, North American Regional Studbook for Fennec Fox
Secretary, Canids/Hyenids Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Taxon Advisory Groups for Anseriformes, Antelope and Giraffe, Bison/Buffalo/Cattle, Canid and Hyaenid
Member, Scientific Advisory Groups for Biomaterials Banking, Institutional Data Management, and Reproduction
Member, IUCN/SSC Canid Specialty Group
Member, International Society for Biotelemetry
Member, Remote Sensing & GIS Working Group, The Wildlife Society
Member, American Society of Mammalogists
Member, U.S. National Park Service Channel Island Fox Recovery Team

Joan Bauman, endocrinologist

Member, Contraception and Reproduction Scientific Advisory Groups
Chairman, Education Committee, Clinical Ligand Assay Society

Animal Health/Nutrition Department

Randy Junge, DVM, director of animal health and nutrition

Vice-chair, Biomaterials Banking Scientific Advisory Group
Veterinary Advisor, Ruffed Lemur Restocking Project, Madagascar Conservation Action Plan
Veterinary Advisor, Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group
Veterinary Advisor, Species Survival Plans for Lemur (Black/Blue-eyed Black), Cheetah, Micronesian Kingfisher, and Ocellated Mountain Viper
Veterinary Advisor, Prosimians Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians
Member, American Society of Primatology
Member, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
Member, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Member, AZA Animal Health Committee
Diplomate, American College of Zoological Medicine

Martha Weber, DVM, staff veterinarian

Veterinary Advisor, Species Survival Plans for Ruffed lemurs (Black and white, Red)
Veterinary Advisor, Pelicaniformes Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Contraception Scientific Advisory Group
AAZV Representative, AZA Animal Data Information System Committee
AAZV Co-chair, Zoological Information Management System Committee
Member, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Mary Duncan, BVMS, veterinary pathologist

Pathology Advisor, Species Survival Plans for Black Rhinoceros and Okapi
Pathology Advisor, Old World Monkeys Taxon Advisory Group
Member, Biomaterials Banking Scientific Advisory Group
Member, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Member, AAZV Education Committee

Education Department

Louise Bradshaw, director of education

Member, AZA Regional Conference Program Committee
Education Liaison, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for MesoAmerican Conservation, Bosawas
Member, AZA Executive Conference Committee
Member, Graphics Advisory Group
Advisor, Conservation Education Committee
Instructor and Course Administrator, Conservation Education Academy
Member, The St. Louis Academy of Science

Facilities Management

David F. McGuire, A.I.A., director

Member, Green Practices Scientific Advisory Group
Member, Aquarium and Zoo Facilities Association

Management Information Systems

Jerry French, manager

Advisor, AZA Zoo Information Management System