Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter | 315.435.8511 | info@rgzaazk.org
Guest Speakers
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
American Association of Zoo Keepers
American Association of Zoo Keepers
Keynote Speaker:
Deborah Olsen
Executive Director, International Elephant Foundation
Deborah Olson is the Executive Director of the International Elephant
Foundation. The International Elephant Foundation is a non-profit
organization incorporated in 1999 that supports conservation,
education and research of the world’s elephants with a commitment
to affect positive change through the facilitation of elephant conservation
and sound scientific investigation. The IEF Board of Directors has over
250 years of accumulated experience working with elephants
representing many of the leading elephant facilities internationally,
including non-profit and for-profit zoological organizations, circuses,
universities and independent entities. The organizational structure and
business plan for the IEF provides a vehicle for multiple elephant holding facilities with diverse missions, granting agencies and the general public to come together for a shared common goal of contributing to the long-term conservation of elephants. Deborah led the Indianapolis Zoo’s elephant management and reproductive research program, which involved monitoring progesterone and luteininzing hormones of female elephants, correlating these hormones to reproductive tract changes through transrectal ultrasonography, which ultimately led to the first and second successful insemination of female African elephants in 1998. Deborah is the North American Region African Elephant Studbook keeper, and is and author and the editor of the Elephant Husbandry Resource Guide. Olson has served on the AZA Elephant TAG/ SSP Management Group; the AZA Elephant Task Force; and was past Editor of the Journal of the Elephant Managers Association. Current research interests include projects to reduce elephant deaths caused by the Endotheliotropic Elephant Herpes Virus (EEHV) and the development of sex selection and cryopreservation protocols for Asian and African elephant sperm.
Guest Speakers:
Dennis Schmitt, DVM, PhD, Diplomat ACT
Ringling Bros. Chair of Veterinary Care and
Director of Research and Conservation
Dennis Schmitt is the Alumni Professor of Reproductive
Biology in the Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State
University in Springfield, MO. and is the Ringling Bros.
Chair of Veterinary Care and Director of Research He
received his D.V.M. degree and a Ph.D. from the University
of Missouri – Columbia. He is board certified in Theriogenology (veterinary reproduction) and has served as a reproductive advisor for the AZA elephant TAG/ SSP management group since 1987. He is on the Board of Directors for the International Elephant Foundation and serves as it’s past president. He is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN and a veterinary advisor for the Global Elephant Management Program..
Much of his work with elephants has been as a consultant for medical management and breeding programs at several zoo and circuses in North America. His work resulted in the first elephant produced from artificial insemination, the first elephant to survive Elephant Endothelial Herpesvirus, and he has published several articles and book chapters on elephant care.
In addition to his serving as the Ringling Bros. Chair of Veterinary Care and Director of Research, Dr. Schmitt provided veterinary care at Dickerson Park Zoo for seventeen years, caring for the wide range of exotic animals in that collection. Dr. Schmitt has extensive experience with wild ungulates and carnivores in the zoo environment as well as a consultant for three circuses.
Emily McCormack
Curator, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Residing in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, since
1999, Emily is originally from Oswego, New York. Her
childhood dream of working with tigers eventually led her
to the State University of New York at Oswego where
she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in
Zoology.
Her initial internship at Turpentine Creek Wildlife
Refuge in Eureka Springs, commencing in January of 1999, fulfilled her final three credits before receiving her degree. Upon completing her six month internship, Emily was so highly regarded by the founding members of the rescue facility that she was hired on to become a permanent staff member. Her passion and commitment to the 100+ exotic cats at Turpentine Creek is extraordinary, and she quickly became a major force in improving the lives of these magnificent animals.
Having excellent people skills in addition to her dedication to the animals, Emily was promoted to the position of Volunteer Coordinator/Intern Supervisor in 2002. Through her expertise and guidance, more than 300 college graduates have also graduated from the acclaimed Internship Program at Turpentine Creek.
While still retaining the responsibilities of Intern Supervisor, Emily was also promoted to the position of Curator in April of 2011.
Combing a number of skill sets with ease, Emily can be seen on any given day managing animal care in countless ways, rescuing animals in need from a variety of locations and situations, guiding interns in the safe and proper care of the animals, leading VIP tours around the rescue facility, supervising habitat construction, or scheduling and appearing for public events.
Deborah Olsen
Executive Director, International Elephant Foundation
Deborah Olson is the Executive Director of the International Elephant
Foundation. The International Elephant Foundation is a non-profit
organization incorporated in 1999 that supports conservation,
education and research of the world’s elephants with a commitment
to affect positive change through the facilitation of elephant conservation
and sound scientific investigation. The IEF Board of Directors has over
250 years of accumulated experience working with elephants
representing many of the leading elephant facilities internationally,
including non-profit and for-profit zoological organizations, circuses,
universities and independent entities. The organizational structure and
business plan for the IEF provides a vehicle for multiple elephant holding facilities with diverse missions, granting agencies and the general public to come together for a shared common goal of contributing to the long-term conservation of elephants. Deborah led the Indianapolis Zoo’s elephant management and reproductive research program, which involved monitoring progesterone and luteininzing hormones of female elephants, correlating these hormones to reproductive tract changes through transrectal ultrasonography, which ultimately led to the first and second successful insemination of female African elephants in 1998. Deborah is the North American Region African Elephant Studbook keeper, and is and author and the editor of the Elephant Husbandry Resource Guide. Olson has served on the AZA Elephant TAG/ SSP Management Group; the AZA Elephant Task Force; and was past Editor of the Journal of the Elephant Managers Association. Current research interests include projects to reduce elephant deaths caused by the Endotheliotropic Elephant Herpes Virus (EEHV) and the development of sex selection and cryopreservation protocols for Asian and African elephant sperm.
Guest Speakers:
Dennis Schmitt, DVM, PhD, Diplomat ACT
Ringling Bros. Chair of Veterinary Care and
Director of Research and Conservation
Dennis Schmitt is the Alumni Professor of Reproductive
Biology in the Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State
University in Springfield, MO. and is the Ringling Bros.
Chair of Veterinary Care and Director of Research He
received his D.V.M. degree and a Ph.D. from the University
of Missouri – Columbia. He is board certified in Theriogenology (veterinary reproduction) and has served as a reproductive advisor for the AZA elephant TAG/ SSP management group since 1987. He is on the Board of Directors for the International Elephant Foundation and serves as it’s past president. He is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN and a veterinary advisor for the Global Elephant Management Program..
Much of his work with elephants has been as a consultant for medical management and breeding programs at several zoo and circuses in North America. His work resulted in the first elephant produced from artificial insemination, the first elephant to survive Elephant Endothelial Herpesvirus, and he has published several articles and book chapters on elephant care.
In addition to his serving as the Ringling Bros. Chair of Veterinary Care and Director of Research, Dr. Schmitt provided veterinary care at Dickerson Park Zoo for seventeen years, caring for the wide range of exotic animals in that collection. Dr. Schmitt has extensive experience with wild ungulates and carnivores in the zoo environment as well as a consultant for three circuses.
Emily McCormack
Curator, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Residing in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, since
1999, Emily is originally from Oswego, New York. Her
childhood dream of working with tigers eventually led her
to the State University of New York at Oswego where
she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in
Zoology.
Her initial internship at Turpentine Creek Wildlife
Refuge in Eureka Springs, commencing in January of 1999, fulfilled her final three credits before receiving her degree. Upon completing her six month internship, Emily was so highly regarded by the founding members of the rescue facility that she was hired on to become a permanent staff member. Her passion and commitment to the 100+ exotic cats at Turpentine Creek is extraordinary, and she quickly became a major force in improving the lives of these magnificent animals.
Having excellent people skills in addition to her dedication to the animals, Emily was promoted to the position of Volunteer Coordinator/Intern Supervisor in 2002. Through her expertise and guidance, more than 300 college graduates have also graduated from the acclaimed Internship Program at Turpentine Creek.
While still retaining the responsibilities of Intern Supervisor, Emily was also promoted to the position of Curator in April of 2011.
Combing a number of skill sets with ease, Emily can be seen on any given day managing animal care in countless ways, rescuing animals in need from a variety of locations and situations, guiding interns in the safe and proper care of the animals, leading VIP tours around the rescue facility, supervising habitat construction, or scheduling and appearing for public events.
Syracuse 2012
- Chapter Challenge
- Conference Schedules
- Exhibitor Informaton
- Guest Speakers
- Hotel Information
- Paper and Poster
Submission
- Pre Conference Trip
- Post Conference Trip
- Registration
- Sponsorship
Opportunities
- Transportation
- Chapter Challenge
- Conference Schedules
- Exhibitor Informaton
- Guest Speakers
- Hotel Information
- Paper and Poster
Submission
- Pre Conference Trip
- Post Conference Trip
- Registration
- Sponsorship
Opportunities
- Transportation
