Keeper Q & A 

Name: Jorge Chavez

Title: Animal Area Supervisor, Herpetarium

Tenure at the OKC Zoo: 3 months           

Residence: Oklahoma City, OK

Keeper Q & A

1. What are your primary responsibilities at the Zoo?

I manage a staff of 3 reptile and amphibian keepers, soon to be 4.  I am responsible for making sure that we all work as a cohesive team to manage and care for such a large collection of animals.  From cleaning, feeding, research, medical procedures, etc. 

2. When did you know you wanted to be a Zoo Keeper?

I always knew I wanted to be a Zoo Keeper.  I can remember my friends and I always catching spiders and scorpions around the neighborhood just because they were cool.  I really got in to reptiles and amphibians when I was in first grade and we had a guy come by with his big boa constrictor.  Everyone was a bit intimidated by it except me, I was very intrigued and even got to touch and hold it.  From then on I was hooked.

3. What do you love the most about your job?

How diverse our collection and how we have an opportunity to work with animals that when I was young you could only see in a book or on television.  There is never a dull day and when you love your job you will never work a day in your life, cliché yes but very true.

4. What do you say to people who think snakes and lizards are scary?

I would try to encourage them to understand that lizards and snakes are not so bad.  They can and are very beneficial, from pest control to the overall effect they have on the environment and food chain.  I can understand the fear of these animals but unfortunately it is somewhat unfounded, most of the time people just don’t know enough about them so it’s more a fear of the unknown.  At least that’s how I look at it.

5. What is your favorite Zoo memory from when you were young?

I remember going to the Los Angeles Zoo and see their reptile building and being in awe with all the different times of snakes and lizards.  Most importantly how colorful some of them are and I specifically remember how I would annoy my family because I wanted to find the snake in its enclosure because no else could.  It would be difficult to find because of its camouflage. 

About Me:

I was originally born and raised in Van Nuys California till I was 12.  Then I moved from California to Phoenix Arizona where I lived till I was 24.  I attended and graduated with a Bachelors of Science from Arizona State University, West Campus.  During my school tenure I got a job volunteer at the Wildlife World Zoo and was fortunate enough to get a job there in the Herpetarium but being a small institution I also got to work with other animals as well (birds, cats, etc) but I was primarily the Reptile and Amphibian Keeper at the zoo.  When I graduated from college, I had already had 2 years of volunteer experience and another 3 ½ years of paid work experience at that zoo.  I then decided to apply for a job at the Dallas Zoo, which I got and so I moved to Dallas when I was 24.  Spent 2 years there working with a very diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians and I happened to specialize in venomous snakes.  I then took a job at the San Diego Zoo and worked there for about 7 months until a management position became available here at the OKC Zoo which I couldn’t pass up and explains why I am now here.