Zoo selects new director of animal care
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute recently announced that Bob Lee has accepted the position of Director of Animal Care.
Lee has more than 25 years of experience in this profession, most recently as Associate Director at the Albuquerque BioPark. Prior to that, Lee was the Interim Program Director of Animal Care and Conservation at the Oregon Zoo where he led a team of zookeepers, curators, and research scientists.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to join the team at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in the mission to save species worldwide through cutting-edge science, sharing knowledge, and providing inspirational experiences for our guests,” Lee said. “We have a unique opportunity to connect our communities to the natural world in profound and meaningful ways.”
Lee has extensive animal care and management experience and has served as a leader in the profession, including his roles as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program Coordinator and Studbook Keeper for Asian elephants and as a member of the Elephant TAG. He also serves as an AZA accreditation inspector. Due to his leadership and conservation work in Malaysian Borneo, Lee was invited by the Government of Sabah, Malaysia, to serve on the working group tasked with creating the Captive Elephant Management Plan for the region.
Lee has a bachelor’s degree in field studies, emphasizing psychology and zoology from the Wichita State University in Wichita, KS.
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Posted: 27 February 2023
