Joel Lee

Background

About Joel Lee

My desire to work with animals began in 2014 where I was an intern at the New Bedford Ocean Explorium. Educating at different animal exhibits such as sharks and rays, coral farming, and cold-water touch exhibits helped me develop public speaking skills as well as introduced me to assisting the husbandry department with general exhibit maintenance and life support systems. Soon after, I joined the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary as a volunteer. Through the sanctuary’s daily duties, I became proficient in the basics of animal husbandry and facility up-keep, and learned to work effectively and cooperatively as part of an integral team.I am continuing to contribute my enthusiasm, patience, and leadership skills in my current positions at the Aquarium of the Pacific as an Education Associate and Marine Mammal Volunteer. Under the guidance of the mammalogist staff at the Aquarium, I have developed training skills designed to encourage animals to become willing partners in training sessions and shows using basic operant conditioning principles. As a volunteer I assist the mammal staff with training the harbor seals, California sea lions, and Southern sea otters. I currently train and maintain behaviors with four harbor seals. These behaviors include: husbandry layouts, behaviors to encourage physical exercise, and to stimulate mental aptitude. In addition to training, I have experience with diet preparation, enclosure maintenance and upkeep, as well as record keeping using the Tracks software.In addition to working with a plethora of mammals, I recently have started working at the Rainforest Café as an Avian Care Specialist. I am currently maintaining and training three tropical bird species (Green-Winged Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, and Moluccan Cockatoo), as well as carrying out diet preparation and husbandry duties.