The Committee
Meet The Team!
Abbie has worked in both domestic and exotic parts of the animal
care industry with a heavy background in canine behaviour and training before
starting at NZA in 2021, where she has proven her knowledge in behaviour across
primates, ungulates and carnivores.
Most of her training focuses on teaching her animals cooperative medical and natural behaviours to reproduce in their environments on their own.
Dan has 20+ years in the exotics industry working with all manner of small and large animals from small carnivores to large ungulates and everything in between.
He has learned first hand from various tribes in US, Sweden and Tanzania, combining this important knowledge with western zookeeping has given him an eclectic insight into animal psychology.
Dan's focuses mainly on animal checks, treatments, cooperative and management training but loves all things behaviour.
Thea Crook
Thea has extensive knowledge working with birds of all
kinds (ask her about Kiwis) as well as knowledge across primates and macropods.
Most of her training focuses on cooperative care for ease of trainer and learners’ day
to day routine.
Courtney Hawkins
Courtney has worked with both Australian native and exotic species through her career so far. Here at NZA she works with African Monkeys and Small Primates. While a wealth of knowledge in all areas of animal care, if you're looking at training a recall, large groups or medical based behaviours, give Courtney a shout if you're looking for help or inspiration.
Hannah Dix
Hannah has volunteered across most sections at NZA but
has chosen to focus her time on primates since joining the keeping team in 2020.
She loves all things lemurs and cotton top tamarins.
Her training mostly focuses on establishing basic behaviours across all her animals to build on later.
Sophie Dentrinos
Not only is she our Animal Care Supervisor, she is a wealth of knowledge.
Kayla Bennett
Kayla has been training equines, canines and bovid animals professionally since her early years.
Since joining the exotics industry in 2018 she has gained knowledge in primate, ungulate and marsupial behaviour.
Most of her training focuses on cooperative, medical and cognitive behaviours.