Zoo Team

Interim Director Dan Meates joined the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in 2016. Dan has worked at several other zoos around the world and hand-reared a number of different species, including the first baby patas monkey to be hand raised in North America.

Dan is a native of Wales, United Kingdom, with a background in falconry and field biology research. He has previous animal care, management and curator experience at the Wellington Zoo in Wellington, New Zealand, the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, TX, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT, and the Niabi Zoo in Western Illinois.

As a master falconer, Dan has extensive experience handling large birds of prey and has implemented free-flight training demonstrations for several species of raptors at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Education:  Onondaga County Community College, University at Albany

Animals under your care: Elephants

Why you chose to be a keeper:  My love for elephants and passion to preserve species for future generations.

Fun Fact About You:  I started working/volunteering at the zoo when I was 12.  I started in the zoos 4-H club then pony rides working my way up to the elephant barn as a summer keeper.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Cornell University

Animals Under Your Care: Primates, Small mammals, and Birds

Why You Chose to be a Keeper: Animals in AZA accredited zoos and aquariums are ambassadors for their species. I became a keeper to give them a voice, as they aren't able to speak for themselves. Part of my job is to educate zoo visitors about the animals in my care. Sharing my passion for conservation and teaching people how to care about our planet and the many species that call it home is why I am in this profession.

Fun Fact About You: I am an avid scuba diver and have traveled all over the world to dive, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Fiji, Bali, and Egypt. Some of my most memorable dives were with sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, seahorses, dolphins, and octopuses.

Education: Bachelors Degree in Zoology from Michigan State University

Animals under your care: Hoofstock

Why you chose to be a keeper: Looking back, visiting zoos as a child shaped my view of the natural world and conservation as a whole. It inspired my career path and encouraged me to pursue a degree in Zoology. Despite participating in large scale conservation efforts involving collaring and tracking large mammals in South Africa, I found myself returning to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Not only are zoos essential in the conservation of endangered species, but they also play a vital role in curating future generations of biologists, researchers, and scientists. Working at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has allowed me to foster a connection between our community and animals that desperately need their help in the wild.

Fun fact about you: After caring for our koalas in 2023, I adopted a few marsupials of my own. Though I care for all of the largest animals at the zoo, the smallest animals I have ever taken care of are my own pets. I have three sugar gliders at home that weigh about 100 grams each.