Robert King, Supervisory Biologist/Curator, Small Mammal House, Kids’ Farm, and Propagation

Animals

Robert King has been the supervisory biologist/curator for the Small Mammal House, Kids’ Farm, and propagation units at the Zoo since January 2001. His duties include managing the day-to-day operations of these units—animal care, animal reproduction, and the design of animal habitats and enclosures. King served as the primary animal department representative for the design, construction, and opening of the $5 million Kids’ Farm exhibit. He is a professional fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

King began his career at the Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina, where he worked as raptor coordinator, hospital keeper, small mammal keeper, and weekend farm keeper from 1991 to 2001.

King has developed education programs for school groups and civic organizations, and has produced several education kits for use by volunteers and Zoo staff. In addition to his staff, King supervises more than 80 volunteer keeper aides, interpreters, and behavioral research interns. The animals under King’s supervision range from tamarins and lemurs to tree shrews, alpacas, and prairie dogs.

King completed his B.S. in biology at the University of South Carolina in 1998. He also has his PADI Open Water and Advanced SCUBA Diving Certification.