Daniel Lorbeske Email & Phone Number

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

United States

Works with the department director to oversee day to day operations of the Life Science department caring for the museums live collection.Care for and maintain habitats for a large variety of animals including fish, corals, reptiles, amphibians, North American River otters, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and small mammals.Developing new and improving current SOPs.Works closely with the buildings facilities team to maintain and improve the infrastructure including plumbing, equipment installation, and wiring.Work with the public with our animal ambassadors.Work with FWC to ensure permitted animals and exhibits are maintained to permit guidelines.

United States

I oversee a 7 person team responsible for the care of 150 aquatic habitats encompassing aquatic species in the Ocean Coast, Home on the Great Lakes, Island and Lakes, and Rivers galleries as well as Shedd’s iconic Caribbean Reef exhibit and the seasonal Stingray Touch exhibit. I also manage the fishes department's annual food order and inventory in collaboration with the Oceanarium team orders to streamline all frozen food deliveries to the building. I serve on a 4 person team to conduct building-wide inspections prior to accreditation inspections. I work with Shedd’s Oceanarium team to facilitate animal training priorities and oversee Shedd’s Green sea turtle training program. I also oversee a team dedicated to better understanding rearing and handling procedures of Bonnethead sharks. Responsible for selecting, interviewing, and hiring new staff on the Galleries team. Works with the department registrar to vet animal vendors to see that they meet both Shedd’s and AZA’s requirements before adding them to Shedd’s vendor network. Experience with Shedd’s Public Relations department and representing the aquarium in interviews for TV, radio, and print media. Collaborates with Shedd’s Animal Health and Research departments on in house research projects. Participated in a 4-person team to improve the function of Shedd’s animal welfare assessment tool. Prioritizes and submits supply orders for the Galleries team and general department use items.Works closely with Shedd’s design and Facilities departments on major maintenance, repair, and upgrade projects. Works with various teams to oversee and streamline Shedd’s American alligator training and husbandry program. Participates in outreach programs in the Chicago area with an emphasis on underserved communities.Participates in the design process for new exhibits and aquatic systems. Has a lead role in the department when transporting animals to and from institutions.

Responsible for primary care of the animals and systems in Shedd’s Amazon Rising Exhibit.Responsible for assisting in the training of new staffMaintained the Amazon team dry food inventory.Gained proficiency in handling large reptiles. Participated in long-distance animal transport.Worked with Shedd’s Animal Health department to optimize the animals’ diets.Participated on a team to revise Shedd’s animal care team’s record-keeping system. Responsible for keeping our restricted terrestrial invertebrate collection within the Chicago, Illinois, and APHIS permit compliance. Pioneered rearing techniques for Zebra plecostomus, Hypancistrus zebra.Responsible for the aquarium’s terrestrial invertebrate collection and served as the aquarium’s institutional representative for these taxa. Represented Shedd by presenting research projects at the Regional Aquatic Workshop, North American Discus Association, and the National Live Bearing Fish Association conferences.Worked with Shedd’s facilities department to build out small aquatic systems. Participated in the husbandry team that lead to the first successful captive breeding program

Responsible for primary coverage on several exhibits in Shedd’s Amazon Rising exhibit.Responsible for exhibit and life support maintenance.Participated in training programs with various species including small primates, and a Komodo dragon while it was temporarily housed at the aquarium.Assisted senior staff in the animal acquisition process.Developed a breeding program for Sterbi’s cory, Corydoras sterbaiHelped oversee the volunteer staff for the Amazon Rising Exhibit.Worked with and trained several interns for the Amazon team.Assisted in departmental projects.Participate in SCUBA and HOOKAH diving operations around the building.

Primarily responsible for marking different strains of Steelhead salmon by clipping fins for future identification.Assisted senior staff with feed and maintenance procedures.Assisted the facility during the annual catch and egg and milt harvest.