Jay Ault Email & Phone Number

Leading husbandry centered training and nutrition initiatives to improve welfare of animals in section, resulting in improved body scores for the 92% of animals. Implementing habitat improvement plan to create a framework focusing on increasing frequencies of natural behaviors, leading to 40% decrease in stereotypic behaviors and aggression. Created protocols to ensure consistency between staff members resulting in reduced animal stress.

Zoo, Avian Propagation Center

Leading husbandry centered training and nutrition initiatives to improve welfare of animals in section, resulting in improved body scores for the 92% of animals. Implementing habitat improvement plan to create a framework focusing on increasing frequencies of natural behaviors, leading to 40% decrease in stereotypic behaviors and aggression. Created protocols to ensure consistency between staff members resulting in reduced animal stress.

Safari Park, Wildlife Workshop (6 Month Loan)

Maintaining trained animal behaviors and training new behaviors; assembling animal training teams; animal desensitization to new or adverse stimuli; making informational presentations to the public while conveying San Diego Zoo Global's 3 Key Messages; transporting animals to/from presentations both on and off site; setting up performance areas; preparing animals for public appearances; ensuring public safety with proper animal training and control; conducting special tours; and maintaining animal husbandry standards.

Zoo, Elephants (Short-Term Loan)

Brought in to take over general husbandry functions while new hires began elephant training duties; assisted regular staff in completing projects for medical, training, and research goals; engaged in conveying the 3 Key Messages of San Diego Zoo Global to guests; elephant foot scrubs; and interpreting the Trust-Based Training Program to Zoo guests.

Zoo, Urban Jungle

Sharing responsibility for the care, feeding, and welfare of the animals; maintaining cleanliness and functionality of all exhibit and holding areas; administering prescribed medications and dietary supplements; formal and informal guest interactions in a safe, fun, and educational setting; providing enrichment for animals in the area; observing animals for any medical or behavioral issues; keeping records on health and behavior; collecting fecal samples for testing purposes; and ensuring the safety of employees, guests, and animals.

Retail Operations

Upholding excellent standards of guest service by providing guidance to guests on how to tour and enjoy the facility well depending on their needs and preferences. Incentivizing retail clerks to upsell extra goods and services, resulting in a 5.8% revenue bump.

Responsible for the care of incoming animals to the facility; maintaining quarantine and biosecurity protocols; administering oral and subcutaneous treatments as requested by the medical team; drawing blood for diagnostic purposes; identifying and recording health concerns as noted during the shift; facility maintenance and repair of habitats, electronics, and machinery; determining pre-approved oral and subcutaneous fluid treatments as dictated by protocol; and organizing volunteers.

South America/Africa Sections

In charge of leading educational activities such as Zoo Overnight experiences and animal presentations; animal husbandry, training, enrichment, and interpretation of a collection of birds and mammals; medication preparation and delivery orally and via dart; designing and implementing training procedures; designing and implementing habitat improvements; introducing animals to new exhibits and different species; power tool and large equipment operation and maintenance; plant care and maintenance; and keeping service, holding, and exhibit areas up to OSHA and USDA standards.

Responsible for guiding guest tours while engaging the public interest in animal conservation and education; ensuring the safety of all guests, staff, and animals within the facility; the care of a variety of large carnivores and other mammals. Checking animal health and status; administering prescribed medication and dietary supplements; keeping all indoor and outdoor enclosures clean and functional; diet preparation; firearms safety and usage training; training interns and volunteers; general park maintenance; writing grants and proposals; public relations; money handling; successful business solicitations; guiding guest tours; participating in the Emotional Enrichment Program; and produce collection and sorting.

Responsible for the care of a variety of mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Checking animal health and status; behavioral training via operant conditioning; administering prescribed medication and dietary supplements; keeping all indoor and outdoor habitats clean and functional; diet preparation; collecting fecal samples for research purposes; enrichment for all animals; assisting with public events; preparing X-rays; and encouraging public interest in animal conservation.

Cheetah/Carnivore Department

Responsible for the care of a collection of carnivores in free and protected contact environments. Behaviorally training tigers, lions, and cheetahs via operant conditioning; presenting animals at public and private events; checking animal health and status; collecting stool samples for research; administering prescribed medication and dietary supplements; keeping all indoor and outdoor enclosures clean and functional; diet preparation; enrichment for all animals; shifting animals for both enrichment and husbandry purposes; and recording animal behaviors, locations, and health concerns.

Master'S Degree, Nursing Science

Activities and Societies: Student Nursing Association, Member of the Curriculum Committee

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Zoology/Animal Biology, Psychology