Ace of Trades: Veterinarian Joe Smith Returns to The Wilds, this Time as the Vice President

Photo credit: Susan/Adobe Stock

“Growing up in southern Louisiana,” Joe Smith recalled, “I enjoyed playing outdoors – exploring the woods and splashing in the creeks. I encountered an amazing biodiversity of wildlife and loved to observe new animals and better understand them. Snakes, turtles and frogs were some of the first animals that caught my attention. 

“In high school,” he continued, “I volunteered as a zoo explorer at the Baton Rouge Zoo. That’s where I was first introduced to the impactful conservation and education work zoos and aquariums do. I was hooked. Conservation quickly became a passion, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could have a positive impact on saving wildlife and their habitats.” 

Today, Smith is a doctor of veterinary medicine and vice president of The Wilds.

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