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Staff
Bios
Jill
Firstenberg
Senior
Gorilla Caregiver & Research Assistant
Jill has been an exotic and small animal veterinary technician
for over 22 years. Born and raised in New York she traveled
the country settling in Colorado, Oregon and eventually California.
She came to the foundation in February 2000 after completing
a month long volunteer veterinary work program on the island
of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, South Pacific.
Her work at the foundation started as a produce volunteer preparing
the daily meals for the gorillas, but Koko had other plans for
Jill. Shortly after Koko had her first up-close glimpse of Jill
she immediately started inviting Jill for visits. The two became
fast friends and have developed a beautiful friendship which
has only grown and strengthened over the next five years.
Jill's extensive experience in veterinary medicine has proved
to be a huge asset to the foundation. Jill consults and advises
on healthcare for the gorillas including the use of Chinese
herbs and homeopathy, as well as being very involved in Koko's
August 2004 anesthetic dental procedure. Jill was with Koko
throughout the entire procedure and held her hand while she
woke up from anesthesia. Jill still works as head nurse in a
veterinary practice that specializes in alternative care, i.e.
homeopathy, Chinese herbs and acupuncture for companion pets,
in Marin California, and makes the long hour and a half commute
each way twice a week to care for the gorillas.
When Jill is not working caring for other people's furry, fuzzy
and hairy loved ones, she is most likely taking a road trip
for camping, hiking and soaking in natural hot springs with
her best friend Delia, a 124 pound Newfoundland dog. |
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