Judy
Khiev
Research Assistant
/ Gorilla Caregiver
Judy earned an Anthropology degree at the University of California,
Santa Cruz, which was intended as a way to help her pursue a
career with animals, a passion she has had since childhood.
College allowed Judy to explore her interests in primates, thanks
to an inspiring professor named Nathaniel J. Dominy. After graduation
in 2006, she began working at a local shelter where she worked
as an Animal Care Technician and later a Veterinary Assistant.
Here she was able to work with all the pets she ever wanted,
as well as with the public to educate them about ways in which
animals and people can live harmoniously within a community.
After working for a few months still without a pet of her own,
she finally adopted an American Bulldog named Jubilee (see photo).
Still far from her dream of working with primates, Judy began
volunteering at the Gorilla Foundation while working at the
shelter. Working in the gorilla kitchen to prepare Koko's and
Ndume's meals encouraged her even more about the capacity for
humans to help other animals (and vice versa). After all, with
many relationships, the way to another's heart is through the
stomach. A caregiving position perfectly combines Judy's schooling
and work experience into one. Judy also realized that creating
healthy relationships between people and other primates could
have a major impact on conservation.
Judy hopes to continue the efforts of the foundation, as a research
assistant and gorilla caregiver (with specific focus on food
and nutrition) and by expressing the needs of gorillas and other
great apes. She strongly believes that humans can learn valuable
lessons from all animals.
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