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Who Are We?

Who Are We?

The AZA Wildlife Contraception Center (WCC) began as the Contraception Advisory Group in 1989. As the role of contraception in the management of captive breeding programs grew, the Advisory Group expanded its services and membership.

Home to the Advisory Group's co-chairs, the Saint Louis Zoo has contributed funds and resources to its operation, and in 2000 the AZA selected the Saint Louis Zoo as the site for the newly commissioned WCC.

The WCC includes scientists, veterinarians, and animal managers with research and management expertise in wildlife contraception.

Director:

Assistant Director:

  • Ingrid Porton, MS, Saint Louis Zoo

AZA Wildlife Contraception Center Program Coordinator:

Scientific Staff:

  • Dalen Agnew, DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVP, Pathologist, Michigan State University
  • Corinne Kozlowski, PhD, Endocrinologist, Saint Louis Zoo
  • Jan Dempsey, MS, Nutritionist, Nestle Purina

Commercial Partners:

Advisory Board:

Veterinarians and Physicians

  • Paul Calle, VMD, Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Lisa Harrenstien, DVM, Oregon Zoo
  • Nadine Lamberski, DVM, San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
  • Anneke Moresco*, DVM, PhD, Denver Zoo
  • Martha Weber, DVM, Saint Louis Zoo
  • Catherine Dean, MD, Women's Health Partners
  • Sherman Silber, MD, St. Luke's Medical Center

Reproductive Physiologists

  • Wolfgang Jöchle, DVM, Consulting Theriogenologist
  • Jay Kirkpatrick, PhD, Science and Conservation Center at Zoo Montana
  • Lynn Patton, MS, Endocrinology
  • Linda Penfold, PhD, South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation
  • Todd Robeck, PhD, Sea World San Antonio
  • Ed Plotka, PhD, MGA Implant Program - Retired
  • Henk Bertschinger, BVSc, PhD, University of Pretoria
  • Donal Skinner, PhD, University of Wyoming

Animal Managers

  • Bess Frank, PhD, Curator, Milwaukee County Zoo, Retired
  • Dusty Lombardi, Curator, Columbus Zoo
  • Joe Knobbe, Zoological Manager, Saint Louis Zoo
  • David Powell, PhD, Assistant Curator, Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Martha Fischer, Curator, Saint Louis Zoo

*Spanish Translator: Anneke Moresco, DVM, PhD, anneke_moresco@hotmail.com