Meet 5 Remarkable Women Dedicated to the Animals of Disney World
In honor of International Women’s Day, Disney is shining the spotlight on some of the extraordinary female Cast Members at Walt Disney World, specifically those who work with animals.
Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment team are made up of more than 1,000 Cast Members, many of whom are women. These dedicated Cast Members serve as veterinarians, animal keepers, endocrinologists, marine biologists, plant scientists, and ranch hands.
It is their expertise that helps fuel Disney’s commitment to conservation and makes Disney World a respected member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Dee
First up, meet Dee, an Animal Care Manager at The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
Dee and his team work hard to keep the animals under their care happy and healthy. Working with exotic animals, Dee and her team never know what challenges they will be presented with.
For example, recently, the team had to teach a newborn eagle ray how to eat on its own!
Dee’s love for conservation runs deep, and she attributes this passion to her own mentors, who shared their love of animal care.
“Growing up I was surrounded by smart, science-minded women, like my mother and grandmothers, who didn’t get the opportunity to go to college. I work hard every day to make them proud, and to try to be an inspiration for young girls interested in marine science,” said Dee.
Laura
Next door to the Seas pavilion, Laura works as a plant scientist at The Land pavilion.
During her time at Disney, she has trained and guided 438 interns. She also has helped inspire guests with her passion for botany.
Ruby
Over at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, Ruby shares her love and passion for horses through her job as a ranch hand.
According to Ruby, her passion for equestrians stems from her childhood horse that her mother gave her.
Katie
With the same love and passion, Katie shares inspiring wildlife stories with guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She takes great pride in Disney’s commitment to conservation.
“I love that Disney devotes so many resources to conservation and provides us with opportunities to personally get involved,” said Katie. “I truly feel blessed to be a part of this amazing team.”
Chris
Last but not least, we have Chris. As an Animal Care Manager, she leads a team of people who are dedicated to finding the best ways of providing care for Disney’s animals.
This care ranges from how their lives can be enriched to teaching them to participate in their own medical exams. Whatever is best for their overall well-being.
These are just a few examples of the thousands of Cast Members who work together to make Disney magic happen every day. So, next time you visit a Disney Park, make sure you take a moment and thank Cast Members!