Drost, Andrea - Curatorial Assistant, Toronto Zoo

Toronto , Canada

adrost@torontozoo.ca

Andrea Drost graduated from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada with a B.Sc., Honours Zoology in 1992. Prior to finding full time employment at the Toronto Zoo she had done contact work with both the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources doing fish surveys in the lakes of northern Ontario and had also worked with the Royal Ontario Museum in their entomology department. At the Toronto Zoo she began her career in the Animal Nutrition department doing nutritional research. When an opportunity to become a keeper arrived, Andrea jumped at the chance. Animals that she worked with as a keeper included Bactrian camels, gaur, clouded leopards, gorillas and pygmy hippos to name a few. In 1997 she became a dedicated keeper to the black-footed ferret and was fortunate enough to be involved in the captive breeding and release program for these animals. In 2001 she applied for the Curatorial Assistant position and was the successful candidate. This position oversees the import and export of all animals to and from the Toronto Zoo. In her time as Curatorial Assistant she has been responsible for upwards of 3000 live animal shipments both domestically and internationally. Andrea presently resides in the town of Aurora , Ontario with her husband Peter and her two children, Nicholas and Veronica.