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Kevin Wright DVM Passes, Reptile/Amphibian Keepers Lose a Good Friend

Somewhere in the middle of my career at the Bronx Zoo, I began writing animal care books and articles that targeted private keepers and hobbyists.  Many colleagues warned me that these activities would “ruin my professional reputation’ (as if all good zoo men and women did not start out as pet keepers!).  A call from Dr. Kevin Wright DVM convinced me that I was on the right track.  He thanked me for writing a book on seahorse care, which had been helpful to him and his wife.  This man, at the very pinnacle of his profession, urged me to continue my efforts to help, and to learn from, private animal keepers.  As was his way, he declined my compliments about his own work, claiming that my writings filled a greater void (I do not agree, but appreciated the thought).  As I moved out of the zoo field and into full-time writing, Kevin’s words served as an important inspiration, and I remain grateful.  In time, he too left zoo work and continued to make immense contributions in his exotic animal veterinary practice.

Kevin Wright passed away on September 26, 2013, at age 50.  I have benefitted greatly from his astounding volume of ground-breaking work, as have countless others, but it is his kindness and willingness to help any and all comers, from 8-year-old garter snake keeper to veterinary surgeon, that I will remember – and miss – most.

Kevin-Kinkajou-245x300Although best known for his work with reptiles and amphibians, Dr. Wright’s interests and experiences ran, quite literally, from ants to elephants.  Wide interests are now a rarity among zoo professionals, but he shattered this disturbing trend.  An all-encompassing curiosity served Dr. Wright well as a zoo veterinarian, and during his tenure as Philadelphia Zoo’s Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Rarer still was Dr. Wright’s animal-keeping skills. He was the consummate all-round animal person, equally at home with cobras or kinkajous. Most zookeepers have experienced the frustrations that come from working with veterinarians who know animal medicine but not animal husbandry.  Not so with Dr. Wright…he began keeping an array of animals as a child, and kept at it throughout his life (something few zoo professionals will “admit to” today).

In 2001, Dr. Wright broke new ground with the publication of Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry; it remains the standard by which similar books are measured today.  He also authored a mind-boggling number of scientific and popular articles and papers, all highly regarded and many of which contributed new information to the field.  I can’t do justice to his other accomplishments here…please see the links below for a better, but not complete, picture.

In articles such as this one, writers always point out the person’s “humanness” – those qualities that extend beyond professional expertise.  But in Kevin’s case I am not giving lip service to a required nicety. He truly was a good, kind-hearted man and a great deal of fun to be around.  I do not know anyone who can say otherwise about him (and they best not to me!). Kevin retained, as few can, a child-like wonder at the world…a joy and curiosity that he was unable to repress.  In this regard he serves as a wonderful example to others, for he became the foremost exotic animal veterinarian in the USA, if not the world, but remained the ultimate “nice guy” throughout.  He left us better than he found us.

Anyone interested in pursuing a career in animal care, be it as a zookeeper, veterinarian or otherwise, would do well to read more about Kevin Wright.  You will be inspired. The links below will take you to further information, and there are wonderful photos posted there as well, including some of Kevin as an exotic-pet-keeping child. Please also post below if you are in need of career advice; I’ll do my best to help out 

 

 

Further Reading

Meet Dr. Kevin Wright

Eulogy (American Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians) 

10 comments

  1. avatar

    Kevin was a good friend of mine. I really miss him. In fact, I have 3 tiger salamanders he gave to me about a year ago. What a great man. a friend to everyone he met.

    I am looking forward to his funeral service. It will give me and others some closure. It is always hard to lose someone you care about.

    Great article, Frank.

    All my best.

    Scott Robinson
    Ecto Critterz
    http://Www.ectocritterz.com

    • avatar

      Thanks, Scott…we’ll not soon see another like him. I don’t know his wife, but please convey my condolences if you are in touch (I think it was she who picked up the seahorse book). Thanks, best regards, Frank

  2. avatar

    I’ll see her next month, at his memorial service. I’ll be sure to tell her you said hi and send her your regards.

  3. avatar

    Any time, brother

  4. avatar

    Dr. Wright was one of the best Presidents that the Philadelphia Herpetological Society was ever privileged to have. He will be missed.

  5. avatar

    What was the cause of his so early death? Was it related to his job?

  6. avatar

    Hey,

    I read your username and i figure your the best person to ask this. Im about to start college soon as I’m finishing high school and I really would like to work my way up to a zoologist. Defiantly not the average 18 year old defiantly know a lot of various animals especially on hands on experiences with various pets honestly probably around 12-20 species of animals I’ve had but coarse some like the savannah monitor I had had to be brought to a zoo, actually a reptile zoo down in long island.

    Well enough about that as that defiantly won’t be enough to plead a reasonable case.

    My questions are:

    What courses in college do you recommend as it seems sketchy when I look online. All my years of high school Ive done science but of coarse enjoyed biology especially now that I’m taking a college coarse in biology currently in my last year of high school.

    Is there some where I can apply for the Bronx Zoo for lets say a zookeeper’s assistant or anything of that nature as Im pretty sure I don’t meet the qualifications to right off the back become a zookeeper.

    Is there like a test or something of the nature in order to work for the bronx zoo? By work I mean animal related of coarse not just someone working the concession stands lol

    Any tips or suggestions?

    Thanks a million I look forward to your response!

About Frank Indiviglio

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Being born with a deep interest in animals might seem unfortunate for a native Bronxite , but my family encouraged my interest and the menagerie that sprung from it. Jobs with pet stores and importers had me caring for a fantastic assortment of reptiles and amphibians. After a detour as a lawyer, I was hired as a Bronx Zoo animal keeper and was soon caring for gharials, goliath frogs, king cobras and everything in-between. Research has taken me in pursuit of anacondas, Orinoco crocodiles and other animals in locales ranging from Venezuela’s llanos to Tortuguero’s beaches. Now, after 20+ years with the Bronx Zoo, I am a consultant for several zoos and museums. I have spent time in Japan, and often exchange ideas with zoologists there. I have written books on salamanders, geckos and other “herps”, discussed reptile-keeping on television and presented papers at conferences. A Master’s Degree in biology has led to teaching opportunities. My work puts me in contact with thousands of hobbyists keeping an array of pets. Without fail, I have learned much from them and hope, dear readers, that you will be generous in sharing your thoughts on this blog and web site. For a complete biography of my experience click here.
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