Tim L. Tetzlaff
Director of Conservation | Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
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Tim is honored to be the son of zoo founders and educators and to carry on their conservation tradition. Growing up, Tim worked in a variety of roles with the animals including presenting and narrating shows and hosting educational talks as well as preparing animal diets and caring for animals as a keeper. He pursued two degrees at The Ohio State University before returning to work with wildlife. Today, he still occasionally assists with the animals at Naples Zoo, although his primary role focuses on animals in the wild. He enjoys collaborating with state and federal agencies as well as non-governmental organizations on regional Florida programs involving panthers, bears, bats, and pythons as well as international efforts.
Tim is Chair of the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group, an entity he has served since the 1990s. He serves on the Board of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and is President of the Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums and sits on their Conservation Committee. He is a former member of the Wildlife Conservation Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and spearheaded its Colleagues in Conservation program to increase support for efforts in the wild. He has also previously served on the AZA’s Conservation Education Committee, Public Relations Committee, and other ad hoc committees. |
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Tim also heads up Naples Zoo’s travel program and spends over a month in Africa each year. He and his wife were married in 1988 and their daughter has her degree in Chinese (Mandarin) from his alma mater, The Ohio State University.
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More images of David and Tim past and present
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