American Association of Zoo Keepers

Andy Henderson began his 31-year zoo career in 1981 at Lincoln Park Zoo, where he worked as a keeper in nearly every area and worked his way up to a management position in 1995. He helped design Lincoln Park Zoo's state of the art Regenstein Center for African Apes. In 2007 he moved to Utah’s Hogle Zoo as the Primate Team Animal Care Supervisor. Throughout his career he travelled to zoos throughout the US and abroad, inspecting them for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He even spent 2 weeks in Africa on a gorilla expedition with Jane Goodall.

 

Andy was an integral part of AAZK throughout his career, having spent time as an AAZK National Board Member, Lincoln Park AAZK Chapter President, and Keeper Accommodation List Coordinator. He organized 12 Bowling For Rhinos events and participated in BFR each year, and attended nearly 20 National AAZK conferences, and was active in the International Congress on Zookeeping. He organized an annual Pool Tournament, and the funds raised helped send keepers to conferences or went to conservation funds. He was the driving force to host the 2006 National AAZK Conference at Lincoln Park Zoo and was on the Host Planning Committee for the 2008 National AAZK Conference at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Andy was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 National AAZK Conference.

 

Andy had a pivotal role in many zoo keepers’ careers and lives with his contagious enthusiasm for his work, a passion for sharing that enthusiasm with others and his skill for guiding others to become the best keeper that they could be.

 

Sadly, Andy passed away in 2012. As a tribute to him, Lincoln Park AAZK started a fund in his name, raising money through various fundraisers. The fund will be used to assist keepers with the costs of attending conferences or workshops to further their professional development.