Matt Vaughan, Herpetology Lead Keeper

How long have you worked at the Fort Worth Zoo?
I've worked at the Zoo since 1995.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the fact that Fort Worth Zoo has a world-class herpetology (herp) collection, and because of that, I get the opportunity to work with some of the most rare and endangered reptiles and amphibians in the world! I also have the opportunity to photograph a lot of these animals in situations that most other people never experience. With my love of photography and herpetology, I can show others a rare, different perspective of reptiles and amphibians.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The Zoo has a long-standing tradition of maintaining a large, diverse herp collection. As lead keeper, it can often be challenging to oversee the hundreds of animals in my section as well as the other keepers and their sections.

What's the most interesting thing about the animals you work with at the Fort Worth Zoo?
Because the Zoo houses some of most rare and endangered reptiles and amphibians, I count it a privilege to be able to work with some of these animals on a regular basis. We also have had more success that any other zoo at captive husbandry of reptiles, so the opportunity to be a part of something so unique is extraordinary to me.

What is the most fascinating animal in your care?
I have a lot of fascinating animals in my care and I honestly don't have a favorite. Some of the species are fascinating because of their rarity, while others are interesting because they really seem to "recognize" their keepers.

What is your favorite amazing fact about herps?
This is a tough question because there are so many! My favorite aspect of herps is their extreme diversity. At more than 14,000 species, these animals are some of the most primitive "living fossils," and are the most evolved predators on the planet. Inhabiting ecosystems from the depths of the oceans to the tops of mountains, they all play an integral role in the environment in which they live. They can be so cryptic that you might never see them, or so brightly colored that you can't miss them. Some are so small, that you could hold 100 of them in one hand; while others might be so large they wouldn't fit in one room!

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