The Minnesota Zoo is serious about science!  Learn more about the research and publications of Minnesota Zoo staff.

Dr. Tara Harris, Director of Conservation

Tara Harris, Director of Conservation at the Minnesota Zoo since April 2011, also served as a conservation biologist at the Minnesota Zoo for three years. Harris coordinates the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Tiger Species Survival Plan, as well as the Minnesota Zoo’s field conservation programs, Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant program, and Green Team. Before joining the Zoo, Harris spent a total of four years living in the forests of Uganda, studying colobus monkeys as part of her doctoral and postdoctoral research. At the Zoo, her scientific research has focused on mountain zebras and tigers.

Dr. Harris's scientific publications are as follows (in reverse chronological order):

 

Dr. Ron Tilson, Senior Conservation Advisor to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation

Dr. Tilson has spent up to nine years conducting fieldwork on African and Asian animals.  He spent much of this time working in Indonesia on Sumatran tigers, but has also worked in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Belize.

He has published over 220 popular and scientific articles and given numerous key-note lectures or talks to a cross-section of academia and general public. He has also co-edited several books on tigers: Tigers of the World: The Biology, Biopolitics, Management and Conservation of an Endangered Species (1987), the Management and Conservation of Captive Tigers (1994; now translated into the national languages of Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, China and Vietnam); and Tigers of the World: The Biology, Politics and Conservation of Panthera tigris (2nd edition, 2010).

Dr. Tilson’s scientific publications are as follows (in reverse chronological order):

 

Kevin Willis, Director of Bioprograms

Kevin Willis started working for the zoological community in 1991 as a Conservation Biologist for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  There he used his background in genetics and statistics to help develop and formalize the science of small population management.  In 1997 he accepted a position at the Minnesota Zoo.  He continues to conduct research in the science of small population management

Mr. Willis’ scientific publications are as follows (in reverse chronological order):

 

Jeff Muntifering, Conservation Biologist

Mr. Muntifering has been working on projects in Namibia since 1999.  Although his work has been primarily associated with rhino recovery, he has also studied cheetahs.  Mr. Muntifering has served as the Science Advisor for Save the Rhino Trust since 2006 and continues to conduct research in Namibia.  He also spent a year in the field in China investigating whether there are any remaining wild South China tiger populations.

Mr. Muntifering’s scientific publications are as follows (in reverse chronological order):

 

Tiffany Wolf, DVM, Veterinarian

Dr. Wolf completed a veterinary residency in conservation medicine at The Wilds in Ohio in 2006, and has worked at the Minnesota Zoo as an Associate Veterinarian ever since. She has an interest in wildlife conservation and ecosystem health and has participated in several field projects involving free-ranging species in Louisiana, Ohio, and Minnesota.

Dr. Wolf’s scientific publications are as follows (in reverse chronological order):