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Mitch Finnegan, Lead Veterinarian
Dr. Mitch Finnegan oversees all medical care provided to the Oregon Zoo’s elephants. He is responsible for performing major medical procedures, as well as supervising the ongoing health care of each animal. Finnegan has been at the zoo since 1993 and has extensive experience with elephants, including the successful tusk-removal surgery performed on Tusko in 2007. Under Finnegan’s direction, the zoo veterinary team has participated in ongoing research to improve elephant health care, including studies to determine appropriate dosages of analgesic pain-relief medications like ibuprofen and phenylbutazone.
Chris Pfefferkorn, General Curator
Chris Pfefferkorn has more than 20 years of experience working in zoos with elephants and has a strong background in animal management. He worked with elephants as a keeper for three years, and helped design and reconstruct an elephant barn at the San Antonio Zoo. Pfefferkorn came to the Oregon Zoo in 1997. As general curator, he manages the animal collections and care staff. In 1999, he helped bring Chendra, an orphaned Borneo elephant, to the zoo. He currently serves on the AZA’s World Conservation Committee, which oversees and reviews Species Survival Plans for animals in North America.
Joe Sebastiani, Elephant Program Manager
Joe Sebastiani began working with elephants in 1994 at Marine World Africa, under the supervision of famed elephant expert and conservation specialist David Blasko. While there, he cared for and trained 12 elephants. Sebastiani joined the Oregon Zoo in August 2006. As elephant program manager, he is responsible for ensuring the elephants live the best lives possible. His job includes feeding, cleaning, training and exercising the animals as well as closely monitoring their behavior for signs of possible health problems. He is also responsible for the safety and well-being of the keepers.
Over his career, Sebastiani has worked with 21 different elephants. He is always finding new ways to stimulate the animals both physically and mentally with problem-solving games and lessons. He believes that providing people with up-close elephant experiences at the zoo helps them gain a greater appreciation for the species, and his goal is to increase public awareness of elephant-conservation issues.
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