Dr. Larry Vogelnest - Senior Veterinarian, Taronga Zoo

Larry Vogelnest, BVSc (Hons), MVS (Wildlife Medicine and Husbandry), MACVS (Zoo Animal Medicine), PSM

Dr. Larry Vogelnest is the senior veterinarian at Taronga Zoo and manages the Taronga Wildlife Hospital at Taronga Zoo.

 After graduating in 1984 from the University of Sydney, Dr Vogelnest worked in a mixed private practice before travelling overseas and working in England.  On return to Australia he worked in an avian practice in Sydney before starting as a Veterinary Intern at Taronga Zoo in 1990.  During this time he completed a Masters in Veterinary Studies in Wildlife Medicine and Husbandry.  The research for his masters was on haematology and biochemistry of Australian cockatoos.  Since completing his internship Dr Vogelnest has been employed at Taronga Zoo and is currently the Senior Veterinarian.  He is responsible for the health and welfare of the Zoo’s animal collection and sick, injured and orphaned native Australian wildlife brought into the Taronga Wildlife Hospital.  In 1996 Dr Vogelnest gained membership to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Zoo Animal Medicine.  In 1998, Dr Vogelnest took a 12 month sabbatical, and worked at Melbourne Zoo for 2 months and Victoria’s Open Range Zoo at Werribee for 10 months, where he was employed as their first full-time veterinarian, before returning to Taronga Zoo as Senior Veterinarian.

Dr Vogelnest is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Australian Veterinary Journal and is the Oceania Representative of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. He is also the Principal Editor of “Medicine of Australian Mammals”, CSIRO Publishing (2008) and author and co-author on several chapters. In 2009 Dr Vogelnest was awarded a Public Service Medal for his contribution to conservation medicine and service to the Taronga Conservation Society Australia.