Jenna Deedy
Bio
Zoo and Aquarium Professional, Educator, Cosplayer, Writer and B.A. in Psychology whose got a lot to share when it comes to animals, zoos, aquariums, conservation, and more.
Instagram: @jennacostadeedy
Stories (137/0)
The Real Queens of Wakanda VII: Into the Unknown
In our latest Queens of Wakanda entry that is in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we get to know a marine mammal trainer who is currently based at the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida. Lauren Beltran’s journey is truly one that involved her traveling “into the unknown”.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Real Queens of Wakanda VI: An Odyssey
For many people who pay a visit to a zoo or an aquarium, there is no connection greater than one between people and animals. This is because whenever people get the chance to see a training session take place at a facility, they get to see more than just a typical animal “show”, they also get to see a true bond between animals and their caregivers. This is because these caregivers know what the animals under their care want and need to continue to thrive. For Californian Claudia Nathaly Erreguin, feeling an animal’s desire to connect with people is so pure, it makes people want to both care for them and protect them at the same time.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Real Queens of Wakanda V: Birds of a Feather.
Our Hispanic Heritage Month edition of The Real Queens of Wakanda continues with the story of Ms.Nicolle Mierischi. She is an aviary keeper at Zoo Miami where her primary focus involves providing care for the resident kiwi and waterfowl that call the facility home. She first started as a volunteer before she eventually made her way to the top as a level 2 keeper this past July. Two months later, she opens up about her experience working at Zoo Miami and how she got to where she is today.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Real Queens of Wakanda IV: Carnivores Galore
In my last three articles that make up The Real Queens of Wakanda series, I have placed African American zoo and aquarium professionals in the spotlight by sharing their stories and ensuring that each of these women got to have a voice and share their stories. Yet, the series was not intended to just focus on African American female zoo professionals but all zoo and aquarium professionals of color. This includes Asian and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Asian Indians, people of Arab and Middle Eastern descent, and Hispanics.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
Dear Canada, Please Let Mystic Aquarium Acquire MarineLand’s Belugas
To whom it may concern, My name is Jenna Deedy, and I am a freelance writer and volunteer educator for New England Aquarium who has worked with animals, primarily marine mammals since the age of 10. I am writing on behalf of the marine zoological community in favor of enabling Mystic Aquarium to acquire five aquarium-born beluga whales from MarineLand in Niagra Falls, Canada.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Real Queens of Wakanda III: Song of the Sea
In the latest chapter of The Real Queens of Wakanda, I now place all focus on a marine mammal trainer of color who is based at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA. Arrion Williams has been working with marine mammals at Georgia Aquarium since 2015 after spending several years volunteering at the aquarium. Now, she shares her story of how she became a marine mammal trainer, which all started with a trip to SeaWorld Orlando when she was just six years old.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
Dolphin Research Center Celebrates “Harry Potter”
It has been over two decades since the Harry Potter series was first introduced to the world through the first of seven books. From there, this internationally renowned book series would give way to a franchise that saw eight films, several spin-offs, live stage productions, creative cosplays, and an endless series of fanfictions across the internet. It has even given wave to several theme park attractions at Universal Studios parks in both Japan and North America.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
Alaska SeaLife Center On the Brink of Closing Down
On July 13th, 2020, Tara Riemer, CEO of The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) in Seward, Alaska, announced that the facility was facing the possibility of closing its doors for good, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was all based on the facility’s projections following a loss of revenue that is needed to provide animal care for both the animal residents and the marine mammals that are currently being rehabilitated.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
New Research Questions Animal Rights Claims
Last year, the Journal of Veterinary Behavior published a paper by well-known animal rights proponents led by Dr. Lori Marino. The 2019 paper made dubious claims about whale neuroscience, behavior, captive stress, and whale care/longevity. Furthermore, the paper passed into anthropomorphism calling whale calves “children”, a term not usually associated with objective, non-agenda driven science. Marino is one of the names behind the controversial Whale Sanctuary Project and used her article to claim that orcas living under human care suffer from chronic stress as a result of living in man-made animal habitats. Unfortunately, very little work has been done in this arena to make proper comparisons.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
Big Cat Expert Felicia Frisca Responds to New “Tiger King” Controversy.
The Greater Wynnewood Zoo, a road-side big cat facility that was the focus of Netflix’s The Tiger King series, has recently been under investigation by the state of Oklahoma for alleged animal abuse after a series of photos and videos that document the claims were leaked to the public. The evidence to support these claims include photos of lions suffering from skin conditions caused by insects biting their skin off and laying eggs on them. The zoo was once owned by Joe Maldonado-Passage, who is better known to the world as “Joe Exotic” before all ownership of the facility was turned over to Jeff Lowe and his partner, Lauren.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Real Queens of Wakanda: A Look into the World of Black Zoo and Aquarium Professionals
The focus of this article and the series that it is a part of will not focus on this matter at all. Instead, it will put a focus on women of color as members of the zoo and aquarium community whose stories, in the light of recent events, should be shared for the world to know and appreciate the experience of people of color who continue to carry on in both good times and in times of uncertainty.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Journal