Bonnie Raphael, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Bonnie Raphael is a zoo and wildlife veterinarian, board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and performed her residency at the University of Florida. After the residency, she was the head vet at the Dallas Zoo for 9 years. Then she migrated up to New York City to join the Wildlife Conservation Society’s veterinary program at the Bronx Zoo. She retired from full time work in 2016.

During her zoo career she worked with diverse species of animals, being involved with all phases of zoo and wildlife medicine. She likes to say that she preferred working with animals whose names start with R, ruminants and reptiles. Some of the field projects she’s been involved with are Bog turtle health assessments in Eastern North America, reintroduction of Burmese star tortoises in Myanmar, radio tracking mountain rattlesnakes, reintroduction of Rock iguanas in the Caribbean. At present she consults and provides veterinary service on site in Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam at 3 wildlife rescue centers for 3-4 months per year.

Her 3 cats and turtle think she travels too much, but they get to be spoiled by their caretakers while she’s away. When she’s home she enjoys bicycling, swimming and taking advantage of some of the culture in New York City.