Leah Hernandez

Leah was born and raised in Lubbock Texas. Her love of animals started at an early age, looking up to Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin, but developed into a deeper passion and desire to give back in college. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Biology, specializing in ecology and environmental studies; she assisted in some biology labs throughout, working with both plants and animals. Once graduated, she began as an mammal caretaker for the Austin Aquarium, eventually managing the husbandry for two facilities, gaining and working with multiple exotic species including mammals, avians, reptiles, and marine life. Leah developed a passion for understanding animal behaviors and training them for cooperative care. She hopes to further help conservation efforts and to educate the public so these amazing creatures can be admired for generations to come. In her free time, Leah likes to hike, paddleboard, and knit.