Meet the Zoo Team

Zoo Director

John Wright

John WrightWhat drew you to this career? What interested me with the zoo was mainly that no day is the same as the next. There's also the ability to be part of the community, the ability to help out animals and promote conservation. Those are some of the things that drew me.

What is your favorite animal? I have a fondness for giraffes and hoofstock.

Who is your favorite animal at Spring River Zoo? The keeper staff.

How did you get to Roswell? I grew up in Kansas City, and worked in a variety of other zoos as a director and curator. Most recently, I was a curator at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Salt Lake City. COVID obviously hit our industry, and I was fortunate enough to find this opening, apply and get it.

Favorite quote: I have a couple. First one is, "If you're on time, you're late." Also, my dad always taught me, "Be lazy by doing it right the first time."

Director's Letter


I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you for your continued support. I wish to encourage you to make the most of your membership and visit often to see our improvements.

Over the winter months the staff have been actively working to add more value to your membership. With that hard work, I am proud to say we have collaborated with thirty other institutions around the country in which you can use your Spring River Zoo membership for free or discounted benefits to the following zoos:

Heritage Park Zoo, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Charles Paddock Zoo, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Pueblo Zoo, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Cosley Zoo, Washington Park Zoo, Baton Rouge Zoo, Zoosiana, Alexandria Zoo, Dakota Zoo, Alameda Park Zoo, Ross Park Zoo, Zoo New York, African Safari Wildlife Park, Wildlife Safari, Elmwood Park Zoo, Bright’s Zoo, Nashville Zoo, The Texas Zoo, Austin Zoo, Tracy Aviary, Beardsley Zoo, Flamingo Gardens, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Salisbury Zoo, Cape May County Park and Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Pine Grove Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo.

We will continue to update our website with the zoos that are added to our reciprocity program. This will allow our members to stay current on our reciprocity program as we continue to add new institutions to the list.

Also our members receive discounts on zoo events and special invitations to members’ only events that we hope will continue to expand as well.

Feel free to reach out to our team to be involved with programming, events and growth, as we would enjoy hearing from our members on how to improve your zoo.

- John Wright, Spring River Zoo Director

Juan Bejarano, Guest Services Associatejuan

What brought you to Roswell?
I was born and raised in Roswell. I stayed for family reasons.

What is your favorite part of the Zoo?
I get to interact with people, and get to know the animals.

What is the question or comment you get most frequently from Zoo guests?
I get asked what my favorite animal is. I usually go with Bret the Mountain Lion or the capybaras.

Zookeepers 

Andrea Cole, Zoo Curator

andrea photoWhat drew you to this career? I’ve always loved being around animals as a kid, and I knew I wanted to work in a career with animals. In my junior year of high school, I started volunteering at this zoo and found how passionate I am about critters and the joy of educating kids about how amazing animals are.

What is your favorite animal? Any critter in the Procyonidae family. Raccoon and coatimundi are among my favorite in this family.

Who is your favorite animal at Spring River Zoo? Harley the raccoon, he was one of the first critters I hand-raised when I started at the zoo. Since then raccoons have been my favorite critter.

How did you get to Roswell? I’m from Roswell. I’ve lived here my entire life.

What else should we know? I have two dogs named Copper and Pixie and one cat named Toro. I enjoy reading, outdoor adventures and hanging out with my friends.

Favorite quote: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Every individual matters.” – Jane Goodall


Lyz Foster, Zookeeper

lyzWhat drew you to this career? Caring for animals is my forte. It's what I do best, and it's what I'm suited for. 

What is your favorite animal? Pigs are my favorite; all shapes and sizes. They're very misunderstood, but I get them.

What is your favorite animal at Spring River Zoo? Honestly, I love them all. I can't pick just one because I think they're all special.

How did you get to Roswell? I moved here to help my mom and found an amazing job in the process.

Is there anything else we should know? I have always been a caregiver. Later in life, I just switched from caring for humans to caring for animals.

Favorite quote: "Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” – Robert Frost


Ayrin Meeks, Zookeeper

ayrin photoWhat drew you to this career? When I was 5 years old, I was watching Animal Planet and a tiger came on the screen and I knew then that’s what I wanted to do. I want to help save endangered animals, teach others about animals, and increase my knowledge and experience of working with exotic animals.

What is your favorite animal? Bret, our mountain lion. He is the first big cat species that I’ve worked with. I’ve worked with Bret for two years and it still excites me to work with him. Q, our Chihuahuan raven. Sadly she passed away this summer, but she was my best friend. I loved working with her because she was funny, curious, intelligent and loved to be around people.

How did you get to Roswell? I was born and raised in Roswell. I grew up coming to this zoo.

What else should we know? I have a degree in zoology from Western New Mexico University. I enjoy reading, going to Disneyland and going to concerts. I have my own mini zoo at home consisting of two dogs, three cats, a hedgehog, a guinea pig, two rats and two mice. Loving and caring for animals is a lifestyle.

Favorite quote: “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

Cori Villers, Zookeeper

Cori VillersWhat brought you to the zoo? I’ve been working with animals ever since I was young. What brought me to this specific zoo was they took a chance on me, and it’s a little challenging to find a zoo career. I interned at a previous zoo, fell in love with the zoo world and here I am.

What is your favorite animal? My favorite animals of all time would probably be giraffes or sea otters.

What’s your favorite animal at Spring River Zoo? If I had to choose one animal at this zoo, it would probably be the ring-tailed lemurs. I love how resourceful they are. I love watching them do their thing, whether that’s climbing around or making their barking noise.

Favorite quote: “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’” – Audrey Hepburn.



Amy Youngren, Zookeeper

Whaamy photot drew you to this career? I was drawn to zookeeping because I love the fun and challenge of working with animals.

What is your favorite animal? My all-time favorite animal is the orangutan.

Who is your favorite animal at Spring River Zoo? I don’t have a favorite at the zoo, I love them all! That being said, I really enjoy working with our pot-bellied pig Kevin because he is so full of joy, and he is very intelligent and eager to learn.

How did you get to Roswell? I moved from Washington state.

What else should we know? I have a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Washington State University. I enjoy kayaking and hiking with my canine son Dax. I also love to travel with Dax and explore new places in nature; we have been to every state in the U.S. and most Canadian provinces.

Maintenance & Operations Team

Gary James

Gary James