Meet the San Antonio Zoo’s new executive director of veterinary medicine

Dr. Tarah Hadley first discovered her passion for working with animals at the age of 16 when she helped rescue a box turtle.

This set her on a lifelong path that would lead to her devoting herself to the care and rehabilitation of exotic animals. She has now accepted the position of Senior Director of Veterinary Care at the San Antonio Zoo, making her both the first woman and the first Black person to assume the role in the zoo’s 110-year history.

Hadley will lead the 18-person department responsible for the medical care and procedures of all zoo animals. According to a 2023 survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1.3% of veterinarians working in the United States are Black.