From Meerkats to Elephants – Zoo Vets Do it All!

Posted April 26, 2025 by Michelle Curley

Celebrating Cincinnati Zoo’s Veterinarians on World Veterinary Day

With about 1,500 animals from roughly 400 species to care for, Cincinnati Zoo’s three full-time veterinarians have their hands full! Dr. Mike Wenninger, Dr. Jenny Nollman, and Dr. Jess Heinz, along with four vet techs, and a nutritionist have their hands full! Not all of their patients can come to the animal hospital for treatment, so they have to make house calls to every corner of the Zoo’s 80-acre campus. Just in the first quarter of this year, the vet team has treated an okapi for allergies, provided pre-natal care for a gorilla, performed plasma transfusions and vaccinated young elephants to mitigate EEHV, removed a tumor from a meerkat, and done physical exams and ultrasounds on bonobos, orangutan, giant salamanders, fire-bellied newts, lesser kudus, tigers, cheetahs, and many more!

Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
Bert the meerkat after surgery
Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
Dr. Wenninger performing surgery on Bert

The veterinary team provides preventative care, sick patient care, geriatric care, surgeries, and emergency medical attention. Members of the team are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Every path to becoming a Zoo veterinarian is unique, but here’s how our director of animal health, Dr. Mike Wenninger ended up where he is today.  If you have a fascination for furry creatures or a passion for pythons, you may want to follow in his footsteps! Happy World Veterinary Day to Cincinnati Zoo’s amazing vets!

  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Vet Staff at the Cincinnati Zoo
Animal Excellence, Veterinary Care, World Days,