Laura Briseno-Cazares is an educational and zoological professional with over 25 years of progressive insight and experience in her field. Her passion for snakes and crocodiles was evident since she was a child, always looking to learn about these fascinating creatures and spending a long time admiring them during her frequent visits to every zoo and herpetarium she found around Mexico and every country she visited. Laura obtained B.S. in biology developing the thesis: “Educational Proposal for Promoting Amphibians and Reptiles Conservation”, and a M.Sc. in Natural Resources Management and Conservation at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo with the Thesis “The Pitvipers of Michoacán, México: Status and Conservation”.
She started working at Morelia Zoo in 1991 as a reptile keeper and recreational instructor. She was also co-founder of the education department as well as founder and coordinator of the herpetarium in the same institution, serving as chief of the reptile and amphibian department 1997-2014. She focused on snakebite-envenoming prevention and community engagement, working in coordination with Health and Environmental State Agencies and with Silanes Lab (antivenom producers). Looking to strengthen the capacity of reptile professionals working at zoological institutions members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums of Mexico (AZCARM), she led the Venomous Animals Specialists Group from 2011 to 2015.
She obtained a certification as environmental educator and co-founded an interdisciplinary team that developed urban and rural projects for15 years. She was also adjunct professor at Universidad Vasco de Quiroga in Morelia, Michoacan, designing and delivering courses such as Animal Behavior, Biological Bases of Behavior, and Environmental Psychology for 17 years. Laura was also Conservation Education Chief at Africam Safari Conservation Park, at Puebla, Mexico. Currently she is a doctoral student in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch University New England with particular interest in applying conservation psychology and other social science principles to promote coexistence and snake conservation.
