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Shedd Aquarium Names Andrew Pulver as Vice President of Animal Care

Former Director from National Aquarium will oversee animal welfare and aquatic animal sustainability operations

December 01, 2022

A man with dark hair and a neat beard stands in front of Shedd's historic bronze doors.

CHICAGO – Today, Shedd Aquarium named Andrew Pulver as the aquarium’s Vice President of Animal Care. In this role, Pulver will oversee the aquarium’s animal care team, which is responsible for all aspects of animal operations including care and welfare, habitat development and maintenance, sustainability and breeding efforts and more. He will also provide strategic oversight for daily operations as the aquarium’s historic galleries undergo significant renovations over the next several years. Pulver joins Shedd after 20 years at the National Aquarium, where he most recently served as the aquarium’s Director of Husbandry.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our team, who brings with him decades of experience advancing animal husbandry and encouraging conservation through collaboration with partners in the zoo and aquarium community,” said Peggy Sloan, chief animal operations officer at Shedd Aquarium. “Andrew will be key leader and guide as Shedd sets out on our Centennial Commitment strategic vision that will transform Shedd’s galleries and accelerate our conservation and sustainability ambitions.”

Pulver begin his career at National Aquarium in 2001 as a summer aide, where he helped the Fishes department with exhibit maintenance and animal care. In the 20 years that followed, Pulver climbed the ranks from Senior Aquarist and Manager of an offsite Animal Care Center to his most recent title of Director of Husbandry. Pulver’s responsibilities included overseeing the teams who cared for Baltimore’s extensive aquatic animal collection ranging from fishes and invertebrates to sea turtles and dolphins. Pulver’s team in Baltimore also managed water quality and quarantine efforts and supervised operations on the aquarium’s research catamaran.

In his time at National Aquarium, Pulver demonstrated success in expanding the aquarium’s contributions to collaborative conservation projects within the Association and Zoos and Aquarium. This included efforts to increase the sustainability of aquarium populations, supporting programs focused on safeguarding corals, sharks and rays and coordinating National Aquarium’s involvement in scientifically managed breeding efforts with other accredited zoos and aquariums.

“I cannot imagine a more energizing time to be joining a world-class institution like Shedd Aquarium,” said Pulver. “Exemplary animal care and husbandry has been at the core of my career for more than 20 years, and I look forward to sharing my experience as the aquarium reaches for new heights in animal welfare, sustainability and conservation.”

Pulver holds two Bachelors of Science degrees in Environmental Science (from University of Maryland Eastern Shore) and in Biology (from Salisbury State University) via the Environmental Marine Science Dual Degree Program.


VISUALS: Visit the following link to download a high-resolution image of Andrew Pulver:

https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8e6d688c5b6470b09d68