EmmaLee Eng

EmmaLee began working with theTurtleRoom in December of 2022 as one of the hosts of The Pondcast. She began working professionally with animals in 2010 when she worked for Sacred Heart University studying horseshoe crab ecology in Long Island Sound. She has worked for a variety of zoological institutions in the Northeast such as Mass Audubon, Southwick’s Zoo, and currently Riverside Reptiles Education Center (RREC).

As the lead keeper of RREC, EmmaLee oversees the care of almost 100 different species of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Almost 30 of those species are turtles and tortoises! Her favorites are Tank the African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), Ben the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys apalachicolae), and Wink the African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa).

EmmaLee graduated Sacred Heart University with a degree in Biology: Ecology & Conservation. She worked with her professors tagging horseshoe crabs and studying their population data. It was through SHU that she found LEO Zoo- her first introduction to the zookeeping world. Her time as a zookeeper has led her to some wonderful and fascinating experiences. Some of her favorite moments have been raising baby toucans and baby kangaroos, working with venomous snakes, and free flying birds of prey.

EmmaLee’s pursuit of education has awarded her many experiences, such as a Master Herpetologist certification through the Amphibian Foundation. She is currently working towards her Master Naturalist certification through the state of CT, and obtaining her wildlife rehabilitators license. In 2022 EmmaLee was invited to Florida to participate in a Venomous Handling Instructor course through The Rattlesnake Conservancy, which certifies her to teach TRC’s Level 1 class.

In her personal life EmmaLee lives in CT with her dog Kahless. She is an active member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers CT chapter, and a Professional Fellow of the Zoological Association of America. EmmaLee is also a licensed falconer, and works for a raptor center in NY on her weekends.