Matt Edmonds grew up in Kansas but fell in love with Florida as a child while visiting his grandparents on Clearwater Beach. The warm weather, ocean, and exotic animals fueled his infatuation. In 1991, Matt was offered a job at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, and he jumped at the opportunity to move to Florida.
Matt's love of science and nature began when he saw the television series "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan. Carl's love of nature and his brilliant, yet understandable explanations of the universe as described by science, taught Matt to appreciate nature as a whole. Since then, Matt has never focused too closely on any aspect of the world. He loves learning about everything from viruses to galaxies. His biggest frustration is that he'll never understand it all.
Matt's love of science and nature began when he saw the television series "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan. Carl's love of nature and his brilliant, yet understandable explanations of the universe as described by science, taught Matt to appreciate nature as a whole. Since then, Matt has never focused too closely on any aspect of the world. He loves learning about everything from viruses to galaxies. His biggest frustration is that he'll never understand it all.
Matt's hobbies are playing the drums, riding his motorcycle, and photography. Matt almost never leaves his house without his camera. Birds and bugs are his favorite subjects, but anything in nature is a possible target for a picture. Click here for a gallery of his photography.
While Matt was a zoo keeper, he learned he had a talent for interpreting animal behavior and shaping their behavior with rewards. That began a new direction in his career. In 1994 he began training animals for education shows. Matt feels wildlife shows are the best way to pass on the love for nature that he feels on a daily basis.
In January 2002, Matt left the zoo world and started Wonders of Nature.
While Matt was a zoo keeper, he learned he had a talent for interpreting animal behavior and shaping their behavior with rewards. That began a new direction in his career. In 1994 he began training animals for education shows. Matt feels wildlife shows are the best way to pass on the love for nature that he feels on a daily basis.
In January 2002, Matt left the zoo world and started Wonders of Nature.
Matt is a frequent speaker at the annual conference of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.