‘I get to live out my dream’: Abilene zookeeper to study birds in Africa

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – An Abilene zookeeper is taking her passion for wildlife conservation across the globe to Harare, Zimbabwe, in Africa.

Thalia Flores, the Primary Terrace Zookeeper at the Abilene Zoo, is set to leave August 15 for a month-long research trip focused on Kori Bustards, one of the heaviest flying birds native to Africa. Her mission is to study the species in its natural habitat, gathering insights that will support conservation and breeding efforts at the zoo.

Flores will spend a month in the field with the Murarabungu Conservation Initiative, taking part in hands-on research efforts. Her work will involve locating Kori Bustards in the wild, placing identification tags, studying their breeding behavior, and monitoring nests at multiple sites. When she returns to Abilene, she plans to share what she’s learned with zoo staff to help improve care for the zoo’s two female Kori Bustards.

“This trip is going to change my perspective in the way that I care for my animals,” said Flores. “For example, the Kori Bustards that I’m going to be studying—with those changes, I can change the habitat modification, I can change the dietary needs for the girls, I can implement things, I can remove things. It’ll all just be a learning experience.”

While Kori Bustards are her primary focus, she also aims to bring back insights that could benefit the care of other African animals at the zoo.

This opportunity was made possible through a grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with additional support from the Abilene Zoo. The research also connects to larger conservation goals, including anti-poaching efforts and public education through safari photography and storytelling.

Flores hopes her experience will benefit not only her professional growth but also her team and the community. The zoo plans to share updates on social media to raise awareness about Kori Bustard conservation.

Notably, this marks the first time the Abilene Zoo has sent an employee overseas since the 1980s. It’s also Flores’s first time leaving the country—and her first time flying.

“I’m really excited. I have never been out of the country. I’ve never flown before. So this is the first of many. My parents and family are absolutely supportive in this situation. Now that I get to do this and live out my dream, it’s been an amazing high, an amazing feeling,” she said.

Having loved animals from a young age, Flores is grateful to be in a role where she can actively advocate for their care—both in captivity and in the wild. Her upcoming journey is not just a personal milestone but a step forward for conservation in Abilene.