Reyna Prongco
Animal Trainer/Presenter
Olongapo City
Summary
Experienced animal behavior specialist with over 10 years of hands-on experience in handling and training a variety of wild and domestic animals. Skilled in positive reinforcement techniques, behavioral assessments, and creating tailored training plans. Known for collaborative work style, adaptability, and achieving consistent results in fast-paced settings. Dependable team player with strong communication skills and dedication to animal welfare. Seeking opportunities to further develop skills and knowledge in animal care.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Animal Trainer
Dubai Safari Park
07.2024 - Current
- Promoted positive reinforcement methods throughout all training sessions, resulting in increased trust between animals and their handlers.
- Maintained safety by enforcing strict protocols during animal interactions with guests and staff.
- Evaluated individual animal behavior regularly to modify existing training plans as needed for optimal outcomes.
- Improved overall facility management by maintaining organized records of each animal''s progress.
- Collaborated with veterinarians to develop personalized plans for addressing behavioral issues in animals.
- Increased animal obedience by implementing customized training programs tailored to individual needs.
- Established a strong professional reputation through consistent success in training animals for various roles, including service, therapy, and entertainment purposes.
- Minimized risk during live shows and events by overseeing animal handling procedures and ensuring proper safety protocols were in place.
- Kept animals stimulated with variety of enrichment activities.
- Maintained clean, neat, and hazard-free animal areas to protect individual health and wellbeing.
- Fostered a positive learning environment for interns and junior trainers through mentoring, supervision, and hands-on instruction.
Senior Animal Care Specialist
Snow Oman
11.2022 - 04.2024
- Ensures the efficiency of daily operations, maintenance and safety in the animal habitat, Encounter and March areas.
- Monitor animals and manage animal behavior, health and training and ensure that animal record keeping system is up to date.
- Assist in implementing the animal training and enrichment programs.
- Makes operational decisions in absence of Operations Managers.
- Participates in daily encounters and educational program.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities, staying current on best practices within animal care and management fields.
- Maintained clean habitats by following strict sanitation protocols, minimizing the spread of disease among animal populations.
Animal Care Specialist
Ski Dubai
12.2015 - 10.2022
- Responsible for diet preparation, hygiene and exhibit maintenance.
- General husbandry, restraint and medical procedure and treatment.
- Daily public presentations, penguin encounter interaction, school learner educational programs.
- Training new behaviors and support in behaviors already trained, provides enrichments, observations, record keeping and data capture.
- Hand rearing both King and Gentoo chicks and training both to participate in the penguin encounter program.
Bird Keeper
Magaul Bird Park
03.2015 - 12.2015
- Performed daily keeping operation; preparation of food, hygiene management and assisting veterinarian during health examination, medical procedure and treatment.
- Monitors bird’s health, breeding condition and behavior.
- Provides appropriate enrichment for the animals.
- Hand reared Umbrella Cockatoo chicks Cacatua alba
Terrestrial Exhibit Operation Manager
Ocean Adventure
11.2010 - 07.2014
- Responsible for the general operations- management, maintenance and development of the animal collection, and associated infrastructure, equipment, and other resources.
- Supervision of employees and volunteers of the department; collection and maintenance of stock records, scientific and veterinary data; preparation of relevant reports, accounts and proposals.
- Supervises and participates in the Long-tailed Macaques Rehabilitation and Released Project; writes and processes the legal documents, does surveys and planning for the project, monitoring and feeding of released animals and recording the progress of the release projects.
- Conducts public education through school programs for the environmental and wildlife awareness and represents Wildlife in Need Rescue Centre in the media.
Marine Mammal Specialist
Ocean Adventure
03.2006 - 08.2010
- Responsible for all aspects of caring for the pinniped collections, as well as performing public presentations.
- Trained new behavior for the show animals and maintained current behaviors as well, both show and husbandry.
- Handled early conditioning of sea lion pups Otaria flavescence.
- Assisted veterinarian in husbandry procedures.
- Handled four species of cetacean animals, Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncates; Pantropical Spotted dolphin; Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis and False-killer Whale Pseudorca crassidens.
- Was assigned to be the primary trainer of some Bottlenose dolphin to train new behaviors for the show and maintained the current behaviors as well, both show and husbandry.
- Performed public speaking through shows and interactive programs as part of public education.
- Participated in rescues of stranded cetacean and work closely with the veterinary staff.
Animal Zookeeper
Ocean Adventure
04.2008 - 02.2009
- Performed daily zookeeping operation; preparation and presentation of food items for the animals, husbandry and training of rescued and show animals as well as perform public presentations and assisting veterinarian during health examination, medical procedure and treatment.
- Provided appropriate enrichment for the animals.
- Monitored of animal behaviors and record keeping of daily activities.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accountancy
Mondriian Auro College
Skills
Proficient in animal care and training
One-on-one training
Patience and consistency
Marine mammal training
Teamwork and collaboration
Animal welfare
Multitasking Abilities
Medication administration
Adaptability and flexibility
Organizational skills
Attention to detail
Problem-solving aptitude
Training
- Second Southeast Asian Animal Enrichment and Training Workshop Organizer, 02/01/11
- First Southeast Asian Animal Enrichment and Training Workshop Participant/Organizer, 02/01/10
- First Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium Participant/Organizer, 02/04/13
- The Aquarium Vet e-Aquarist Course
- IOSH Course Training certified
Timeline
Animal Trainer
Dubai Safari Park
07.2024 - Current
Senior Animal Care Specialist
Snow Oman
11.2022 - 04.2024
Animal Care Specialist
Ski Dubai
12.2015 - 10.2022
Bird Keeper
Magaul Bird Park
03.2015 - 12.2015
Terrestrial Exhibit Operation Manager
Ocean Adventure
11.2010 - 07.2014
Animal Zookeeper
Ocean Adventure
04.2008 - 02.2009
Marine Mammal Specialist
Ocean Adventure
03.2006 - 08.2010
Bachelor of Science - Accountancy
Mondriian Auro College