I am currently retired from working with animals, but was born in show business in 1958. I worked as a child performer in my father's chimpanzee act and was taught to be an animal trainer and performer in the circus by my father Buddy Watkins (Watkins Famous Chimps). My history is of being a third generation of an American circus family, but my father left show business to pursue training animals in zoos. I spent 53 years working with animals, first performing in a zoo setting and then through hands on experience with animal permits, transactional paperwork, and records manager the past 20 years for a major zoological park in Miami, Florida.
I now work with circus community and private sector animal owners to help them upgrade their records and organize their permit needs. I also train and mentor animal records managers, help prepare federal/ state/ or other types of permits, and set up records keeping systems for animal facilities. I am ONLY doing this work for a few clients at the moment on a pro bono basis to give back to my circus roots. All I require is for any expenses (lodging, food, transportation, project supplies, etc.). The animal industry has been under much scrutiny, so I feel I can be of service to my extended circus family.
