Dr. Holley Muraco: trainer, researcher, rehabilitator

Dr. Holley Muraco is the director of research at the Mississippi Aquarium. In addition to starting her career training aquatic and terrestrial animals like dolphins and elephants, she has spent her graduate and post graduate time studying reproduction in marine mammals, especially those that are not as prolific in human care. She also enjoys working with students, particularly girls and minorities from her home state, and exposing them to the possibilities of a marine biology research career. Thanks to circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself caring for native wildlife like raccoons and most recently, beaver kits. And according to Holley, there's so much to learn about this once nearly extinct species from their physiology to engineering skills.