Dr. Jackie Gai has a diverse background in caring for captive wildlife. She entered the field in 1989 as a docent, a volunteer, and later a zookeeper and part-time veterinarian at the Oakland Zoo. A lifelong interest in elephants intensified during her time as an elephant keeper, when she helped hand-raise an African elephant calf. Dr. Gai has been actively involved in rehabilitation and release of California native wildlife, including raptors, sea birds, and small mammals.

Dr. Gai has been the primary veterinarian for the Micke Grove Zoo since 2003 and was the primary veterinarian for the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary from 2001 to 2007. In addition to providing relief services to local zoos, she also provides assistance to local wildlife rehabilitators and select private clients. 

A graduate of University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Gai has served on the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Small Animal External Advisory Committee, the California Department of Fish and Game Director’s Advisory Committee on the Humane Care and Treatment of Wild Animals, and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians’ Legislative and Animal Welfare Committee.