Senior Veterinarian (Taronga Zoo Sydney and New South Wales Sentinel Koala Population Monitoring Program) 

Larry graduated with a BVSc degree from the University of Sydney in 1984. He then worked in mixed private practice before travelling overseas and working in England.  On return to Australia he worked in an avian practice in Sydney before starting as a Veterinary Intern at Taronga Zoo Sydney in 1990.  During this time he completed a Masters in Veterinary Studies in Wildlife Medicine and Husbandry. The research for his masters was on haematology and biochemistry of Australian cockatoos.  Since completing his internship, Larry has been employed by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia and is Senior Veterinarian at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Taronga’s multidisciplinary veterinary team is responsible for the health of the Zoo’s animal population and sick, injured and orphaned native Australian wildlife admitted to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital. In 2023, Larry took on the role of Senior Veterinarian for the NSW Sentinel Koala Population Monitoring Program: Koala Capture and Veterinary Processing Project. This three-year program aims to address a key action under the NSW Koala Strategy to identify fundamental drivers that influence koala fitness, reproduction and survival. 

In 1996 Larry gained membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Zoo Medicine.  In 1998 he took a 12-month sabbatical and worked at Melbourne Zoo for two months and Victoria’s Open Range Zoo at Werribee for 10 months, where he was employed as their first full-time veterinarian, before returning to Taronga Zoo Sydney. 

In 2009 Larry was awarded a Public Service Medal for his contribution to conservation medicine and service to the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. In 2018 he was the recipient of the Barry L. Munday Award, that recognises the significant contributions to wildlife health made by a member of the Wildlife Diseases Association, Australasian section. He is the principal editor of “Medicine of Australian Mammals”, CSIRO Publishing (2008) and author and co-author on several chapters; author and editor of “Radiology of Australian Mammals” CSIRO Publishing (2015) and principal editor of “Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals”, CSIRO Publishing (2019) and author of several chapters. He has also authored several other book chapters and authored or co-authored several peer reviewed journal publications. 

Larry specialises in the health and reproductive management of small populations including ex situ breeding programs for endangered species. He has participated in and advised on both in situ and ex situ components of numerous conservation projects, both in Australia and overseas and managed field components of research and conservation projects. He has extensive experience with preventative medicine programs, zoonotic disease management, chemical restraint, reproductive management, clinical medicine of zoo and wild animals and treatment and rehabilitation of Australian wildlife. His experience extends across mammalian, avian, reptilian and amphibian taxa. 

His favourite animal is the platypus – a species that embodies the spirit and uniqueness of Australia’s natural history and culture. It is a bizarre amalgamation of mammalian, avian and reptilian features, which from a veterinary perspective poses fascinating and unique challenges.