They may have similar talents and titles, but don't mistake Vint Virga for Dr. Dolittle.
Virga is a veterinarian and animal behaviourist, travelling around the United States and Europe visiting zoos and wild animal parks.
Like many people visiting zoos, Virga comes to watch the animals. But rather than linger for five or 10 minutes like the average visitor, Virga stays with the animals for hours at a time. It's how he helped Sukari, a giraffe with an eating disorder, at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island.
While zoos are able to meet the needs of animals' biological demands, their emotional ones are a little tougher to spot. That's where Virga comes in. After observing the animals, Virga makes suggestions on how to make the animals more at ease in the zoo.
Watch the video above to see how Virga's work is making an impact with some of your favourite critters.
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