Tony Barthel serves as the Director of Animal Care for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), providing strategic leadership for animal care operations across the Zoo’s 163‑acre campus in Washington, D.C., and the 3,200‑acre conservation campus in Front Royal, Virginia. He oversees Wildlife Health Services, Animal Care Sciences, and the Department of Nutrition, guiding the institution’s comprehensive approach to animal welfare, collection planning, and long‑term species management.

In this role, Barthel leads multidisciplinary teams dedicated to advancing NZCBI’s mission through exemplary husbandry, veterinary care, animal nutrition, evidence‑based welfare practices, and collaborative conservation initiatives. He also oversees the strategic planning and stewardship of the animal collection, ensuring that breeding programs, acquisitions, and transfers support institutional priorities and align with global conservation goals.

Prior to his current position, Barthel served as Senior Curator, overseeing major areas of the Zoo including Great Cats, the Small Mammal House, the Kids’ Farm, Elephant Trails, and the Africa Trail. Earlier, as Curator of Elephant Trails and Cheetah Conservation Station, he managed all aspects of daily animal care, enrichment and training programs, facility operations, and research partnerships. His leadership strengthened the Zoo’s elephant and cheetah programs, deepened cross‑departmental collaboration, and enhanced the visitor experience through innovative animal‑care practices and public engagement.

Since joining the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 2002, Barthel has played a central role in several transformative projects, including the construction and opening of the Asia Trail exhibit, major enhancements to the Cheetah Conservation Station, and the design and development of the Elephant Trails exhibit. His contributions have supported significant growth in the Zoo’s Asian elephant program and advanced the institution’s reputation as a leader in animal welfare and conservation science.

Barthel began his career after earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Valparaiso University. He gained early experience at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore before joining the opening team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1997, later serving as a manager for the launch of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Throughout his career, he has maintained a deep commitment to animal welfare, behavior, and the power of zoos to connect people with wildlife. He believes that sharing compelling animal stories is essential to inspiring public support for species conservation.