Kathy Hawk has worked for the San Diego Zoo since 1986. During that time she has cared for a variety of species, including bears and big cats, giraffes, rhinos, Przewalski horses, hornbills, sea lions, and Chinese golden monkeys. She has been caring for giant pandas since they first arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1996.
Kathy has been present for four panda births and has been instrumental in the animal husbandry of female pandas coming into estrus, panda mating, panda mothers and their babies, as well as husbandry of an older panda.
She has a bachelor of science degree in equine management from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina.