Languages: English, basic Spanish
Licenses/Skills/Abilities
YMCA SCUBA certification
USCG certified small watercraft operator
State of Florida and Federal wildlife possession and transportation permits

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Biology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 1981
Associate of Arts, Richard J. Daley College, Chicago, IL 1972

Memberships in Professional Societies

Member, Chicago Herpetological Society, Chicago, IL, 1979 to present.
President and Founder, Everglades Herpetological Society, Miami, FL, founded 1988.
Board Member, League of Florida Herpetological Societies, Orlando, FL, since 1989.
Past President, International Iguana Society, Big Pine Key, FL, 1998 to 2005.
Member, Iguana Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC, Gland, Switzerland, 1999 to present.
Member, Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC, Gland, Switzerland, 2005 to present.
Member, Tomistoma Task Force (TTS) 2005 to present.
Member, Explorers Club, New York, New York, 2003 to present
Member, Bahamas National Trust, Nassau, Bahamas, 2005 to present.
Member, National Audobon Society, New York, New York, 2004 to present.

EXPERIENCE

Professional Experience

June 2003- present Director, Serpentarium, Parrot Jungle Island
April 2000 - present Director, Natural Selections of South Florida, Inc.
Environmental and wildlife services including filming, lectures, workshops,
environmental programs, natural history interpretation, wildlife consulting, and research
provided to national and international public and private agencies, organizations, and
businesses.
March 2000 - present Expedition Leader
Coordinator and leader of natural history tours for the Red Creek Biological Preserve,
Stan Creek District, Belize.
1983 - present Choreographer, Environmental Educator, and Host
Wildlife, natural history, and general ecology lectures and programs for schools,
conservation societies, clubs, ecotour groups, public attractions, and corporate
conferences. Contracts have included daily programs at Parrot Jungle and Gardens,
Miami, FL (1992-present) and Wildlife Weekend Series “Endangered and Threatened
Reptiles of Florida ” for the National Audubon Society (1987-1989).
1977 - present Wildlife Husbandry Consultant
Consultant to universities, zoological parks, and public and private animal collections on
care, maintenance, and propagation of animals in captivity. Current and past projects include breeding of Black caimans at the San Diego Zoo, establishment of a breeding colony of African Spur-thighed tortoises at Miami Metrozoo, and breeding American crocodiles at the Philadelphia Zoo.
1981 - 1999 Owner/Operator, Natural Selections, Miami, FL
Wholesale and retail sales of reptiles, amphibians, and supplies. Propagation of over 200 species of reptiles and amphibians in captivity.

Sept. - Dec 1996 Adjunct Instructor, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL
Developed and conducted an Adult Continuing Education course entitled “Reptile and
Amphibian Husbandry” for MDCC, fall semester.
1973 - 1978 Curator of Reptiles, Serpentarium, Miami, FL
Care of a large and diverse private collection of reptiles in a public attraction.

Research Experience
2005- present Population Assessment of the American Crocodile in the Osa Peninsula Region of S Southwestern Costa Rica Surveying the entire Osa peninsula in order to determine the population numbers of the American crocodiles.
2004—(May-June) Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis), Assisted in the population study of the dragons on the island of Komodo---PI---
2003- present Experimental Evaluation of Post-release Survival Rates for Headstarted Anegada Iguanas of Different Size-classes, Releasing and radio-tracking headstarted Anegada Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) while observing their behavioral patterns on the island of Anegada, British Virgin islands. Dallas Zoo Principal investigator: Kelly Bradley.
2001 Grand Cayman Iguana (Cyclura nubila lewisi) Recovery team Member of the Grand Cayman Iguana survey team, investigating all areas of the island for traces of any sign of the endemic Cyclura nubila lewisi. IUCN Iguana Specialist Group.
1998 - present Population dynamics of the Booby Cay Iguana (Cyclura carinata bartschi).
Mark/recapture and blood sampling for determinations of population size and genetic
composition. International Iguana Society and the IUCN West Indian Iguana Specialist
Group, Booby Cay, Mayaguana, Bahamas.
1981 - present Natural History and Population Dynamics of the American Crocodile.
Nesting, fecundity, growth, mortality, and movements of American crocodiles in one of
three remaining populations within the United States. Florida Power & Light Company.
1995 - 1997 Population Dynamics of Diamondback Terrapins. US National Park Service
and The Miami Museum of Science, Miami, FL. Principal investigator: Brian Mealy.
1993 - 1996 Bald Eagle and Osprey Population Dynamics. Banding of Bald Eagle and
Osprey nestlings to track population trends. Blood sampling from Bald Eagles to monitor general health. US National Park Service and The Miami Museum of Science, Miami, FL.
Principal investigator: Brian Mealy.
1986 - 1992 American Alligator Population Study. Measurements of growth rates in American Alligators. Florida International University, Miami, FL and the US National Park Service. Principal investigator: George Dalrymple.
1977 - 1981 Populations and Physiology of the American Alligator and Spectacled
Caiman. Population studies and physiological research on the development of
salt excretion glands in crocodilians. University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL and the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Principal investigator: Tamir Ellis.
1976 - 1979 Population Study of the Everglades Mink. Study of the population dynamics of
Everglades mink in conjunction with the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL and the US.
National Park Service. Principal investigator: Dan Cary.

Media Production Experience

1980 - present Animal Wrangler
Contractual agreements with several television studios for consulting and handling of
animals on demand for the filming of commercials, motion pictures, and music videos.
Animals used include hawks, owls, macaws, crows, pelicans, toucans, herons, monitor
lizards, iguanas, tortoises, alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and domestic dogs and cats.
1978 - present Media and Film Appearances and Consulting
Consult on wildlife for televised special productions and films; handle and direct the
handling of wildlife; guest appearances and actor.

Discovery Channel: Nigel’s Wild, Wild World 2000 - present
Disney Presents: True Life Adventures - “Everglades: Land of Living Dinosaurs” Producer: John Wilcox, American Adventure Productions, 2000
On the Inside: Crocodile Wranglers - Producer: Bree Ann Murdock, Michael Hoff Productions, 2000
National Geographic Explorer (4 programs, 1997-1999), “Lords of the Everglades” Producer: Doug Bertran; “Rat Wars”, “Beware of the Bite”, and “Everglades Watch” Producer: Claire Van de Polder
Everglades: To Hell and Back - Producer: Bernard Walton, BBC Natural History Unit, 1999

O’Shea’s Big Adventure: Back from the Brink - Producer: Pauline Duffy, YAP Productions, 1999
Gators, Crocs, and Other Yucky Swamp Creatures - Producers: Steve Greenberg and Joel Kaplan, Belching Camel Productions, 1999
Swamp Alligator - Producer: Doug Bertran, Orca Films, 1999
Today Show - Katie Couric, (6 shows, 1991 - 1998). New York, NY, Orlando, FL, Miami, FL
Ultimate Guide to Crocodiles - Producer: Steve Gooder, Green Umbrella Films, 1998
Coming of Age - Producer: Anne Tarrant, Lost Coast Films, 1998
The Lizard King - University of Miami. Producer: Michelle Cohen. Miami, FL, 1998
Iguanas: A Wall Street Report - Producer: Steve Greenberg, 1997
Dial-A- Teacher - WLRN. “Rattlesnakes” and “Crocodiles.” Producer: Demitt Stanley. Miami, FL, 1997
Tonight Show - Johnny Carson,1989 and Jay Leno1996, Los Angeles, CA
Rescue 911 - William Shatner, (5 episodes, 1990 - 1994). “Lady’s not a Tramp,” Ft. Collins, CO, “Jungle Land,” St. Petersburg, FL, “Monitor Rescue,” Miami Springs, FL, “Snake Baby,” Metarie, LA, “Pesky Python,” Miami, FL
Telemundo - Spanish-language television, Miami, FL 1991
Wild Guide - Michael Hoff Productions, Los Angeles, CA 1996
Georgia Public Television “Coastal Naturalist: Amphibians and Reptiles” Producer: Carol Fisk 1991
Rick Kern’s Nature Series, “Alligators” Producer: Rick Kern 1989
Emerald Films, “Sea of Discovery” Producer: Alan Levy 1995
Mutual of Omaha’s Wildlife Heritage Trust, “Florida’s Nuclear Crocs” Producer: Jim Fowler 1992
KCTS-TV, “Bill Nye the Science Guy” Producer: Lauren Carper 1994
Wickers World - Wickers Associates, Miami, FL. 1977
King of the Jungle, Jupiter Productions, Myrtle Beach SC, 2003
King of the Jungle Winners Special, BBC, Miami FL, 2003
National Geographic Television, “CritterCam: Be The Beast” Producer: Chris Sondreal
WPBT Television, “New Florida”, hosted by Hunter Reno, Producer: Joyce Belloise 2003
Popular Arts Entertainment, “The Jeff Corwin Experience”, Producer: Seamus Gallagher 2003

PUBLICATIONS

Wasilewski, J. A. 1998. Booby Cay update. Journal of the International Iguana Society (Iguana Times) 7(2):29-30.

Richards, P. M. and J. A. Wasilewski. 2000. Successful nesting and status of the American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus at the Turkey Point Power Plant in south Florida. Pp. 393-400 in Proceedings of the 15th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC. Varadero, Cuba, January 17-20, 2000.s

Brandt, L. A., F. J. Mazzotti, J. R. Wilcox, P. D. Barker, Jr., G. L. Hasty, Jr., and J. Wasilewski. 1995. Status of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) at a power plant site in Florida, USA. Herpetological Natural History 3(1):29-36.

Contributor for:

Soberon, R., P. Ross, and U. Seal. 2000. Cocodrilo Cubano Análisis de la Viabilidad de la Población y del Hábitat: Borrador del Informe. CBSG, Apple Valley, MN.

Hilton-Taylor, C. 2000. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The World Conservation Union.
Conservation Unit, Bahamas Department of Agriculture and IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group & Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Protected Areas Management Strategy for Bahamian Terrestrial Vertebrates: Iguanas and Seasbirds. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, The Bahamas 2000.

IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, Ricord’s Iguana Cyclura ricordii Species Recovery Plan 2002-2007 Parque Zoologico National, Grupo Jaragua, Durell Wildlife Conservation Trust, International Iguana Foundation