Dr. Michael S. Burton, Senior Veterinarian
Dr. Michael S. Burton does not remember ever wanting to be anything else “when he grew up” other than a veterinarian. He has always had a fascination with and love for animals, which he credits to the time he spent on his uncle’s dairy farm as a child. Dr. Burton has worked at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for more than a decade. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Burton has practiced veterinary medicine in zoological settings all over the world, including Oklahoma City Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, the Taipei City Zoo in Taiwan and the Wellington Zoo in New Zealand. In addition, he is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. As a through-and-through animal lover, Dr. Burton appreciates how Busch Gardens demonstrates a commitment to the conservation and preservation of animals, and he looks forward to sharing his passion with park guests at the new Animal Care Center. In his home life, Dr. Burton breeds and raises Arabian horses.
