About Chantelle Khambholja

Dr. Chantelle Khambholja traces her passion for animal welfare back to her childhood in Mumbai, India. Growing up amidst the bustling city, she dedicated herself to caring for orphaned strays and rehabilitating wildlife. Her family’s move to the United States provided new opportunities to deepen her connection and allowed her to gain experience in zoos, museums, veterinary hospitals and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Her family settled in Tucson when she was 15 and allowed her to fall in love with the Sonoran desert.

Dr. Khambholja’s academic pursuits led her to the University of California, Berkeley where she originally aspired to become a herpetologist. Her journey led her back home to Tucson for a Master’s degree at the University of Arizona where her passion for science, animals and medicine converged and steered her towards veterinary school. She completed her veterinary training at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Despite traversing across the country and across the world, her heart always pulls her back home to Tucson where the community and the beauty of the Sonoran desert and all its inhabitants have a special place. She has had the honor of serving the community as an emergency veterinarian since her graduation and remains dedicated to ensuring that she can provide the best care possible for the animals and people of her community, when they need it most.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending it with her partner, their animals and her friends and family. She especially enjoys exploring this beautiful desert through herping, hiking, birding and camping.