Dr. Ellen Rogers

Dr. Ellen Rogers is a character in *Zoombies* and *Zoombies 2*, played by Kim Nielsen. She is the director of the Eden Wildlife Zoo and the single mother of Thea Rogers.

## Biography

Dr. Rogers took over as the zoo director at Eden Wildlife Zoo in the hopes of finishing the work her grandfather started in saving and caring for animals. At some point prior to the events of *Zoombies*, she brought in animals to the zoo from the Foundation of Endangered Animal Rescue.

Dr. Rogers accepted students from a local college as interns at the zoo, taking on Gage as her personal intern. After sending all the other interns to their appointed areas, she asks Gage to take inventory of the gas cans in the main office basement. This is interrupted by news from Rex that there has been no word from another security guard Johnny after being sent to check out an alarm at the vet clinic. Gage leaves with Rex and the others, and Dr. Rogers stays at the office with her daughter Thea.

Rex discovers that the monkeys are infected by some sort of zombie virus, and radios Dr. Rogers to promise her that he will stop the monkeys from infecting the rest of the animals. Dr. Rogers begins putting the zoo into a lockdown as she waits for police to arrive and help. The intern Amber tries to leave the zoo through the front gate, asking Dr. Rogers to open it, but she refuses to do so, as it is against code and protocol.

Dr. Rogers temporarily becomes locked out of her office as a koala begins attacking Thea, and sees that her daughter killed the koala by the time she is able to enter. While helping her clean off the blood, Thea's words inspire Dr. Rogers to try and study the koala's infected blood under a microscope to better figure out what is going on. Once she realizes how hopeless the situation might be due to the severity of the animals' infections, Dr. Rogers decides that she wants to do whatever it takes for the people inside to escape, even if it goes against regulation and she could be arrested.

She tells Chelsea to set the birds in the aviary free so that they cannot be infected. After meeting up with Gage and Lizzy again, Dr. Rogers realizes it may be too late to set the birds free. She comes up with a plan for them to go with Thea to the aviary with the gas cans and set it on fire so that the birds cannot infect animals outside of the zoo. Lizzy and Gage go into the aviary to see if they can rescue Chelsea and Ricky while Dr. Rogers sets up the gas cans to set ablaze. She does so, and then begins driving to the gate with Lizzy, Gage, and Thea. Kifo the gorilla attacks, but Dr. Rogers shoots and kills him, saving the group. She and the others are then rescued by a helicopter.

## Personality

As the zoo director, Dr. Rogers is very careful to follow all the proper safety measures and protocols, especially when something as severe as a disease outbreak happens. She also cares very deeply for animals and becomes very distraught at the thought of killing any. Her biggest motivation is to fulfill her grandfather's dream of rescuing endangered animals.

## Trivia

As *Zoombies* is a "fan sequel" of *Jurassic Park*, Dr. Ellen Rogers was intended to be the granddaughter of the character John Hammond. He is likely who is being referenced every time she mentions her grandfather in the film.