Animal Diaries Archive

Not all fun and games for Animal Keepers

18 May 2007

Often I believe animal keepers are classified to having really laid back jobs, that consist of cuddling and playing with animals. Oh, how I wish this was true! Unfortunately there is a lot more to an animal keepers day than just having fun with the animals in their care.

Although this is a very important aspect, to animals health and well being, there are the less glamorous jobs as well. Every morning we have to clean out their bedrooms, and rake their enclosures. Hide enrichments around, and move around their furniture. We also clean the windows until they are sparkling so that you can see our gorgeous animals crystal clear. We scoop their ponds, and dust cobwebs, scrub at paths, and collect new logs, pick loads of grass, and collect fresh browse, scrub out bins, and maintain beautiful gardens, prepare all their diets, and feed it out too. We even have to pick up their poo.

So I think you have the idea. But there are real bonuses to being an animal keeper aswell, to see their excitement when you give them an enrichment, to give them a daily walk and get them out of their house, to bond and play with them, and most rewarding to educate all the guests at the zoo.

So next time when you're at Australia Zoo, take a look at how well the keepers have tidied their animals homes, and how much fun the animals seem to have messing them up again - all in a days work.

Until next time Mammals rule!