Animal Diaries Archive

Finally, I'm a Zookeeper!

30 March 2007

I have been working here at Australia Zoo for coming up to four months now, so it's about time I introduced myself. Let me first give you some background information; I was one of those kids that would constantly be bringing home injured critters to fix up, and I knew from an early age I wanted to work with animals. Then, after visiting Australia Zoo (back in the days when it was tiny!) when I was six years old I was sold on the idea of working with wildlife. What most attracted me was the concept of forming a bond with what is essentially a wild animal, gaining the trust of an infant koala, a 300kg Siberian Tiger or a timid squirrel glider isn't something just anyone can do.

Thus, I set out at getting my foot in the door! For work experience, I volunteered at Australia Zoo and after graduating from high school, I completed a degree in Wildlife Biology. Then, after coming back and volunteering again for a month, I scored my dream job working here with the gorgeous koalas and it is fantastic! You have to be fit, hardworking and patient, but it is an incredibly rewarding career. So if you read this before coming to the zoo and you spot me down at koala walk through, or dashing around with trolley-loads of leaf to feed hungry koalas, feel free to say hi or ask any questions!

Koala Keeper, Amy