The last couple of weeks the zoo has been lovely and busy
and my talks have been well attended with lots of eager beaver families of all
ages, it has been wonderful!
I took my husband Paddy and 10 year old daughter Rosie to work with me today. They were going to open our adoption hut and sell lots of lovely new 'Adoption Squad' bags with tigers and meerkat toys inside. At 10 pounds they are a really nice present or souvenir of the zoo and help us to care for our animals at the same time!
I was doing my first job of the day and cleaning the windows of the cat enclosures when I heard our tiger Diamond chuffing profusely at someone, I turned around to see... Rosie standing at the barrier closest to him 'chuffing' away and they were talking to each other: WONDERFUL!
Today I'm going to continue my introduction of the zoo team and hand over to Mary and Amy, our two cat keepers. I will gradually introduce all our team to you through the blog over the next few weeks.
I took my husband Paddy and 10 year old daughter Rosie to work with me today. They were going to open our adoption hut and sell lots of lovely new 'Adoption Squad' bags with tigers and meerkat toys inside. At 10 pounds they are a really nice present or souvenir of the zoo and help us to care for our animals at the same time!
I was doing my first job of the day and cleaning the windows of the cat enclosures when I heard our tiger Diamond chuffing profusely at someone, I turned around to see... Rosie standing at the barrier closest to him 'chuffing' away and they were talking to each other: WONDERFUL!
Today I'm going to continue my introduction of the zoo team and hand over to Mary and Amy, our two cat keepers. I will gradually introduce all our team to you through the blog over the next few weeks.
Mary says:
“I always wanted to work with
animals since I can remember. I was never one of those kids that changed their
minds every two minutes! I wanted to be a vet. I planned to work in Africa with
the elephants and lions ;). Reality struck when I was about 16... Lol. Decided to go
to Sparsholt College when I finished school, studying animal management. I lived
there during my first year, studied hard and finished with all distinctions
(I'm so brainy!). Then during the summer I got a job in the zoo cafe. I must
have only been in the cafe 3 weeks when I got offered a job in the animal team.
I was waaaaay too excited. My very first keeper day didn't start too well. My
alarm didn't go off in the morning and I had a manager on the phone telling me
"you're an hour late"!! I was mortified, got to work and just cried.
I started working in zoo@home over summer. Back then it had to be manned all
day so it was very lonely and I didn’t really like it. I ended up talking to
rabbits all day. Then over the summer I started working with the primates with
Amy and loved it. I then got made redundant!!! Boohoo. Luckily for me one of
the other keepers went on maternity leave and they invited me back! I
then only worked weekends whilst I was at college, becoming full time once I
finished. I was asked to look after the cats about 2 years ago now :o. The worst bit about the job - chopping up
rabbits (they stink). The best bit about my job is the big cat training
sessions.”
Amy says:
“I originally wanted to be a wildlife photographer and one summer was very lucky to be given a job in the zoo shop. I jumped at the opportunity as every day after work I was able to walk around the zoo and practice my photography. As I did this I became close friends with the keepers and more interested in the work they were doing with the animals. One day they allowed me to go in with the ringtail lemurs and from that moment I was hooked and knew instantly that I wanted to be a keeper. When my shop contract ended I volunteered on the keeper team and when a job became available I put my name down and was lucky enough to be offered the position.
The best part of my job is being able to build relationships with amazing animals. They are all individuals and have such different characteristics and you love all of them for different reasons. Also knowing that an animal you work with has complete trust in you is the most satisfying feeling I have ever known.
The worst part of my job is without a doubt when the butchery room drain gets blocked. You need a strong stomach to clean that thing out!!!”
“I originally wanted to be a wildlife photographer and one summer was very lucky to be given a job in the zoo shop. I jumped at the opportunity as every day after work I was able to walk around the zoo and practice my photography. As I did this I became close friends with the keepers and more interested in the work they were doing with the animals. One day they allowed me to go in with the ringtail lemurs and from that moment I was hooked and knew instantly that I wanted to be a keeper. When my shop contract ended I volunteered on the keeper team and when a job became available I put my name down and was lucky enough to be offered the position.
The best part of my job is being able to build relationships with amazing animals. They are all individuals and have such different characteristics and you love all of them for different reasons. Also knowing that an animal you work with has complete trust in you is the most satisfying feeling I have ever known.
The worst part of my job is without a doubt when the butchery room drain gets blocked. You need a strong stomach to clean that thing out!!!”
