Pets Australia Issue 70 August 2017

Wildlife wonders | PETS

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koalas! Then in the afternoon we feed all the

animals again, lock up all the exhibits and

clean all our behind-the-scenes areas before

heading home (and sometimes taking baby

animals home to look after overnight).

PETS:What sort of study or work experience

helped you to gain this role?

Andrew: Every zookeeper seems to have

taken a diff erent path to get their job. I

studied a bachelor of science at university

and completed an honours year researching

interactions between Australian predators and

prey. After I fi nished uni, I started volunteering

at the Australian Reptile Park to gain hands-on

experience with animals and worked my way

up to where I am now.

PETS:What are some of the best parts of the job?

Andrew: The animals, obviously! I’m very

lucky that I get to work with some unique and

endangered Australian animals and sometimes

even hand-raise them! Spending that extra time

looking after an animal gives you a special bond

with them. We also do enrichment with them

— basically coming up with fun and exciting

ways to entertain our animals. Coming up with

ideas and seeing the animals enjoying their

enrichment is always a lot of fun.

PETS: And what about the more

challenging aspects?

Andrew: Zookeepers work outside rain, hail or

shine. Working on 40-degree days in summer

or cold, rainy days in winter is always diffi cult.

Unfortunately, it’s a reality that sometimes

animals get sick, injured and die from illness

or old age. It’s always diffi cult to see an animal

you’ve known for a long time when they’re sick

or getting old.

PETS:Working in a fi eld such as this, would

you say it’s important to love animals?

Andrew: It’s defi nitely important to love

animals! It’s not just important that you

love learning and seeing and playing

with animals, but you have to love the

individuals enough to do all the jobs that

aren’t as much fun — picking up poo,

starting work very early in the morning or

fi nishing very late, and generally running

around trying to meet their every need.

PETS:What advice would you give to

anyone looking to work in a position

such as yours?

Andrew: The best advice I can give is to

get as much experience working with

animals as you can, as soon as you can.

Whether that’s working at a pet store,

volunteering at a vet or zoo, nothing is as

valuable as practice and experience.

http://www.facebook.com/petsmagazine August

For more information on the Australian

Reptile Park, visit reptilepark.com.au

www

Hand-raising cuties such as Marley and Moose Hand-raising cuties such as Marley and Moose

is all part of the job for keeper Andrew.is all part of the job for keeper Andrew.

PLF070_pg030-031_Working With Animals.indd 31PLF070_pg030-031_Working With Animals.indd 31 6/21/2017 11:06:24 AM6/21/2017 11:06:24 AM