Budding Zookeepers!

Hi guys! Apologies again for another late blog post, but I’ve been so busy recently! Having completed my exams and landed back from my trip to Leipzig, I completed two weeks of work experience at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, moved home, then have just started a four week placement at Folly Farm in South Wales!

I just wanted to let you know that I’ve finally received my grades for my degree and I’ve achieved a 2:1 in BSc Animal Behaviour! These past 3 years have been incredibly hard, yet equally rewarding and I’m so so sooo pleased to know that I have done it, and that I don’t have to resit in August. This means one weight lifted off my shoulders and I can focus on the rest of my life!

So as I said, I’ve just finished 2 weeks of work experience at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, which was absolutely incredible! For those reading this, who want to pursue their dream of becoming a zookeeper, gaining as much work experience as possible is definitely the way to go! Even if it’s one or two days a week at a local zoo, it all adds up! A few of the keepers at WMZ used to volunteer there – living proof that it does pay off! I was lucky enough to be able to work with pretty much everything, and I learnt so much in my short time there. I actually didn’t want to leave at the end of it. Working with the penguins and sea lions was absolutely amazing, but working with the snow leopards was the absolute highlight of my time there. I was taught how to cut up meat for feeds, and much much more – all skills that I can apply to my future career in zookeeping. Currently, I’m at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire, one week into a four week placement here, and I’m absolutely loving it. So far, I’ve been able to work with the critically endangered Eastern black rhino, giraffes, camels – basically lots of hoofstock, penguins and other birds! It’s been great and I am looking forward to the next few weeks.

I know some readers of this blog are aspiring zookeepers such as myself, so I thought I would put together some words of advice for those starting on their journey! If you’ve got a placement coming up, and are really nervous, don’t be! Just ask the right questions, show an interest, don’t moan, be punctual, smile, and most importantly, enjoy it! The best thing you can do is make friends, and get your name out there! UK readers, join ABWAK. The Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers is a great organisation that I am a member of, and they host lots of workshops throughout the year, publish a quarterly journal called RATEL and also hold a yearly symposium. These symposiums are basically a weekend where lots of zookeepers or zoo people get together at a conference, attend workshops, listen to talks, socialise and network. My first ABWAK symposium was with my good friend Roxy (now a keeper!) whilst at uni, and it allowed me to meet lots of new people in the zoo world, which has benefitted me greatly. I attended this year’s symposium with my friend Georgie (also now a keeper!) and we were able to introduce each other to people we had met over the past couple of years on our various zoo placements! I would 100% recommend you get your ass to the symposiums, and get involved. Talking to keepers, even just mentioning to someone that you liked their presentation can put you in good stead for the future – they might remember your name when your CV appears on their desk!

I hope everyone is having an amazing summer, even if the weather is a bit pants!

Small Flying Fox at Leipzig Zoo