A Day at the Zoo: Week 1

Week 1 At the Zoo

My first week at the zoo was very busy, and lots of fun! I’m assigned to two different strings of animals; String 1: Giraffes, Eland, Egyptian Goose, Griffon Vultures and String 2: Aldabra Tortoises, Alligators and other assorted reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

Sunday and Monday I spent on string 10, and those first 2 days were very busy learning protocol, animals, and responsibilities. Every day we start out by checking exhibit temperatures, misting, and feeding the animals that need to be fed that day. Feeding can be as simple as counting out crickets and meal worms and soaking pinkies (frozen baby mice) or it can involve hiking around the zoo cutting branches and flowers from various plants for our leaf cutter ant population. The Aldabra Tortoises were certainly a highlight of the day, because after we finish cleaning their barn and pasture and feeding them we spend time ‘loving them’ which involves petting and scratching their 400 lb selves. They enjoy receiving the attention (especially the boys) as much as we enjoy giving it out. If one tortoise feels left out, they’ll make it known. Monday we fed the alligators biscuits (they get meat on various other days) by standing above their enclosure and tossing their cookies into the water.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I spent with String 1, which certainly involves much more cleaning, but also involves giraffe training! First thing in the morning we rake out the entire exhibit area, put out browse for the giraffe and eland, fill grain buckets and hide produce as a form of enrichment for the eland. We also feed the bossy Egyptian goose that inhabits the mote in the exhibit. The giraffes receive their vitamin E sandwiches, the eland get their morning grain, and then they are moved out onto exhibit while we move into their barns to muck out, hose down, and put out their food for that night. After all of that is completed, we often spend some time training the giraffes, and I was lucky enough to help with a couple different exercises. Some things that they train for are backing up, touching your hand, moving in, etc…