Are you ready for our second edition of Keeper Feature? Keeper Feature is our blog series where we highlight one member of our dedicated zookeeper family and recognize the amazing work they do at the Zoo. If you haven’t checked out our first instalment on the Carnivore and North American Section Head, Rita Finlay, be sure to give it a read!
July is all about Martha McIntosh, our African and Asian Section Head! Martha is passionate about our animals and loves educating guests about them, so we sat her down to find out what makes her such an amazing keeper. Continue reading to find out what Martha loves about working at the Greater Vancouver Zoo:
Q: What is your full name, and title at the Zoo?
A: My name is Martha McIntosh and I’m the African/Asian Section Head.
Q: How long have you worked at the Greater Vancouver Zoo?
A: I’ve worked at the GV Zoo for 6 years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a Zookeeper?
A: My favourite part of being a zookeeper is working one-on-one with such amazing animals and learning their behaviours and personalities.
Q: What is the most memorable work day since you’ve been a Keeper at the Zoo?
A: There are so many memorable days! The ones that stand out the most though are when new animals arrive or are born!
Q: What does a typical day look like in your role?
A: A typical day for me involves morning checks on all the animals I’m responsible for, routine training, and providing enrichment. I take part in some of the presentations for guests and assist the other keepers working in my section with any daily duties or projects that need completing. Every day is different, so it’s always exciting!
Q: Who is your favourite animal at the zoo and why?
A: My favourite animal changes every day! It depends who’s behaving themselves or who’s acting especially cute and funny.
Q: You’re the Zookeeper for African and Asian animals, what encouraged you to want to work with this particular group of animals?
A: I grew up loving animals and always knew I wanted to work with them. I’ve always been fascinated by large African animals so when I started working at the GV Zoo, I quickly fell in love with the giraffes, hippos, camels and everyone else!
Q: What’s your favourite saying/phrase or quote?
A: My favourite quote is, “The most affectionate animal in the world is a wet dog” or in my case a slobbery camel, muddy pig or hungry hippo!
Q: A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?
A: The penguin asks, “Dude, where’s the sunscreen?”
Q: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?
A: If I could be any animal, I would be a caterpillar. I can eat as much as I want, sleep a long time, and wake up beautiful!
It takes a lot to be a great zookeeper like Martha and Rita. The Zoo is happy to give our keepers a moment in the spotlight to thank them for all their hard work. If you want to know more about Martha and the animals she cares for, come see her at the Greater Vancouver Zoo for her daily Keeper Talk.
Stay tuned for next month’s Keeper Feature when we interview another member of our hardworking zookeeper family!
