Zoo Love is braving the elements daily. Snow, rain or sunshine zookeepers are dedicated to ensuring their animals receive the level of care they need on a daily basis. It’s hard work mucking out beds and shovelling a whole lot of poop!
Zoo Love is building enrichment (toys for the animals) at home. Zookeepers don’t often have time in their busy day to craft, but it is one of the most rewarding parts about being a zookeeper! It’s very rewarding to see animals interacting and enjoying (often destroying) something you have poured hours into creating.
Zoo Love is building bonds. Words cannot describe the feeling of connecting with an animal that you might not ever have the opportunity to even see in the wild. Although there are far too many to name, here are a few that hold a special place in my heart: Miko the marmoset, Charlie the rhinoceros, Jocko the spider monkey, Bungee the iguana and Sweet Pea the porcupine.
Zoo Love is saving a species through education and conservation! Western painted turtle, Oregon spotted frog, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, Salish sucker, grizzly bear and all five species of rhinoceros to name a few the Greater Vancouver Zoo is currently saving.
Zoo Love is waking up every 2 hours to feed a nursing baby, administer fluids, or medicate an animal in need. Live, breathe, eat and sleep with zoo animals.
Zoo Love is fighting for what you believe in. Sometimes the challenges you are presented with seem insurmountable. Passion and perseverance equals success.
So, I guess what I am trying to say is that I absolutely love the zoo! I love that the zoo has become a part of my life, a part of my family. I love that the work that I do on a daily basis helps to save species through education, research and conservation. I hope to inspire individuals into action, to protect this beautifully amazing planet we are a part of by spreading the love!️ <3
