The week of July 17 is National Zoo Keeper Week, and to celebrate the frontline stars of our Animal Care staff, we want to share some inside looks at what keepers do at the Zoo! Aside from wearing cool outfits and sharing their first-hand knowledge with guests, keepers do dozens of things that affect the day-to-day lives of animals.
Behind the Scenes with Keepers Read more
by Autumn Hilden Last month, our resident koalas, female Maya and male Burra, took the next step toward fulfilling their biological destinies when the two were introduced to live together as partners in the koala habitat. From the bellowing to the branch shaking to the sloth-like inverted tree hang, find out directly from Senior Animal Keeper Kevin Gorowski how everything went down. Hi, Kevin! What can you tell us about Burra and Maya? How do
Keeper Interview: Behind the Scenes of a Koala Introduction Read more
In his book Just Take a Walk in the Zoo, author Tommy Morrow (along with illustrator Demar Douglas) show the wonder and magic of connecting with wildlife.
Author Spotlight: Tommy Morrow Read more
Custodian Supervisor James Moore reflects on the years he’s spent making the Zoo enjoyable for guests – and on what’s in it for him.
Go Behind the Scenes with Custodian Supervisor James Moore Read more
Rachel Helfing shares about the organization, its mission, and the Zoo’s proud partnership, as well as her own career journey.
Partner Profile: AMZAP Read more
Explore what has powered Dr. Davis-Powell’s zoo journey, from TV to Tuskegee to tigers.
Behind the Scenes with Associate Veterinarian Dr. Jordan Davis-Powell Read more
by Autumn Hilden Adventures in Recovery Life with California condors has been filled with ups and downs for both keepers. It has demanded sacrifices of time and energy, and sometimes more. Mike recalls with energy one of the most memorable weekends of his career. He’d been invited by Mike Wallace to make a trip to the eastern side of Mount El Diablo in Baja to check on some condors. “So we drive down there and
PART 3 Adventures in Recovery Read more
The usual approach to pairing condors for breeding was to get them in the cage together as early as possible so they had the longest amount of time to get used to each other before breeding season. “When you put birds together in the non-breeding season, they really have no reason to be interested in each other,” Mike explains. “They’re competing for perches, food, the attention of birds next door.
Part 2 The Mating Game Read more
As the need to protect our wildlife and vanishing habitats increases, the role of animal keepers in zoo education and outreach has become essential. Because they work most closely with the animals, keepers offer unique professional and personal insights.
National Zookeeper Week 2021 Read more
Brumation is essentially the reptilian/amphibian version of hibernation. It is a way of conserving energy when temperatures are too low for these ectothermic animals, who depend on adequate ambient heat, to reach optimal body temperatures for them to digest food.
Springing Into Action Read more
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