Researchers, Keepers, and other Animals

Right, well I have now done the presentation at West Midlands Safari Park. It went well. The people who attended seemed to be quite interested, and there were many questions and ideas for further research. Hopefully this will lead to more long term studies at the park and more communication of “goings on” between departments. The presentation also gave other departments an idea of what their Researchers do.

I often feel like Researchers and Keepers are two species of the same genus. They are both adapted to fill similar niches, the improvement of husbandry and the welfare of the animals. However, they have different adaptations (methods) to do this. Researchers often have the knowledge of husbandry and caring for the animals, and want to make sure the animals are well cared for. They keep their observations of the animals filed and look at these in depth and develop changes. But they have traded in their shovels for a pen and a clipboard. On the other hand, keepers, they obviously have the husbandry knowledge. Every day they are with their animals and observe them. They have the ability to pick up a clipboard but they don’t because they appear to be intimidated by the word Research. They shouldn’t be, they do it every day without knowing. In more and more organisations keepers and researchers should work together more for the animals.

But I digress… haha!

Now that I have finished at West Midlands Safari Park things aren’t slowing down. Still sorting things for Tasikoki and all is going well. On top of this though, starting tomorrow I am volunteering alongside some keepers at Newquay Zoo, for a couple weeks, to get some experience with similar animals before heading off to Sulawesi. Not sure what animals I am going to be dealing with at Newquay, probably their Sulawesi Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra) and maybe some of their small carnivores, one of their specialties. Once that is over I’ll be volunteering alongside some keepers at Paignton Zoo from September 25^th with their Macaques, Slow Lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus), Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), reptiles and maybe more. We’ll see.

Not a moments rest... I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Ta Ta!