Healthy Keepers = Healthy Animals, Part I

Cake and pizza and ice cream are nice (no, seriously... they are very nice), but we can't count on having them everyday.  What really would help zookeepers and aquarists?  Columbian Park Zoo is glad that you asked!  This week, the zoo posted a series of tips to help the general public better help zookeepers do their job and feel appreciated year round.  We'll share these over the next two days... but none of this is to say that a little cake and ice cream now and then wouldn't be appreciated as well.

Healthy Keepers = Healthy Animals (from Columbian Park Zoo's Facebook)

To celebrate National Zookeeper Week, we’re shining a light on zookeeper mental health and well-being because Healthy Keepers = Healthy Animals. Zookeeping is a stressful profession. How can zoo visitors help care for our animal caretakers? Join us all week to find out!

Tip 1: Respect the Barriers

Did you know zookeepers frequently suffer from something called “lock anxiety?” It’s the fear of unintentionally leaving a lock, gate, or door unsecured - which at a zoo could lead to a life-threatening situation for coworkers, animals or even the general public. Keepers carry huge public safety responsibilities on top of the animal care burden. To add to the stress, a keeper’s day also involves intercepting visitors as they reach through fences, stand on railings, step over chains, open staff-only doors and try to sneak into off-public areas (and we know y’all know better!)

Keeping everyone safe is a zookeepers #1 priority. Help them help you by staying on pathways and never, ever crossing safety barriers.

Tip 2: Recognize them as professionals

Zookeeping involves a lot of physical labor, but it’s so much more. It is a legitimate profession that requires years of education and specialized training. Did you know that most zookeepers hold college degrees in science fields (many at the Master’s or Ph.D level)? Or that zookeepers generally complete years of UNPAID internships before landing their first paid zookeeping job? Even then many keepers hold second or even third part-time gigs because, let’s face it, no one ever got rich on a zookeeping paycheck. So why do they do it?

Because it’s the best job in the world!

Zookeeping is a profession in every sense of the word. These are people with not only expertise of wildlife and conservation, but a passion for sharing it. A zookeeping career is an act of love, self-sacrifice, and a declaration of what matters most to them: making a difference in the world for animals.

It’s not “just a job”, its our life’s work.

Honor that by speaking to zookeepers with dignity and kindness. Share feedback - tell them what you love about the zoo! But direct complaints about parking, admission fees, or other operational issues that are beyond a keeper’s control to management (call or stop by the administrative office or send an email through the website to address those concerns). Ask keepers questions - they love to tell you about the animals in their care! But most of all, just see them - really see them - and acknowledge them with a smile when you do. Because they really are the most incredible animal at the zoo!