Healthy Keepers = Healthy Animals, Part II

Continuing from yesterday, some insights from Columbian Park Zoo...

Tip 3: View exhibits through a different lens.

Let’s be real for a minute. We know visitors don’t come to the zoo to learn stuff (maybe that’s why studies show only about 33% of zoo visitors actually read most of the signs #notsuchafunfact). You come for lots of reasons, but mostly to see interesting animals, right? So when you get here and there isn’t a lot of animal action happening it’s natural to be a little let down. Some of the most frequent comments zookeepers hear are complaints that the animals can’t be spotted.

Have you ever considered that may be what the animal wants?

Zoo exhibits are designed to give patrons multiple viewing angles, but care is also taken to ensure animals have choices, too - including the choice not to be seen. In fact, choice is one of the most important components of great animal welfare. When viewed through this lens, zoo exhibits take on a whole new look. Next time you visit look for hidden platforms, plantings that provide visual barriers, and open shift doors that give animals free choice on whether to be on display or behind-the-scenes.

For the best chance of viewing animals out and about, avoid visiting during the hottest part of the day, when animals naturally hunker down. And feel free to ask a keeper for tips on how to spot your favorites - we guarantee they’ll know exactly where each of their animals likes to hang out and might even share some insider knowledge on how to spot them (without banging on the glass or imitating their sounds, both of which can stress out the animals AND their caretakers.) Above all, be patient - after all, while you’re waiting for a peek at that elusive critter, you can always check out the signs

Tip 4: Think Before You Post

You don’t even have to visit the zoo to support keeper mental health with this one! It’s really simple. The next time you see a cute reel or TikTok of somebody interacting with a “pet” monkey (or other wild animal), just don’t hit share. Why? Because the black market wildlife trade is a huge problem - responsible for poaching, disease spread, and unimaginable animal suffering. It’s literally driving species to extinction and videos like these fuel that trade by making people want to buy animals they probably aren’t equipped to care for properly.

“But how does not sharing this content help zookeepers?” you might ask. That part is simple too. Zookeepers are animal advocates. That passion doesn’t stop when they punch out for the day. When these posts hit a keeper’s feed they often feel a professional obligation to comment in order to educate others about the dangers and difficulties of caring for wild animals…aaaand then they get attacked by strangers on the internet who don’t like a buzzkill. So be kind to keepers - help them maintain a work-life balance by not adding to the problem. You’ll be helping protect vulnerable wildlife, too!

Tip 5: Treat the animals - just not with food

Look, it’s 2022 and we can’t believe we still have to keep saying this, but for the love of goshawk please stop trying to feed the animals. We know people mean well, but this is one area where outcomes matter a lot more than intentions. Even a harmless-looking leaf from a tree in the park can be toxic to multiple species at the zoo. So unless you have advanced training in wildlife nutrition, physiology AND dendrology, please leave this task to the experts. Spare our zookeepers the nightmare of having to watch a beloved animal fall ill or die from “good intentions.”

That being said, we LOVE that you love the animals so much that you want to give them treats. So do we! And you can help the animal care team with that by donating items from our enrichment wish list. Zookeepers can turn a whole host of common household items like pillowcases, basketballs, and old jeans into fun toys for animals. Check out our website for a list of things we can always use. Gift cards to places like Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Menards are like Christmas Day to keepers, too! Or if you’re the shop online type, check out our Amazon wishlist at the link below: there are so many goodies on there that would make an animal’s day (and a keeper’s too!) Because there’s no better feeling for a zookeeper than watching their animal living its very best life!