743 replies to this topic

[valence]

As a result of the job satisfaction thread from awhile back, I received quite a few PMs about my job. I thought I would start a Friday thread with the intention of answering any other questions you all may have. You can ask me things unrelated to zoo keeping and animal training as well

Any other zoo keepers in the FFA that I don't know about?

Edited by valence, 15 January 2010 - 03:35 PM.

[Arizona Ron]

Why can't I feed the animals?

[Leroy Hoard]

Why do the monkeys keep throwing things at me?

[SlaX]

Have the monkeys ever thrown poo at you? And if so, did you like it? Did you throw some back?

[Sarnoff]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

[valence]

Why can't I feed the animals?

Depends on the animal. Many zoo's do have public feeds for some of their animals. From May - September, you can feed the Giraffes at my zoo.

[Flying V]

What's the nastiest job in a zoo?

[valence]

Why do the monkeys keep throwing things at me?

Usually they are bored or feel threatened. Great Apes are among the hardest animals to enrich as they are very intelligent and get bored easily.

[JaxBill]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

And did you ever take along a female zookeeper to watch them?

[Abraham]

What is the most underrated animal (based on observed behavior that the public probably wouldn't see)?

Most overrated? I always thought Gorillas were overrated. The ones at the Dallas zoo just sit there all day.

[valence]

Have the monkeys ever thrown poo at you? And if so, did you like it? Did you throw some back?

I've had fecal matter chucked at me by chimps, gorillas, and orangutans. I definitely didn't like it or throw it back. I've been peed on by squirrel monkeys. nasty little buggers.

Edited by valence, 15 January 2010 - 09:47 AM.

[Leroy Hoard]

From May - September, you can feed the Giraffes at my zoo.

Do you provide ladders?

[Buffaloes]

What's your favorite animal?

[valence]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

I have seen several species of primates engage in mating behaviors.

[Flying V]

Has any of your animals ever given birth to offspring with human faces?

[JaxBill]

Have you ever thought that you can talk to the animals?

[StrikeS2k]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

I have seen several species of primates engage in mating behaviors.

The way you say it makes it sound so.....Sanitary. YUCK.

[GroveDiesel]

What's the most dangerous animal to work with?

[valence]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

And did you ever take along a female zookeeper to watch them?

I have observed the behavior with a female keeper. I'd say 75% or so of zookeepers are females. Unfortunately, most are really old or unattractive.

[Abraham]

What is the most underrated animal (based on observed behavior that the public probably wouldn't see)?

Most overrated? I always thought Gorillas were overrated. The ones at the Dallas zoo just sit there all day.

[Arizona Ron]

Can kangaroos really box?

[tipsy mcstagger]

Should I bury my dead cat or eat him?

[McJose]

Why do the monkeys keep throwing things at me?

Usually they are bored or feel threatened. Great Apes are among the hardest animals to enrich as they are very intelligent and get bored easily.

Yo! Little help, here?

[RC94]

How did you start and then progress your career?

[RC94]

Why do the monkeys keep throwing things at me?

Usually they are bored or feel threatened. Great Apes are among the hardest animals to enrich as they are very intelligent and get bored easily.

Yo! Little help, here?

Interesting

[valence]

What is the most underrated animal (based on observed behavior that the public probably wouldn't see)?

Most overrated? I always thought Gorillas were overrated. The ones at the Dallas zoo just sit there all day.

underrated: nocturnal animals. Not many zoos have nocturnal houses, but things like aye-ayes, tamanduas, galagos, bats, armadillos, etc are fascinating to watch in a well done night exhibit.

Overrated: Lions and Tigers. Male Lions sleep upwards of 20 hours a day. If you get there super early, you can occasionally see some roaring and stalking behaviors, but they are few and far between. Gorillas are actually very interesting if it's a mixed group. If they are all geriatric then you probably won't see much. If they have a good mix of young and old in the troop then their complex social and political dynamics can be pretty interesting to watch.

[valence]

From May - September, you can feed the Giraffes at my zoo.

Do you provide ladders?

we do. you are on a platform about ten feet off the ground and just about head level with the giraffe.

[McJose]

Do you guys have one of these at your zoo?

[valence]

What's your favorite animal?

This is a tough question really, but I always enjoy working with bears, lemurs, and birds of prey - especially peregrine falcons.

[valence]

Has any of your animals ever given birth to offspring with human faces?

not that I am aware of, but when I was at the San Francisco zoo, someone was caught trying to molest a cow on free day. I have many, many free day stories.

[valence]

Have you ever thought that you can talk to the animals?

No, but training animals does involve a lot of "communication" between animal and trainer. I definitely feel that I have an "animal sense" in that I can read their body language and react in an appropriate manner.

[valence]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

I have seen several species of primates engage in mating behaviors.

The way you say it makes it sound so.....Sanitary. YUCK.

monkey mating behaviors are pretty unsanitary.

[McJose]

What's your favorite animal?

This is a tough question really, but I always enjoy working with bears, lemurs, and birds of prey - especially peregrine falcons.

Do you know this guy?

[Black Box]

If you get there super early, you can occasionally see some roaring and stalking behaviors, but they are few and far between.

I saw this at the zoo once. It was very cool.

[Angry Beavers]

How many zookeepers are needed for a zoo?

[YSR]

Awesome thread.

What's your best piece of animal trivia?

[JaxBill]

What one species do you wish your zoo would add?

[valence]

What's the most dangerous animal to work with?

Dangerous is a relative term. any of the usual dangerous animals like big cats, bears, elephants, gorillas etc can be dangerous if you screw up (ie left a lock off a door) or someone else screwed up and didn't tell you, but little things like venemous snakes and insects and hurt you pretty bad too if you aren't paying attention to what you are doing.

[valence]

Can kangaroos really box?

Sure. Animals can be trained to do many different behaviors. I wouldn't recommend it though

[valence]

Should I bury my dead cat or eat him?

I'd probably just bury him Tipsy. I don't want him ending up in my spoonbread the next time I'm at Dante's

[RC94]

What is the most underrated animal (based on observed behavior that the public probably wouldn't see)?

Most overrated? I always thought Gorillas were overrated. The ones at the Dallas zoo just sit there all day.

underrated: nocturnal animals. Not many zoos have nocturnal houses, but things like aye-ayes, tamanduas, galagos, bats, armadillos, etc are fascinating to watch in a well done night exhibit.

Overrated: Lions and Tigers. Male Lions sleep upwards of 20 hours a day. If you get there super early, you can occasionally see some roaring and stalking behaviors, but they are few and far between. Gorillas are actually very interesting if it's a mixed group. If they are all geriatric then you probably won't see much. If they have a good mix of young and old in the troop then their complex social and political dynamics can be pretty interesting to watch.

Is that normal lion behavior or is it at least in part because they are bored?

[wazoo11]

What's the best way to protect yourself from poisonous snakes?

signed,

a hiker.

[B-Deep]

Be honest, you could totally see planet of the apes happening, couldn't you?

Do you ever feel like the primates are "planning something"?

If they did, would you join their cause?

[Prakis]

What kind of an educational background do you need to be a zookeeper?

[CBusAlex]

not that I am aware of, but when I was at the San Francisco zoo, someone was caught trying to molest a cow on free day. I have many, many free day stories.

They have cows at the zoo?

[Black Box]

Can kangaroos really box?

Sure. Animals can be trained to do many different behaviors. I wouldn't recommend it though

How would a kangaroo trained to box fare against, say, matuski?

[higgins]

(1) Why doesn't Herbert-the-Hippo like monkees?

(2) Can you really train an orangutan to punch when you say the phrase "Right turn, Clyde"?

(3) Ever had to care for a Komodo Dragon?

(4) Ever had relatively good communications/bond with a specific animal? If so, what kind?

[TLEF316]

have you ever asked a zoo patron to apologize for hurting an animal's feelings?

[perry147]

Ever watch the monkeys do it?

I have seen several species of primates engage in mating behaviors.

Was it always male - female, or did you have a few "special" primates?

Did the other primates want the specials one to quit doing it?

Did they start a petition to get them moved to another cage?

[valence]

Why do the monkeys keep throwing things at me?

Usually they are bored or feel threatened. Great Apes are among the hardest animals to enrich as they are very intelligent and get bored easily.

Yo! Little help, here?

We do a lot of puzzle feeders and things to keep them busy, but it's never enough. I would never personally go in with an adult chimp like that though unless I was fully convinced it was tame and imprinted on humans. They have been known to grab and rip off human male genitalia. Baby chimps\gorillas\orangs are no problem, but once they reach adolescence it gets really dicey.