3:00 snapshot #1345, #1346: National Zookeeper Week plus bonus piggies!

[urbpan]

This past week was National Zookeeper Week! Our zoo has been trying to come together to find ways to celebrate it that honor the people in the career, educate the public, and promote the profession itself. We have a short video playing on a loop in the Tropical Forest, daily encounters with keepers who discuss their personal and professional experiences, and support from the zoo in the form of buttons advertising the week and social media announcements. Many other zoos had various events this year, and I think it's building momentum. Hopefully the public perception of zookeeping is beyond the idea that we throw fish to otters, shovel up after elephants, cuddle baby koalas, and get mauled by lions.


I haven't thrown fish to an otter in months, I shovel up after reindeer not elephants, cuddle baby gorillas, and I'm much more likely to be mauled by a hippo. Stupid misconceptions.


I did my presentation on Friday, fully prepared to talk about zoo pest control (no takers), give out stickers (90% success rate--who says no to a free sticker? some weird kids), and discuss the career (Me: "Do you want to be a zookeeper when you grow up?" Kid: "No, I want to be a dad." Me: "There are some similarities." Dad: "That's for sure.")


OH LOOK PIGGIES.
These are the new warthogs! Two young females from the Honolulu Zoo, getting used to the new neighbors, and in a few months, the new weather.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Eppers week! Happy nati!

(I honestly thought this was in another language at first)

I'm glad you're out there valiantly combatting misconceptions about the profession, and, more to the point, increasing the number of warthog photos online--excellent.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I am honored to be in the position of being able to increase the number of warthog pictures online.

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

I casually drop the fact that I know a zookeeper in conversation at trendy events. It raises my cool factor. I don't say that I have not actually met him in person. I mean, that could happen.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Not only COULD it happen, I'd say it SHOULD happen. Not sure when we might make it to Toronto again, but Alexis has family there.

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

where's the "like" button on this thing?

[anais2.livejournal.com]

I'm just happy to have one friend who consorts with warthogs and hippos. And likes bugs.

[bunrab.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite moments from the trip Steve and I took on our 25th anniversary was the half hour we spent watching tree-climbing baby warthogs at the San Diego Zoo. OK, it was really just stacked tree-trunks, not actual trees, but the juvenile warthogs, still with their stripes and spots, were as agile as any goats, hopping all over that stack of wood and playing tag and having a grand old time. I should upload a picture to LJ of that - I don't think I did so at the time.