All around us there are signs of the change in seasons, from the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables as the harvest season peaks, to changes in the behaviour of animals as summer birds begin to migrate. My blog this week is going to be about focus on the change of season and what that…
In this blog I will be delving into the trials and tribulations of medicating our animals on carnivore section and who is good as gold and who could do with improvement! Our animals have access to round the clock veterinary care and sometimes they need to be medicated for various reasons to keep them in…
For my blog this week, I will be talking about all things red panda. “Why?” you ask. Because on the 20th September we will be celebrating International Red Panda Day. This day falls on the third Saturday in September every year. Also, who doesn’t love a red panda? I’m sure you’ll all agree that they’re…
Zoo Awareness Day takes place on the 31st of August each year. Why? It stems from the growing recognition of the crucial work that modern zoos do beyond just housing animals. Zoos have evolved significantly over the past decades, transforming into centres for conservation and education. We want to highlight the efforts of zoos worldwide…
Some of you may know of our Southern three-banded armadillo, who lives in one of the bushbaby enclosures inside the Nocturnal House. But most visitors don’t even realise he’s there, Jose tends to snuffle under the radar. This blog is dedicated to celebrating Jose, who turned 11 years old on Wednesday. So here’s to our…
This week I thought I’d talk about becoming a zookeeper and the different ways to get into the industry. Working with animals is something that a lot of people strive to achieve and being a zookeeper is something that a lot of people dream of being. Usually, the first question that I get asked is…
Big cats. Sleek, powerful, mysterious, captivating, all good words to describe members of this widespread family of animals. These amazing creatures are thought about the world over as the pinnacle of predators and with all big cats being apex predators (the top of the food chain) this line of thought would be proven correct. All…
This week, I wanted to show you how we zookeepers get creative by turning everyday, unwanted household items into exciting enrichment for our animals. You might be surprised to learn that what you see as rubbish is absolute gold dust to us! From old water bottles to cardboard boxes, these simple items can make a…
Training is one of the most important and rewarding parts of being a zookeeper. Seeing an individual overcome struggles, and the feeling of pure joy when it all finally clicks is something I hold close in my heart. All of our great apes are trained to present a combination of body parts. This could be…
This week we celebrated International Ungulate Awareness Day. Ungulates account for the vast majority of large herbivores currently on earth. Their influence stretches across nearly every biome. With the help from humans, ungulates have expanded into nearly every corner of the globe. With over 215 different ungulates species in the world, each one of these…
