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DonateNational Zookeeper Week 2024
The Virginia Zoo’s animal care professionals work across 7 distinct teams and all have different specialties. To celebrate their hard work during National Zookeeper Week, we asked them a few questions about the tricks of the trade and why they love working with our animals here at the Virginia Zoo. Check out what they had to say below!
Africa: Okavango Delta Team
Toni S. enjoys the challenge of working with more stubborn, reserved animals and building a relationship with them to earn their trust. One of her favorite animals to work with is Lima, the cheetah, who she says requires a lot of patience to win over, but is eager to participate in training sessions once you do!
A big part of Toni’s job is providing daily training and enrichment to keep the animals in her care stimulated and interested in their environment. This could mean providing ice treats on a hot summer day, burying toys or food items for the animals to forage for or training them to participate in their own healthcare.
Toni’s hope is that through this unique job, she can continuously inspire Virginia Zoo guests to take part in conserving the animals in human care as well as their wild counterparts.
A big thanks to all of our Africa – Okavango Delta keepers: Patty B., Tiffany M., Carl R., Toni S., Matt S., Emily S. & Jason S.
Animal Ambassador Team
This team works with a wide variety of species who live behind the scenes, training them to be ambassadors for their species by participating in educational programs both on and off Zoo grounds.
Josh A. loves that being an ambassador keeper allows him to speak with the public first-hand about wildlife conservation while providing up-close and fun animal encounters through tours, stage shows, pop-ups and more. Many animals in the ambassador collection have unique natural behaviors to show off, and Josh loves training them to present those behaviors on cue. His favorite animal is Chonk the striped skunk, who Josh says is smart, consistent with training and just adorable (see pictured!)
Assistant Curator Tara B. loves her job because she’s passionate about inspiring others to care about wildlife conservation through teaching. She says this passion is what motivates her whole team to do the hard work that comes with zookeeping, both physically and mentally. She enjoys working with a wide variety of animals, but she especially loves birds of prey, porcupines and opossums!
A big thanks to all of our Animal Ambassador keepers: Josh A., Tara B., Taylor D., Brie F., Mary S. & Callie S.
Asia: Trail of the Tiger Team
Kristin C. loves how varied the animals on the Asia trail are, including carnivores, hoofstock, primates, small mammals and birds, and she says working with this variety has really developed and broadened her skills as a zookeeper. While she says it’s impossible to pick a favorite animal, she particularly enjoys working with Cahaya the Malayan tigers and Natasha the red panda, both of whom she said are very engaged with training and affectionate once a relationship is formed.
Jennah M. has never wanted to do anything else other than work with animals. Building relationships and trust with the animals in her care is her favorite part of the job, and her favorite animals to work with are Christopher and Cahaya, the Malayan tigers!
A big thanks to all of our Asia: Trail of the Tiger keepers: Jake B., Kristin C., Carrie J., Jennah M., Rachael P. & Jill S.
Bird Team
Jaxx C. finds joy in watching our birds explore their world and seeing the “wheels turn” in their heads as they learn new behaviors during training. She loves the feeling of knowing she’s making a difference each day she comes into work, and she enjoys the challenge of building trust with the animals in her care, especially Bella the Southern cassowary! Check out this video of Jaxx doing some of her daily cleaning in the cassowary barn.
Though many people see birds on a daily basis and may tend to overlook them, Katie P. emphasizes just how amazing they are! She says if you stop to look at them, you will witness how diverse and incredibly adapted for survival they are. Katie grew up inspired by the work of Jane Goodall, and she finds satisfaction in continuously learning about the animals in her care and sharing exciting information with guests.
A big thanks to all of our Bird keepers: Jaxx C., Katie P. & Alex R.
ZooFarm Team
Farm keeper Jake B. says being a zookeeper requires incredible adaptability as each day may present new challenges like exhibit malfunctions or changes in animal health or staffing. While Jake loves to work with Prevost’s squirrel Kelapa the most, he says the new, adorable mini pigs are quickly climbing up his list (can you blame him?)
Tara F. enjoys being able to work with a variety of animals here at the Virginia Zoo as well as having the opportunity to create specialized training for each one. She says it’s neat to watch her bonds change and grow with each animal she’s worked with over the years.
Assistant Curator Martha H. is always amazed by the intelligence and behavior of the animals she works with, even after being in the field for 30 years. Martha’s favorite animal is Clover the miniature zebu cow (pictured) because she is affectionate and very smart. Clover loves chin scratches and will lick Martha’s arm in return!
A big thanks to all of our Farm keepers: Jake B., Tara F., Martha H. & all of the goat yard attendants.
Rover Team
Rover keepers are trained in several animal care areas throughout the Zoo and commissary, working with different teams and animals from day to day. Their job requires a high level of versatility and diverse knowledge as they are hands-on with animal care, training and creating enrichment, just like our keepers assigned to certain sections.
Kelsie V. and Christine D. love the variety that working as a rover keeper provides and say their team knows at least a little about a whole lot. Kelsie particularly enjoys working with Chai the moon bear, Lima the cheetah, Charlie the Eastern bongo and our crash of rhinos. She also plays a unique role in obtaining browse from the Norfolk Botanical Garden to supplement our animals’ diets with fresh plants!
Christine’s favorite animal to work with is Sibindi, the white rhino, who she describes as sweet and easy-going with lots of personality.
A big thanks to all of our Rover keepers: Christine C., Christine D., Kelsie V. & James W.
World of Reptiles Team
Rebecca F. describes the responsibilities of zookeeping as much more than what meets the eye: research, advocacy, education, caretaking and preparedness for anything.
Keegan G. says that reptiles, amphibians and the like are some of the most underrepresented and misunderstood animals, and he finds fulfillment in educating people on how amazing they are. Mack S. finds satisfaction in working in a field which acts as a bridge between humanity and the natural world.
Rebecca loves working with Jamaican iguanas and appreciates the important ecosystem functions they perform in their native island environments, while Mack loves Shadie the Siamese crocodile’s intelligence.
Assistant Curator Dennis M’s favorite animal to work with is AJ the Aldabra tortoise because he is a great ambassador for his species, allowing hundreds of guests to interact with and learn about him during behind-the-scenes tours.
A big thanks to all of our World of Reptiles keepers: Rebecca F., Keegan G., Dennis M. & Mack S.
Want to know more about animal care at the Virginia Zoo? We offer behind-the-scenes tours in almost every area of our Zoo, giving you a chance to chat with our keepers about their work while encountering some of our animals up close! Click here to learn more.