Hi everyone! I've known about ZooChat for a long time but never actually made an account until now lol I'm currently based in Florida, but I have visited zoos and aquariums all over the Midwest/Southern USA, including all 3 SeaWorld parks. I've had several internships at a few zoos across the country and would have had a full-time zookeeper job had the pandemic not hit. Until places begin hiring regularly again, I will just have to continue being an enthusiastic zoo visitor I'm excited to chat with people here about zoo stuff! Especially regarding birds and cetaceans
Thank you! I see you are from Wisconsin I'm originally from Wisconsin as well (although haven't lived there for a few years now.) I hope to make it up there soon so I can see the updates at the Milwaukee Zoo!
Welcome to Zoochat Yoimmo! I look forward to hear about your interships and experiences! Might I ask with what kind of animals you have worked?
Absolutely! Most of my experience is with birds but I've kind of worked with a little of everything. Well, for terrestrial animals at least! Birds: various cranes, storks, pheasants, waterfowl, birds of prey, parrots, passerines, and an emu. Reptiles: tortoises, broad-snouted caiman, and some non-venomous snakes. Mammals: various hoofstock and small primates, kangaroo, hyena, and jaguar.
I am very thankful to have worked with so many different species! I think my favorites have definitely been whooping cranes, just because I've worked with them more intimately than anything else (raising chicks for release into the wild, along with caring for adult birds.) Working with them and directly contributing to their conservation has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career so far, for sure. But I also really enjoyed working with the large mammalian carnivores. There's just something very humbling about being in the presence of such powerful animals. You can't let your guard down for a second around them, and I really enjoyed the challenge compared to animals (like ducks lol) that I had worked with previously.
