“Luckily, this community is very close knit and we take care of each other. “When you spend so much of your time taking care of, getting to know, and advocating for these animals it is extremely hard when they pass,” Thomas said. Everyone in the zookeeper and wildlife field has a deep love of animals and nature which makes it difficult when an animal dies.
While there are a lot of rewarding aspects of the job, there are some challenges when working with animals. It’s my job to educate people about the conservation work being done locally and globally, why zoos are important, while hopefully establishing a connection with the public and the animals that call the Denver Zoo home.” “It’s not only my job to take care of them and ensure their well-being, but to also be their voice. “My favorite aspect of the job is the ability to make a connection with the animals I am responsible for,” Thomas said.
Thomas feeding a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Other zookeeper duties include: exhibit maintenance and cleaning, giving tours and education talks to visitors, and daily emails and reports. Most of the time, Thomas interacts with the animals through relationship building and training. He started this position in January 2021 and quickly transitioned to a full-time zookeeper.Īs a zookeeper, the day-to-day responsibilities revolve around animal husbandry efforts. Thomas’ persistence paid off when the assistant curator of the pachyderm department offered him a permanent part-time job on the team. “I worked at the Denver Zoo in order to keep my foot in the door and be able to network,” Thomas said. He worked at Wild Bird Rescue and Rehab facility, a plant nursery, and the Denver Zoo in a horticulture and grounds position for the remainder of the year. He moved to Denver and started working at three different jobs. Thomas and a black rhino at the Denver Zoo.Īfter graduation, Thomas needed a job. His internship started in January 2020, but was canceled in mid-March due to the pandemic. During his time at Colorado State University, Thomas volunteered at the Denver Zoo for over three years, first as a keeper assistant in the penguin section, then as a bird keeper intern. Thomas knew from a young age that he wanted to work with animals. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Amidst the pandemic in May 2020, Thomas graduated with a B.S. Ben Thomas, Warner College of Natural Resources alumnus, was no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic complicated the lives of many college students.
0 kommentar(er)
