Off to the zoo

Publication date
Friday, 1 Aug 2014
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Heather Browning, Zookeeper at National Zoo and Aquarium

Being a zookeeper had been my dream as a young child, but it wasn’t until I volunteered at the local National Zoo and Aquarium that I realised how much I loved it – being outdoors, having contact with all sorts of fascinating animals, and the varied and flexible nature of the work.

My science degree definitely helps me with the work I do now. I find my background knowledge of biology helps me all the time in understanding animal behaviour and health issues. The skills I developed in observation, record-keeping and report-writing have all also come in handy.

The ANU provided me with an amazing opportunity to participate in an actual research project, doing everything from the practical work of caring for plants and preparing slides to the theoretical side of analysing data and presenting results.

Now my days involve caring for exotic animals, including training, observing, and designing and giving environmental enrichment to the animals. A slightly less typical day may involve breeding management, administering medication or repairing enclosures. It’s definitely always interesting!

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