Duality of the Zookeeper

[Typhlonectes]

I wonder if anyone has had a similar thought, it seems to me like zookeepers generally fit into one of two categories:

1) Domestic: These keepers tend to treat animals more like pets, giving the animals pet names, they also tend to run zoo social media pages. A very “pet-like” approach all round.

2) Fascination: These keepers operate under more of a scientific approach. They tend to treat the animals more as subjects, and focus mainly on advancing husbandry and general understanding. Latin name users.

Has anyone else thought this way before? Obviously there can be overlap, but I think generally they come out one of two ways

 

[OkapiJohn]

The first one is definitely very common. It can be harmless but in some instances, it can be negative. Some keepers fail to understand that they are taking care of wild animals, often dangerous ones and fail to understand that too much human contact can be harmful to both the animals and the keeper, as well as damage the education message that zoos should give - these species are wildlife, not pets. It is also harder for keepers that attach too emotionally to their animals. Often animals have to be sent away or die and that can take a heavy toll on some people.
If I was a manager selecting people for zookeeping I would try to filter out those people that see their animals as their pets and not their job. It does not mean that people cannot be emotional or not love the animals they take care of, but it is important to understand the boundaries of a serious job.

 

[Typhlonectes]

The first one is definitely very common. It can be harmless but in some instances, it can be negative. Some keepers fail to understand that they are taking care of wild animals, often dangerous ones and fail to understand that too much human contact can be harmful to both the animals and the keeper, as well as damage the education message that zoos should give - these species are wildlife, not pets. It is also harder for keepers that attach too emotionally to their animals. Often animals have to be sent away or die and that can take a heavy toll on some people.
If I was a manager selecting people for zookeeping I would try to filter out those people that see their animals as their pets and not their job. It does not mean that people cannot be emotional or not love the animals they take care of, but it is important to understand the boundaries of a serious job.

Well put. It also seems that objectively better zoos have more of “Keeper 2” than they do “Keeper 1” and vice versa

 

[Lafone]

I wonder if anyone has had a similar thought, it seems to me like zookeepers generally fit into one of two categories:

1) Domestic: These keepers tend to treat animals more like pets, giving the animals pet names, they also tend to run zoo social media pages. A very “pet-like” approach all round.

2) Fascination: These keepers operate under more of a scientific approach. They tend to treat the animals more as subjects, and focus mainly on advancing husbandry and general understanding. Latin name users.

Has anyone else thought this way before? Obviously there can be overlap, but I think generally they come out one of two ways

I think it would be useful to cite some examples.

In the case of zoos naming animals on social media and posting content about them playing about (involving Keepers) this is about engagement with the public and in my view doesn't reflect or offer much insight into the professional or other nature of the Keepers themselves.

Are you really suggesting that fascination zoo keepers only refer to animals by their latin names? What happens if they have more than one of the same species.

I think there are probably elements of both behaviours among Keepers but I don't think you can call people domestic and imply they are unprofessional / less professional for being on social media.

 

[Typhlonectes]

I think it would be useful to cite some examples.

In the case of zoos naming animals on social media and posting content about them playing about (involving Keepers) this is about engagement with the public and in my view doesn't reflect or offer much insight into the professional or other nature of the Keepers themselves.

Are you really suggesting that fascination zoo keepers only refer to animals by their latin names? What happens if they have more than one of the same species.

I think there are probably elements of both behaviours among Keepers but I don't think you can call people domestic and imply they are unprofessional / less professional for being on social media.

I struggled to find names for the keeper archetypes I was referring to - hence I used “domestic” in the sense that they treat the animals like domestics, not that the keepers themselves are. I was also not questioning professionalism - just analysing the methods they use. There are plenty archetype 1s that are exceedingly good keepers.

 

[cornu aspersum]

Well put. It also seems that objectively better zoos have more of “Keeper 2” than they do “Keeper 1” and vice versa

Do you have experience with both of your types of keepers to reliably say that one type is always better than the other based on social media posts? As Lafone says, those posts are mainly to increase engagement and are not necessarily what personnel genuinely think.

 

[Typhlonectes]

Do you have experience with both of your types of keepers to reliably say that one type is always better than the other based on social media posts? As Lafone says, those posts are mainly to increase engagement and are not necessarily what personnel genuinely think.

I tried to avoid saying one was better than the other outright, although I can see it looks that way with the observation that there are more archetype 2s at the better zoos. I was just commenting that these seem to be two different approaches that keepers take.

The social media comment was an assumption that I can see now may not hold true

 

[Steve Robinson]

I wonder if anyone has had a similar thought, it seems to me like zookeepers generally fit into one of two categories:

1) Domestic: These keepers tend to treat animals more like pets, giving the animals pet names, they also tend to run zoo social media pages. A very “pet-like” approach all round.

2) Fascination: These keepers operate under more of a scientific approach. They tend to treat the animals more as subjects, and focus mainly on advancing husbandry and general understanding. Latin name users.

Has anyone else thought this way before? Obviously there can be overlap, but I think generally they come out one of two ways

I would question your assertion that there are only two types of keepers.

 

[Typhlonectes]

I would question your assertion that there are only two types of keepers.

Do you think there are keepers that do not fit into one of these categories?

 

[Lafone]

I tried to avoid saying one was better than the other outright, although I can see it looks that way with the observation that there are more archetype 2s at the better zoos. I was just commenting that these seem to be two different approaches that keepers take.

The social media comment was an assumption that I can see now may not hold true

I think the other thing to bear in mind on social media is large zoos will often have media or marketing teams that create content, small zoos may rely on someone who works there who is interested to do it. So at some zoos Keepers wouldn't make social media content as there is a department that does it. Or at least coordinates it.

Seeing the Keepers in either case is an engagement thing because it's interesting for the viewer to see the real work on the ground (so you get Keeper photos, or features with them talking about their animals). I tend to find in, say, Facebook content for UK zoos (I read it, I am not on Facebook as a poster) there is at least some factual or taxonomic information on the animal along with them eating a pumpkin or what have you as education comes into it.

 

[Zoofan15]

The overwhelming majority of keepers I’ve spoken to over the years have one thing in common - they see their role as a vocation. It’s a well known fact that zoo keeping is not a well paid career. Throw in the fact that’s it’s hard physical work; sees staff out in all weathers; and has aspects of the job which are repetitive and monotonous and there can be no doubt keepers do it primarily because of their passion for animals

The keepers I’ve spoken to have been dedicated beyond any perception the general public would have of the role. At a talk I attended by Zoos Victoria, it was noted the elephant keepers have to be told to go home some nights; and having met their team, I have no doubt that’s true. They care immensely for the elephants - know each of them as individuals and what makes them tick; but also have an in-depth scientific knowledge of the species and their husbandry.

Going the extra mile is often a requirement of the job and the keepers I refer to above think nothing of it. They’re the giraffe keepers who have a night cam on their phones they instinctively check when they get up to let their dog out during the night - not because they’re paid to check their phones; but because they’re emotionally invested in the outcome and most of all, care about the welfare of the mother and calf. They’re the keepers who sacrifice their social life (and sleep) for an animal that requires hand-raising; and who would come to work, day and night, without hesitation to evacuate an aviary threatened by fire or flooding.

I would hesitate to lump staff into categories beyond what I have outlined. At the end of the day, they’re as individual and diverse as any other work place (and not every employee will perform at a high level); but I have great admiration and respect for the many inspirational people I have had the privilege to talk with as a visitor over the years.

 

[joe99]

As a keeper I thing there is somewhat of this going on, but i guess it also applies to what animals you are dealing with. Some species/individual animals tend to be much more personable than others and i think that's when often the "pet like approach" to them because we can interact with them much more, while others that are quite skittish we tend to just leave to themselves. i guess it is a spectrum based on the animal and the keepers personality