If an animal gives birth at a zoo or sanctuary and neglects or rejects the baby it can be taken out and sent to a specialist that takes the baby and cares for it until it is old and well enough to be put back in the enclosure. What would the qualifications for that position be and what is the title?
Job title question
- Thread starter Beth
- Start date
I would say a keeper or if the baby is sick or needs extra care and attention members of the vet staff. The vet staff do care for some babies if needed. The only dedicated newborn specialists I can think of are the giant panda nursery keepers in and from China. They care for rejected or sick cubs and assist mothers rearing twins by swapping the cubs. Then later they finish rearing the cubs so their mother can breed again in the following breeding season. They are also sent out to other facilities housing pandas to assist the keepers with cub care during the most critical phase in the cubs life. If you're more interested in learning about that role try reading the updates about Zoo Atlantas twins last summer on thir panda cam. They did a numner of nice reports on their Chinese counterpart.