Page 63 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Interview with a…

Rhino keeper

Lisa Watkins, deputy head of ungulates and white rhino keeper at West
Midland Safari Park, works with some of the world’s largest creatures

What goes into the day- about and the rhinos simply get on with In the wild, white
to-day life of a white their daily routines, but there is the odd rhinos are classified as
rhino keeper? occasion where a confrontation between Near Threatened. There
Our day usually begins some of them may occur, so in those are around 20,000 of
them le„ worldwide
by checking in on the instances we would intervene to ensure
rhinos – making sure they their safety.
all seem fit and healthy, as
well as giving their indoor enclosures the What other conservation efforts are you
once over to make sure everything seems and the rest of the team at West Midland
fine. We’ll then feed them in the morning, Safari Park involved in?
before opening the gates and allowing All year round, West Midland Safari
them to roam about the reserve for the Park works with the Namibian Wildlife
rest of the day at their own leisure. Some Conservation in Ongava, which looks after
of the keepers will then go out on patrol and conducts really important research
while the rest will stay behind and clean on the white rhino. This partnership has
the enclosures and get them all ready for been incredibly beneficial and also an
the evening. eye-opening experience for us. And for
four weeks of the year we do charity
What’s the best part of your job? events and fundraising for different wildlife
For me, it’s being a part of a successful projects both here in the UK and abroad.
breeding program and having animals that The park has raised money for white
are happy enough to breed. Just being rhino-specific projects before but fingers
able to give our white rhinos an enriching crossed we’ll get the chance to do that
life as best we can means an incredible again in 2016.
amount to me, especially when you
consider the dangers these creatures face “ Just being able
in the wild.
to give our white
And the worst?
Well, working in all weathers would be
one! So if it snows, we still need to come in rhinos an enriching
and make sure the animals are fed, happy
and exercised. Of course, if it’s scorching life as best we
hot we still need to come in and shovel
large amounts of smelly excrement, too. can means an
You wouldn’t believe the volume of faeces WIN
they produce. That’s a definite downside! incredible amount”
the chance to
Even now as I’m speaking to you I’m become a rhino keeper
soaked through, but that’s just part of the for a day at West
job and you eventually get used to those So you want to be Midland Safari Park!
kinds of things.
a rhino keeper? Visit www.animalanswers.
co.uk to find out how
What kind of challenges and dangers do Here’s how… to enter.
you face looking after such potentially
dangerous creatures? Like any professional wildlife keeper
As you can imagine, there are lots of role, an academic background is always
protocols and procedures in place to keep advantageous, but Lisa believes having
us safe when looking after the white rhinos lots of hands-on experience working at
at West Midland Safari Park, so we feel sanctuaries, zoos and other wildlife centres
more than safe when keeping them. Of is the most important addition to your CV
course, when the rhinos are out on the or application. “I would definitely advise
reserve mixing with our other animals, you to volunteer and get experience. I
we do have a patrol that monitors them know it can be quite difficult to get work in
throughout the day. These are powerful a zoo to begin with, but if you start small © West Midland Safari Park
creatures so we always make sure at stables then you can sometimes get The white rhinos at WMSP
someone is watching and ready to act. internships that provide you with invaluable are usually calm and relaxed,
although too much rain can
Most of the time there’s nothing to worry experience,” she adds. This would also give sometimes get them agitated
you a chance to see if the job is right for you.
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