"Floating" around the Zoo

Despite the storms, rain, and cold weather, today was one of my better days at the zoo. I actually ended up "floating" around the zoo, meaning I didn't stay in only one area, but helped wherever was needed. I started my morning in Africa (which I love more and more every time), and raked the giraffe yard and took care of the tortoises (by myself, again!). Then, it was time for a training session with Kiko, the giraffe, which I got to be a huge part of today! Now, Kiko's training is focused on getting him more and more ready for any medical procedures that may need to be done. My role in the training session was to keep his attention by feeding him biscuits! He loved them, and I loved being able to play such an active role in his training session! I also was able to witness a lion training session this morning which was really cool, because I love the lions and their crazy personalities! I love the fact that I'm getting to watch and experience so many training opportunities because training is something I'm finding myself very interested in and passionate about. It's so important to train animals in the zoo because it makes it much easier and safer to perform medical procedures!

After Kiko's training session, I headed down to primate row to help clean some exhibits. I cleaned the colobus monkey exhibit and even got complimented on what a good job I did. I still need to work on how quickly I can clean, because now I'm at the point where I can either do a good, thorough job, or a decent, quick job, and I need to be able to do a good, quick job! I'm sure it will come in time and with practice though. After primate row I headed back up to Africa where I finished some cleaning in the giraffe barn and then it was time for lunch already! The morning flew by, which I think goes to show that time does fly if you're having fun!

The afternoon was even more awesome than the morning (which was a great morning!) We did some odd projects like preparing for Boo in the Zoo, which is a Halloween Event that the zoo does every fall. Then, around 2, a group of three students from Wofford University came to the zoo to shoot a photo documentary of a day in the life of a keeper. Luckily for us, we got to show them around the zoo and tell them what we do every day. It was a really awesome experience for me too, since I got to witness a orangutan training session and visit the clinic, both of which was my first time doing! And, I got to be in a lot of pictures that I'm sure will end up nicely in some Wofford homework assignment... Anyway, it was an awesome, and really cool afternoon, and I got to share some of my experiences with others, which is really what this whole blog is about anyway!

Finally, to end the day we did some dishes and final cleaning, then I got to go to South America to witness the ocelots being weighed. Unfortunately, they didn't want to cooperate, so we couldn't get their weights, but it was really cool to see them (they're beautiful cats), and I had never been to the South America area before, so it was nice to get to another part of the zoo!

I really enjoyed my day today. The weather was awful and I was soaked and so dirty, but it was probably the best day I've had so far. I love all the responsibility I'm being given and I'm enjoying getting to branch out and do different tasks and learn about different animals and areas of the zoo! Please keep checking back to hear all about my "tails" at the Greenville Zoo!