Love Your Zoo Week - Keeper Spotlight: Cormack, Support Keeper

How long have you been working in zoo keeping? 

I have been working in zookeeping for 10 years this year.  

What is your role here at Noah's ark and what does a typical day look like? 

My role here at Noah's ark is support keeper and no day is every real the same as i work across all the sections so one day could be working with on the Africa section and the next could be working on the primate and small mammal section.  

Did you always know you wanted to work with animals and what first inspired that interest?  

I always have had an interest in working with animals from a very young age, what inspired me to work with animals was watching the likes of David Attenborough and all his programs growing up  

What steps did you take to become a zookeeper? (study, volunteering, first roles) 

The steps I took to become a zookeeper was studying at college and university also volunteering whilst i was at college and university and volunteering at Noah's ark before becoming a keeper  

Was there anything that surprised you when you first started working in the field?

What surprised me was the amount of work that must be put into keep animals well cared and the different kinds of care that must be carried out for all the different species kept at the zoo.  

What skills do you think are most important for zoo keeping?  

I think patience is an important skill when it comes to zookeeping, animals have a mind of their own and they are not always going to cooperate all the time and being able to react to ever changing scenarios is an important skill to have because animals can be unpredictable.  

What has been one of your biggest challenges?  

One of the biggest challenges I have faced as my time as a zookeeper is learning to adapt to new situations when they arise and developing the ability to think on the job.   

What has been your proudest or most memorable moment so far? 

The most memorable moment of being a zookeeper so far has been helping care for the two bears cubs born at the zoo and watching they grow and develop as they grow. 

What is most rewarding part of your job? 

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how the animals react and behaviour to the care that they are given daily and the enjoyment that visitors get from visiting the zoo and providing encounters for them.

  
What conservation message do you hope visitors take away? 

The conservation message I hope they get to take away with them is that just the small thing can help wildlife and nature and preserve the natural world for future generations. 

What advice would you give someone wanting to become a zookeeper? 

The advice I would give to someone wanting to become a zookeeper is gaining as much experience as possible and keep their options open to what species of animals they want to work with in the future.  

What does working here mean to you?

 
Working at the zoo means a lot to me because no day is ever the same and the variety I get from my job role provides me with satisfaction.  also, when I get to add to the members of the public’s day by providing them with encounters or just stopping to chat to them and answer questions makes me feels like I am making a difference in a small way.