Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

Dodging giraffe necks and rhinoceros horns is nothing new for Michele Gaffney and Jane Kennedy. The pair of experienced field keepers has cared for exotic animals for more than 25 years. “We’ve done it all,” explains Ms. Kennedy. Recently the keepers at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park have rotated enclosures, part of a yearly cycle to keep animal care at its prime. To Ms. Kennedy’s delight, she is currently working in the East Africa and Asian Plains exhibits that house rhinos, her specialty animal. We met with a recently born rhino, and I was shocked to learn he gains 100 pounds a month following birth! No wonder the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park foot “$60,000 a month in food expenses,” noted Ms. Gaffney, who majored in animal nutrition at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
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Any degree associated with animals is sufficient in becoming a keeper. But be prepared for plenty of poop! In fact, while on our excursion, Ms. Kennedy collected a rhino fecal sample for a research project tracking ovulation cycles. Studies are being conducted worldwide to learn more about rhino reproductive physiology.

Keepers generally work five days per week from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Department crews meet in the morning to arrange their day’s agenda. Feeding is the first morning task along with counting the number of animals in each enclosure. Keepers then escort veterinarians into the exhibit if necessary medical procedures are scheduled for that day. No matter how good your schedule looks on paper, a keeper’s day depends heavily on their vehicle. “Not to worry,” Ms. Gaffney minded us, as the parking brake on the truck we were riding in the back of started to give. Keepers are accustomed to unexpected situations and are well trained to think on their toes. They learn early on to not get too far from the safety of their trucks, as they might have to hop in if an animal who is feeling territorial comes at them. Keeper logs are kept of daily occurrences in a report sent to the curators and veterinarians at the end of the day.

One thing is for sure: Ms. Gaffney and Ms. Kennedy are masters of maneuvering around animals of all sizes. No animal is too large to receive their excellent care, as animal keeping is their lifelong passion.

Lindsay, Careers Team

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