From wrestling with enrichment toys to getting way too familiar with animal poop, our keepers are always ready to roll up their sleeves and do whatever is needed in the name of excellent animal care!

This International Zookeeper Day we are sharing bizarre, funny, and downright gross experiences straight from our zookeepers themselves.

“When I work with Puteri, our oldest Orangutan, she almost always farts! It’s like she doesn’t even realise the sound is coming from her either.” – Keeper Mel

“One of the strangest things that’s happened while I’ve been a zookeeper was when I was at another zoo, I didn’t realise one of the goats was able to open gates, and she was letting herself in to eat all of the deer food!” – Keeper Marty
 
“I had to do our rhino faecal transplant! We had to do it three times a week for three weeks. I have the longest arms on section, so I often have to do the rectal work for our rhino and elephants! It’s definitely not the most glamorous part of my job but it’s all in the name of keeping our animals healthy so it’s worth it!” – Keeper Saxon

“One time I was working in the Radiated Tortoise exhibit, and I heard this crazy hissing sound! I panicked thinking the tortoise was mad at me… turns out it was just the sprinklers turning on!” – Keeper Bec
 
“We were feeding Huli the tree kangaroo some tasty corn, and he got a piece of corn wedged onto his front teeth! He got it off shortly after and was completely fine, but it was definitely hard not to giggle at his little corn teeth” – Keeper Bec

“At another Zoo I worked at, I was convinced one of our orangutans would do things just to make us laugh because she knew we thought they were funny! One time I was walking past her den and out of the corner of my eye I saw her doing the splits across a platform, with a hessian sack on her head. We started laughing and she popped her head out of the sack and started laughing as well!” – Keeper Chris
 

Our Keepers are some of the hardest working people we know – and they do it all in the name of love for our animals, and their commitment to giving them the best care possible.

After all, being a zookeeper isn’t just a job – it’s a purpose!

THANK YOU to all of our incredible zookeepers, for making Perth Zoo the wonderful place that it is.