The third week of July is National Zoo Keeper Week. This annual celebration of the hardworking professionals who make zoos, aquariums, and conservation preserves like Safari West possible takes place from July 17th through the 23rd.

In an age when habitat loss is accelerating and each year more and more species are classified as endangered or extinct, our zoos and aquariums are more important than ever. Only a small percentage of us will ever have the chance to visit elephants in Africa, pangolins in Vietnam, or any of the at-risk tropical coral reefs. For the rest of us, the window onto those fragile ecosystems comes in the form of the exotic animals found in our hometown zoos and aquariums. We owe a debt of gratitude to the passionate and dedicated army of caretakers who keep these ambassador animals alive and healthy.

The zoo keeper’s work day has its share of standard responsibilities; feeding, cleaning, monitoring behavior and the like. It can also include a more than a healthy dose of the unexpected. Animals get sick or give birth or surprise you with something totally new. At a moment’s notice, our keepers may have to switch gears from setting up an enrichment activity for a troupe of monkeys to helping a fledgling ibis that’s fallen from a nest. Other times they’ll be out feeding the zebras when suddenly a giraffe begins to calve. A day in the life of a zoo keeper can certainly be crazy, but it is never boring. Throughout the course of their complicated, messy, and fascinatingly beautiful lives, the animals of our zoos and aquariums live side-by-side with some of the most committed and hardworking people in the world.

From July 17th to July 23rd, please join Safari West in appreciating and thanking the dedicated humans who care for the animals of your local zoo or aquarium.

Special thanks to our Safari West keepers:

Noa Albert, Amber Anderson, Jen Bates, Jessica Bella, Holly Bovey, Jake Brotsis, Megan Brown-Herrera, Donna Compton, Jeff DaSilva, Sam Delzell, Daniel Flores, Cassie Gavazza, Victoria Harris, Jane Haught, Beverly Kerbow, Ernie Lopez-Ponce, Marie Martinez, Erika Mittelman, Marie Barbera, Joanne Panizzera, Rose Pattenaude, Kaitlyn Phillips, Kimberly Robertson, Athena Rushka, Chris Scheetz, Brittany Shelton, Jenny Sloat, Nikki Smith, Marilyn Sutton, Leslie Thalman, Haley Vincent, & Danielle Wegner!

… We love you and appreciate all that you do. THANK YOU.