So last week I spent four days at Newquay Zoo to gain some more experience in husbandry and enrichment ready for being at Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue in November. The experience from Newquay Zoo was to specifically focus on primates and carnivores. It was a very full four days – it is strange how quickly four days can go. It definitely finished too soon at Newquay Zoo!
I feel like I learnt a lot while I was there, but I can’t specifically place what. Just spending four days working with the passionate keepers, watching and listening to them and what was going on. Learning what they do with their animals, why they do it and why they think it needs to be done. It gave me a great insight, and should help me answer many of my own questions of what’s best for these animals when I get to Tasikoki.
It was a great week and full of many things; such as seeing many of Newquay Zoo’s more secretive animals, trying out enrichment with the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) (with interesting results), trying to avoid my fingers being bitten off while attempting to pass food through to some excited Lynx (Lynx lynx carpathica) kittens, being locked in the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) exhibit by a keeper (accidentally, I hope), and being punched in the face by a pair of Capuchins (Cebus xanthosternos)!
All in all it was excellent week, learnt a lot, and met some great people. Hope all goes well for them and the Zoo and hope to see them and the Zoo again when I come back.
Next is the start of two weeks at Paignton Zoo.
Ta ta!