A Look at Animal Care at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

If you haven't noticed lately, the Roar Report is getting more interesting by the day and we're adding new bloggers all the time. The newest, one of the Zoo's Animal Care Managers, will be giving you the inside scoop on animals and exhibits and will try to answer any questions you might have for him. He'll take it from here....
Hello everyone. Just a quick introduction and then I will tell you what this blog will be about. My name is Tad (AKA, Tad the Primate Guy) I am an Animal Care Manager (ACM) here at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. ACMs (there are four of us) supervise the Animal Keeper staff and are the link between Animal Keepers and other Animal Care staff (Veterinary Care, Animal Curators, Conservation & Science, as well as other Zoo departments such as Maintenance, Education, Guest Services, etc.) We're involved in most every aspect of the daily workings within the Animal Care department.

That is what this blog will be about. I'll give you more insight into what is involved with caring for the animals you come to the Zoo to see. I have worked here as Keeper, Lead Keeper and Manager, and I can give you a unique and accurate view of Animal Care. I hope you will enjoy my stories and will have lots of great questions for me. Oh, even though my blog name (the Primate Guy) gives away my main interest in monkeys, apes and prosimians, I have worked with many types of animals, so feel free to ask about any animal you want. If I don’t know something, I can find someone here who does.

Talk to you soon.


Comments

 
By: Jenni
On: 07/26/2008 07:07:18
What is the most challanging task with animal care?
 
By: Tad (the Primate Guy)
On: 07/27/2008 07:48:17
Hi Jenni. That is a great question. I think if you asked 10 people who work in zoo animal care that question, you may get 10 different answers. Speaking for myself, I have always felt that the responsibilty for the health and welfare of the animals in your care is the greatest challenge. When you are working with animals in the zoo, you realize that you are responsible for providing them the best environment you can. We do this happily of course, but we also take it very seriously. Working with living creatures is exciting, sometimes scary, and often challenging, but never boring. At the end of the day, having the privledge of working with these magnificant animals makes any challenge you may face worth it.
 
By: Cindy
On: 08/08/2008 12:49:46
Hi Tad,I really love the gorillas and always wonder what they are thinking as they sit in their yard. Can you share some stories about them and how they differ in personality?
Thanks, Cindy
 
By: Linda
On: 09/19/2008 10:55:51
Hi Tad. I love the african lions, Mufasa and Chloe, and wondered their ages and where they originate from, but am also confused about something. I was told that they are actually brother and sister; yet they do mate. How is it that they don't conceive, and are they truly siblings? Thank you so much!

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