It's wierd being a tree....
Okay, now that i've caught up in my fix posting i can put up a regular post. This should make you happy Kasumi! *waves at the Kasu-mon*
As some of you may or may not know, this year i started work on getting fully qualified to be a zoo keeper. I've been zoo mad since i was young and involved with Taronga zoo on and off since year 10 (2002). I'm now part of their TTI (Taronga Training Institute) where we work on what is basically the zoo keeper course they used to run at Ultimo Tafe. Part one of the course (known as Certificate II in Animal Studies) involves theory classes once a fortnight and 12 practical days throughout the year. I had one of these days on saturday.
A prac day at Taronga basically means a day of being a junior keeper. I wake up at 5.30am to leave home at 6am so i can be at the division i've been assigned to by 6.30am. It's an early start, but believe me, the view is worth it at this time in the morning. Taronga has the best views of the harbor all year round.
Currently i'm in the herpetofauna department. That's the long fancy name for the reptile department. I spend my days there in the company of snakes, lizards, frogs and several male keepers. The Reptile department is an all-male department and it certainly shows some times. Thank fully I've spent enough time around guys that the lunch-room conversations don't phase me.
Yesterday I got to help out with the Snake talk just before lunch. Following after the keeper doing the talk that day, i was introduced to Spots the nine year old diamond python who was promptly draped over my shoulders. Suddenly i was glad i got over my phobia of snakes. The keeper took a much bigger Olive python named Olivia for himself and we walked out to where the crowd of zoo visitors was gathered. As the keeper gave his talk, i stood there and basically let Spots go where-ever he wanted on me. I mainly gently moved him away when he went for shirt openings and belt loops. Snakes can't go backwards so moving them out of belt loops if they get stuck involves cutting them out and i liked the pants i was wearing. Once the talk was done the keeper and i went down into the crowd to introduce our snakes to people and let them have a feel. Taronga is very big on education and conservation and we encouraged children and adults to get over the concept that snakes are slimy. I'm now in several people's photographs. The wonders of being a (trainee)keeper. Once that was done i handed Spots back and headed off to lunch. That was the only particularly interesting thing i did that day. The rest of the day was spent feeding various animals. However, i've been told that next saturday morning i might be able to go in and get my photo taken withe komodo dragon, which would be all sorts of cool.
Another interesting thing i got to do recently, zoo wise, was during my last theory class. We've been covering the handling of animals for first aid and rescue purposes and have been spending a lot of time down in the wilidlife clinic. In our last class we got to go and meet a Powerful Owl that had been brought in a month or so ago after being hit by a train. He's almost fully healed so we got the chance to hold him. Such a beautiful bird, i got my photo taken with him and i'll post it up once i've gotten the picture off my camera. Expect lots of animal photos in the future now that i'm back here again.
Anyway, that's it for now. Ja ne.
As some of you may or may not know, this year i started work on getting fully qualified to be a zoo keeper. I've been zoo mad since i was young and involved with Taronga zoo on and off since year 10 (2002). I'm now part of their TTI (Taronga Training Institute) where we work on what is basically the zoo keeper course they used to run at Ultimo Tafe. Part one of the course (known as Certificate II in Animal Studies) involves theory classes once a fortnight and 12 practical days throughout the year. I had one of these days on saturday.
A prac day at Taronga basically means a day of being a junior keeper. I wake up at 5.30am to leave home at 6am so i can be at the division i've been assigned to by 6.30am. It's an early start, but believe me, the view is worth it at this time in the morning. Taronga has the best views of the harbor all year round.
Currently i'm in the herpetofauna department. That's the long fancy name for the reptile department. I spend my days there in the company of snakes, lizards, frogs and several male keepers. The Reptile department is an all-male department and it certainly shows some times. Thank fully I've spent enough time around guys that the lunch-room conversations don't phase me.
Yesterday I got to help out with the Snake talk just before lunch. Following after the keeper doing the talk that day, i was introduced to Spots the nine year old diamond python who was promptly draped over my shoulders. Suddenly i was glad i got over my phobia of snakes. The keeper took a much bigger Olive python named Olivia for himself and we walked out to where the crowd of zoo visitors was gathered. As the keeper gave his talk, i stood there and basically let Spots go where-ever he wanted on me. I mainly gently moved him away when he went for shirt openings and belt loops. Snakes can't go backwards so moving them out of belt loops if they get stuck involves cutting them out and i liked the pants i was wearing. Once the talk was done the keeper and i went down into the crowd to introduce our snakes to people and let them have a feel. Taronga is very big on education and conservation and we encouraged children and adults to get over the concept that snakes are slimy. I'm now in several people's photographs. The wonders of being a (trainee)keeper. Once that was done i handed Spots back and headed off to lunch. That was the only particularly interesting thing i did that day. The rest of the day was spent feeding various animals. However, i've been told that next saturday morning i might be able to go in and get my photo taken withe komodo dragon, which would be all sorts of cool.
Another interesting thing i got to do recently, zoo wise, was during my last theory class. We've been covering the handling of animals for first aid and rescue purposes and have been spending a lot of time down in the wilidlife clinic. In our last class we got to go and meet a Powerful Owl that had been brought in a month or so ago after being hit by a train. He's almost fully healed so we got the chance to hold him. Such a beautiful bird, i got my photo taken with him and i'll post it up once i've gotten the picture off my camera. Expect lots of animal photos in the future now that i'm back here again.
Anyway, that's it for now. Ja ne.