The best job in the world?

People always say I have the best job and, for me, it is... but not for the reasons they think. We don't spend all day cuddling animals and bottle-feeding babies, for a start. Let me tell you - day in, day out, it's a hard slog for very little money and, yes, primarily it's clearing up poop. Volunteers are usually taken aback at that: 'What? No cuddling?' :P We have to work holidays, even Christmas, because animals will always need feeding. We stay up through the night with the sick and get up every few hours to feed rejected babies, without getting paid overtime for it. We work in all weathers, struggling through wind, rain, and snow to make sure our animals are well-cared for.

And, despite all that, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I've always loved animals, and the chance to be close to and befriend so many weird and wonderful species is, for me, a privilege. They become like close friends - we share in their joy and weep for their loss. A zoo keeper's love for animals is also her downfall, and having to deal with the deaths of many animal friends across the years can take its toll. But, like a doctor, you have to care to be able to do your job properly. The day I stop mourning the animals I lose is the day I stop being a zoo keeper.

Of course, there are also moments (like when you're playing with a baby gorilla, for instance) that you think, 'Wow, I'm so lucky.' We never take that for granted. Above all, we have the greatest respect for the animals in our care and, in many cases, that respect is clearly reciprocated. So, yes, we do have the best job in the world. I'm certainly never going to give it up. :)