November 16, 2004
By Tabisa Mntengwana
AS part of its commitment to passing on skills, the Johannesburg Zoo is running a programme for learner zookeepers.
Currently the zoo has three learner keepers and is planning to appoint a further five.
Candidates are chosen on their academic background as well as on their interest in animals. "Two of our learner keepers are studying towards their nature conservation diplomas, while one has already completed her diploma," says skills development facilitator Anisha Polly.
"We get candidates for these learnerships from the Sector Education Training Authorities and we coach and mentor them," adds Polly.
The learner keepers attend lectures from the zoo's keepers and vets.
They are also assigned to different sections within the zoo and are expected to put their theoretical knowledge to the test, undertaking practical tasks including cleaning out the cages, monitoring the health and well-being of their charges, feeding the animals and keeping up to date with the latest research about looking after zoo animals.
Polly said that some of the learnerships run for a year, while others depend on the learner obtaining a formal, recognised qualification.
For learner keeper Agnes Maluleke joining the zoo's programme was a natural progression. "I love nature, I knew I would be an animal keeper one day," she says.
Maluleke has been assigned to the reptile section and has to look after some of the zoo's reptiles and fish: her charges comprise 10 snakes, six lizards, a giant bullfrog, two common clownfish, one cardinal pyjama fish and a pond of koi.
The learner keeper, who started as a volunteer at the zoo in January 2004 before being permanently employed in April, grew up with a love of animals.
She was born in a small town in Limpopo and her father used to take her on regular trips to nearby game reserves. "When I was a little girl my father would take us to game reserves. He loved and knew a lot about animals."
She says she would watch the animals with admiration. "I knew there and then that I wanted to be part of them," Maluleke says.
After completing matric, Maluleke studied nature conservation at Tshwane University of Technology and received further training at the Game Breeding Centre in Potgietersrus, a branch of the Pretoria Zoo.
"I wasn't sure which was the right course to take to look after wild animals but a student counsellor at Tshwane University of Technology advised me and helped me in a lot of things," she says.
Since joining the Johannesburg Zoo Maluleke is gaining wide experience in many fields of animal care. At present she works in the reptile section, but she also helps look after Lisa - the zoo's only gorilla.
During weekends she helps out in the Charlie section, where the antelopes, lions, elephants and other mammals are kept.
Looking after the animals involves a strict routine with carefully monitored procedures.
"Every morning when I come to work I check on the animals - make sure they are still healthy. Then I start the feeding process," Maluleke says.
The lizards are fed every day - vegetables and fruit - while the snakes are fed once a week - preferably mice. "The lizards are strictly herbivores and also need high humidity," she says. To ensure that they are comfortable she also has to spray them with water.
The fish are fed between 9am and 11am every day. Maluleke also gets to feed the gorilla every afternoon.
Another of her tasks is to play Cupid during the mating season. She selects partners for the male animals.
And one of her favourite tasks is to care for the newborn animals. "I have grown to love these animals as my own children," she says adding that when someone kills or treats animals badly she feels the hurt.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
