- A swimming master for a Berlin mini-hippo is wanted
Bathing with Mini-Hippos, Building tiny panda cribs, or rewilding wild horses: The Zoo, Tierpark, and Aquarium in Berlin are seeking new employees for these and other jobs. "We are currently looking for experienced zookeepers in the rhino enclosure, aquarium, and Himalaya region who are willing to lend a hand and approach their profession with passion, empathy, and enthusiasm," explained Christan Kern, Zoological Director at Zoo and Tierpark Berlin, according to a statement. Cashiers, garden helpers, or electricians are also sought.
For example, lifeguards are being sought to assist the two-month-old dwarf hippo in getting used to the water, as the Zoological Gardens announced. The still unnamed mini-hippo is currently being acclimated to deeper water. Hippopotamuses do not swim, but rather glide through the water by pushing off from the bottom.
Of course, mother Debbie is watching in the water, but zookeepers are also present and gradually adding more water to the pool, said Zoo spokeswoman Philine Hachmeister. The water is currently about knee-deep, and the hippo girl born on June 3 has to stretch her neck quite a bit to keep her nose above water. "She still needs a little practice."
Those who apply as zookeepers are also responsible for animal training. Sea lions, apes, and lions, for instance, are trained by Hachmeister so that smaller treatments like blood draws can be performed without anesthesia. Lions, for example, extend their tails under the fence to have blood drawn, the spokeswoman described.
And the ultrasound examinations of the possibly pregnant panda lady Meng-Meng are also done without anesthesia, according to the zoo spokeswoman. The animal is trained to hold its belly. In seals, teeth, eyes, and fur are checked this way. The animals are agile and curious - the training is also a form of enrichment, said the spokeswoman.
According to the statement, there are 25,000 animals living in the Zoological Gardens - Zoo, Tierpark, and Aquarium. Around 200 trained zookeepers care for them. Kern explained, "Working with animals means being on duty 365 days a year, in all kinds of weather. This requires a certain degree of flexibility and physical fitness."
Zookeepers in the Zoo and Tierpark Berlin are also needed for roles outside the rhino enclosure or aquarium, such as caring for the wide variety of other animals. This diversity in tasks is what makes working with animals at the Zoological Gardens so exciting and rewarding.
Furthermore, the role of zookeepers extends beyond direct animal care, as they also play a crucial part in training various animals, like sea lions, apes, and lions, to facilitate medical procedures without the use of anesthesia.
