Prompt #6: Evaluating the book "Life at the Zoo" by Phillip T. Robinson

       The source that I chose to evaluate was a book written by Phillip T. Robinson called "Life at the Zoo". The author talks about his own experiences from when he was working at the San Diego Zoo. He shares some of his own interesting stories, along with talking about what it is like to work in a zoo. He talks about the rewards of working in this type of environment, along with the dangers.
       One of the many career paths in the field of animal science is an animal trainer. That can be classified very broadly as many different things. Someone could be working in an environment such as sea world, training the dolphins or whales. Someone could also be in an environment like a zoo, such as the author of this book. Because of that, I will be reading what he has said about zookeepers and what kind of work they have to do.
       According to Robinson, "the new kids (new zookeepers) were often delegated the more mundane tasks, such as hosing, raking, cleaning, and chopping veggies, in the manner of a progressive apprenticeship" (Robinson page 44). From the research I have done and from the information that I already know about zookeeping and animal science, this statement is very true. When one is first starting out in a zoo, he or she will have little to almost no contact or interaction with animals. They have to do tasks that aren't as interesting, but eventually they will make their way up to being a keeper and working with the animals. That also goes with the amount of money that the worker will be making yearly. Throughout the first year, one might not make much money at all, but as time goes on and experience is gained, the salary will become bigger.
       Robinson also said, "Some keeper assignments are, unquestionably, more desirable than others. Taking goat droppings off of a steep hillside or cleaning carnivore stools out of a drainpipe just might not be your cup of tea--more of a "reward" for political transgressions" (Robinson page 45). According to what I have learned about this career, this is also a very true statement. Most of the jobs that a keeper does are not very appealing. Cleaning the animal exhibits is probably the dirtiest task, and it also requires the most time. If one wants to work in a zoo, they need to be prepared to do a lot of cleaning.
       Zookeepers "must be mentally alert and be able to pay attention to all daily duties. Must have quick reflexes and be able to react quickly to changing animal situations. Must be able to walk and run quickly as needed. Will require close contact with large, wild animals" (Robinson page 45). All of this is also very true. Being a keeper is a very demanding job, requiring a lot of strength and the ability to think quickly, but it is also very rewarding. Being able to be around animals every day as a career would be so gratifying.

Phillip T. Robinson's "Life at the Zoo"

- Jamie R.

Source:
Robinson, Phillip T. Life at the Zoo. Chichester: Columbia University Press, 2004. Print.