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Courtney is the Serengeti Department Manager at Out of Africa Wildlife Park. She joined the park in 2007 and applies her experience and knowledge conducting Safari Tours and leading the Serengeti staff each day. She’s personally responsible for over 95 different animals and her work doesn’t stop there.

Recently, I had the privilege to sit down with Courtney to discuss what it’s like to work with exotic animals and how she’s come to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park.

I see that you studied animal care in college. How did you begin work in animal care-taking?  What was the moment you realized it was what you wanted to do? 

All animal caretakers will tell you that they always dreamt of working with animals. Rather than a goal or desire, this career is more of a calling. Innate caretakers seem hardwired to understand behavior and retain a passion that carries them through the labor and discomfort of providing constant care for wild animals. While it’s now clear to me that I possessed these characteristics from the get-go, my career path was not as direct as most exotic animal caretakers. During my senior year in high school I participated in a short internship at the Hershey Park Zoo that didn’t have much of an impact on my career goals. I then pursued a political science bachelor’s degree with the intention of becoming an animal rights lobbyist. I stumbled upon the position of a hoofstock keeper at Out of Africa Park and it was a perfect fit from the start. I suddenly realized that animal care taking was what I was meant to do while I was doing it.

So more specifically, how did your studies and career path lead you to become a member of the Out of Africa Wildlife Park team?

I relocated to Arizona from Pennsylvania to finish school in an area that offered outdoor recreation opportunities. As my graduation from Northern Arizona University was growing near, I spent a lot of time outdoors. After a rock-climbing excursion one afternoon, I was driving by Out of Africa and decided to stop on a whim. Within 5 minutes of the Safari tour I was hooked. I asked Bill, my tour guide, how I could get a job doing what he did at the park. He told me, “hold on while I radio my manager.” Only a few minutes later, I was interviewing with the park curator. I was offered a position with the Serengeti Department that day and started training the following week. The start of my career at Out of Africa was definitely a product of right place, right time.

That’s an incredible story! So, what’s it like? What are your day-to-day responsibilities and how often does your routine change? 

My day-to-day routine (and I use that word loosely) consists of equal parts animal husbandry and guest service. I’m responsible for the care of over 95 animals, approximately 50 acres of habitat and a staff of 5-8 keepers including interns. I’m also responsible for the planning and conduction for entertaining and educational Safari Tours. It’s a privilege to share my passion for animals with park guests on a daily basis. My “routine” changes every day. Animals are both unpredictable with needs that are always changing. I’m quick to say that my job is never boring and I love every unpredictable moment.

What are your favorite parts of the day? What do you enjoy most about your work with the animals? 

My favorite aspect of my work is taking people on our Safari Tours.  I try to treat every presentation as if it might be a visitor’s once-in-a-lifetime chance to be this close to animals in their natural environment. I’m most rewarded when I see children’s eyes light up when a giraffe puts his head in the bus or when they get to feed a cookie to a camel.

What a great way to spend your day. If you had to think about it, what challenges you most about your work with the animals? 

Understanding the subtle behavior of hoofstock is the most challenging aspect of my work. Hoofed animals are not nearly as expressive as primates or most large carnivores- their motivations are much less obvious. Understanding their actions requires a hyper-awareness that I continue to fine-tune.

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Have you ever had an experience during your work with animals that made you feel that your life was in danger?

I have had many experiences with the animals in my care that could have escalated into life-threatening situations. Looking back, if I had over-reacted or not kept a level head, things may have been escalated. This is when caretakers must trust their instincts and compassion for the animal’s needs.

What types of safety precautions do you enforce amongst your team at the park?

I‘ve written extensive safety protocols dealing with every species in my care that all staff members must read and adhere to. We always work in pairs when we’re inside the enclosures so we can look out for one another. I’m continually observing my staff, as well as the animals. This ensures that my team never becomes complacent nor disengaged from any potential danger around them.

What are the biggest & smallest animals you’ve worked with? Pound for pound, which were the most challenging or time consuming to work with?

The biggest animal I’ve ever worked with was a white rhinoceros named Boom Boom- his weight was estimated at well over 5,000 lbs.  Ironically, he was also the most docile and affectionate animal I have ever encountered! The smallest hoofed animal in my care is an addax. These small antelope weigh on average 80-120 lbs. Pound for pound, the addax is much more dangerous and temperamental than the rhinoceros. I attribute the aggressive nature of the addax to their need to bluff at predators and make themselves appear more intimidating than their size would assume. The rhinoceros has size on his side and doesn’t need to put on a show to be intimidating to potential enemies. 

Many people ask how they can get started working with animals. What advice would you give them and where they should start? 

The zoo field is uber-competitive. Who doesn’t want to work with exotic animals and get paid to do it? Every year, there’s an army of college grads that enter the zoo work force and it’s important as an interviewee to give yourself an edge. A four-year degree is a necessity. Internships at zoos or other exotic animal facilities will set a candidate apart from the rest. When working with hoofstock, experience with other large animals, whether exotic or not, is also appealing to employers.

What are the most valuable things park guests can do for the animals when they visit the park? 

The most valuable thing park visitors and wildlife enthusiasts can do for animals is to become more involved in animal conservation efforts worldwide. The animals at zoos serve as ambassadors for those in the wild that are currently threatened or endangered. At Out of Africa, we currently have 2 addax in our animal family that I’ve labeled “the poster animals for why we need zoos in the United States.” Some estimates say there are fewer than 300 addax left in the wild. Most guests that visit the park have never heard of an addax, much less seen one up close. Not only am I able to inform people that addax are a threatened species, but they create an emotional connection with Zara and Suri. I’ve found that guests are much more likely to participate in conservation efforts when they can identify animals as individuals with unique personalities, rather than just a cause or idea.

If you could tell the park guests anything, what would you say? 

I would tell park guests that participation in conservation efforts is more important than ever.  The ever changing geo-political landscape, habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and poaching all affect the delicate ecosystems that support wild animals.  I try to connect these ideas on my Safari Tours while also emphasizing recognizing the individual personalities of each animal so that guests can better understand the big picture and are more inspired to help.  

Thank you for your time and insight, Courtney! It’s certainly clear that not only does the park benefit from your work; the animals rely on your support as well.

To learn more about Courtney and her work with the Serengeti Group, visit the Meet the Animal Staff page.