Welcome to the “Keeper Korner” at Out of Africa Wildlife Park, your exclusive portal into the fascinating world of wildlife care and education. Each month, we feature in-depth Q&As with our dedicated keepers, offering you a unique glimpse into the lives of our beloved animals and the passionate individuals who care for them. Discover the secrets behind the daily care of lizards, tigers, giraffes, and more, learn about vital conservation efforts, and get answers to your most curious wildlife questions. Whether you’re an animal lover, an aspiring zookeeper, or just eager to learn, the Keeper Korner is your go-to destination for all things wildlife. Dive into our interactive, educational experience and connect with the heart of Arizona’s premier wildlife park.
Check Out Our Keeper of the Month
Hello! My name is Armando and I’ve been working at Out of Africa for a little over three years now. I am the assistant managerof the Serengeti department but I also worked in the reptile and hoofstock departments!. I am a big fan of megafauna, so all of your large herbivores, great apes, big cats are major favorites of mine, but my all time favorites are the elephant followed by the gorilla.
Keeper Questions
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How did you become a Keeper?
I got my bachelor degrees in Environmental Science and Biology. After that I did some internships – one with tigers at In-Sync Exotics in Wylie Texas, and one in Point Arena at the B. Bryan Preserve with Giraffes. After that I came to work at Out of Africa!
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What's your favorite part of being a keeper?
As a kid I always enjoyed dinosaurs, so I always enjoy the larger animals – the giraffes, the rhinos, it’s the closest thing I get to being able to work in Jurassic Park, especially being able to being able to be on the ground working with these guys.
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What's the hardest part of your job?
The physical aspects of the job – the animals eat a lot of food. Bales of hay can weigh up to 50 to 70 pounds. It’s a lot of muscle, a lot of running around.You always have to be ready to react and alert – be ready to whatever the day might bring.
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Tell us about Zebras!
There are three different species of Zebra. Plains zebra, mountain zebra, and the Grevy’s Zebra. Plains Zebra are the most populous, with over 100,000 in the wild, but these numbers are declining. You can help support Zebras by supporting organizations such as the Grevy’s Zebra Trust (these are the largest Zebra, and the one that is most in danger – there are fewer than 2000 in the wild).
https://www.grevyszebratrust.org/conservation-status/
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Can my class submit questions to ask keepers?
Of course! Submit questions as a class, under the teacher/school name. No more than ten questions per class. We will try and answer them all, and will let you know if your classroom is selected as the questions of the month! Thank you for helping and being curious about our animals and our Keepers lives!
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Have additional questions?
For questions regarding memberships, please call us at 928.567.2840 or email us at [email protected].
Submit your questions!
If you are a classroom, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your questions all on one form. List your teacher’s name, the school, the class and the town. Limit your questions to no more than TEN, and try to only ask about one animal or area of the park. IE: Mr. Smith’s 3rd Grade Class from Harrison Elementary in Denver Colorado, asking about lizards, or Jericho the Rhino. We will let you know if your class is selected, and answer all your questions!