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
Addam Krauch, the Assistant Manager of the Large Carnivore Department at Out of Africa, has been with the park for six years, where his lifelong passion for animals has driven his successful career in zookeeping. Known for his dedication, Addam’s favorite aspect of his job is working closely with the lions. Among his memorable experiences is a hilarious enrichment story involving Cypress, the grizzly bear, who enjoyed a birthday treat by rubbing her face in jello cakes. Addam also recounts his dirtiest job, crawling through a muddy drainage pipe to assist in capturing a nuisance alligator in Texas. Having worked with clouded leopard cubs, he considers them the most adorable animals he’s encountered. Addam advises aspiring zookeepers to be patient and gain experience through volunteering and internships, emphasizing that while the path to becoming a zookeeper varies, it is always rewarding and fulfilling.
Follow Addam on Instagram to learn more about the fun animals she works with https://www.instagram.com/addamkrauch
Keeper Questions
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What is your greatest achievement as a keeper?
When I first started, Jabari Katanga and Askari were only a month old. They were born here at the park in 2018. It’s a bit unusual, as we don’t have cubs born onsite very often. For us carnivore keepers, its definitely an absolute privilege to raise these guys. One of these coolest things is not only getting to see them grow up to be nice, big handsome lions, but also keep maintaining the relationship that we have with them along the way. We are considered part of the pride, and that’s an absolute privilege, in my opinion.
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What skills do you need to be a keeper?
you need a lot of different skills to be a zoo keeper. Not only because you’re working with these animals, but you’re also in charge of making sure all these habitats are good to go as well. So you need to understand how to take care of animals and their needs, whether that’s going be the food that they eat or any sort of vitamins or supplements that they might need as well. But you also have to be kind of handy too. We’re constantly doing little fixes on different things, like their ponds, decks – so you need to know how to use power tools and things like that, and understand how different equipment works.
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Are there any animals that are friends?
Absolutely!
So we’re actually talking about lions, really the only true social cat out in the wild. And so because of that, these guys, of course, they live in their pride groups. They’ll actually do things like cheek rubs with each other, and make sure that they are familiar with each other. We have several groups of lions in the park. We actually have three trios of lions, if you will, and they get along absolutely great. -
How do lions communicate?
Lions don’t necessarily understand the words that we are saying, but our tone of voice. So when we are with the animals, an easy voice is a calming voice. Also, it’s not just verbal communication – a lot of it is body language. If I am afraid of the lion, they will pick up on that. If I am stiff, they will notice. So I try to be fluid, relaxed.
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Do you have to go to school to be a zookeeper?
In the past, there were a lot of different ways to become a zookeeper. Now, most facilities are going to be requiring some sort of degree in life sciences, whether that’s biology, ecology, or so on.
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How do you keep the animals healthy?
We start with their diet, making sure it’s as healthy as possible, and that they maintain a good weight. On average, a feeding can be 100 lbs of meat for a lion. We feed the lions three times a week – it’s important for their metabolism. They also get different supplements and vitamins. We also check their pads and coats to make sure they are healthy, and trim their nails for them. Another important aspect is their mental wellbeing. Scent enrichment, – fun fact- coffee is one of their favorite scents – is a rewarding experience for the lions. They like playing with toys, and also freeze pops, where they work meat out of them.
Submit your questions!
If you love animals and have a question – ask! We would love to answer your questions about our animal friends and what it’s like to be a Keeper!
If you are a classroom, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your questions all on one form (attach below). 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, etc. We will let you know if your class is selected, and answer all your questions, in a special Keeper Korner!
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