The Dirty Business of Being a Zookeeper

It’s not all cuddles and cute baby animals...

Animals are Rhonda and Mike’s world. Between them, these two passionate, experienced Aussie Zookeepers have clocked up over 40 years in zoos, wildlife parks, and conservation-plus they’ve run two animal education businesses, worked as truffle-dog handlers, army dog handlers, wrangled camels, mucked out stables, assisted in vet clinics, staffed pet shops, and volunteered as wildlife carers. From birds and reptiles to mammals and marsupials, they’ve worked with just about every kind of creature you can imagine.

But being a Zookeeper isn’t always glamorous.

This book dishes the real dirt-straight from the horse’s mouth. You’ll get the highs and lows of zoo life: hand-raising adorable animals, forging bonds with dedicated keepers, and collaborating with other organisations... along with animal escapes, injuries, deaths, mental health struggles, a range of management, behind-the-scenes politics, and even a little Zookeeper romance and drama.

Turns out, it’s not always the animals that are the hard part.

The Dirty Business of Being a Zookeeper shows what it really means to care for animals in captivity-and why being a strong voice for their welfare can sometimes put you at odds with the system. You’ll also learn what it takes to become a Zookeeper, from the essential hands-on training to the daily grind that most people never see.

Zookeeping isn’t just a job-it’s a way of life. And for the lucky ones, it really is a dream come true.