What Goes on Behind Bars: Zookeepers Share Wild Stories, and We Will Never Look at Zoos in the Same Way

This article was originally published on travellergazette.com

Get ready to hear wild tales from the people who work with animals daily! Zookeepers have seen everything, from cute and cuddly creatures to downright dangerous interactions. They work hard to ensure the animals under their care are happy and healthy, but sometimes things can get a little crazy… We have compiled different stories from zookeepers worldwide who spill the beans on their craziest stories working with animals. Get ready to hear about close encounters with big cats, escaped primates causing chaos, and even mischievous peacocks…

#1: Peacock Problems

Can you imagine being a peacock and thinking it’s a good idea to stroll into the lion exhibit? Talk about a death wish! I guess sometimes animals aren’t exactly known for their intelligence. But hey, at least the lions are getting a tasty snack, right? I’m just kidding, of course!

As a zookeeper, I know that keeping all the animals safe is the top priority, even the silly ones like those peacocks. But seriously, how do they not know to steer clear of the lions? After all, they probably all grew up in the zoo, not in the wild, and don’t all have the strongest survival instincts.

#2: Calm Down, Chimp

I would never have guessed these things about chimps! I always thought they were cute little monkeys, but now I’m terrified. It’s crazy to think these seemingly harmless creatures could be so dangerous. I mean, ripping someone’s arm off? That sounds like something straight out of a scary horror movie.

It’s good that zookeepers are trained to handle these types of situations, but I can’t even imagine how scary it must be to come face-to-face with a chimp on the loose. I think I’ll stick to the herbivores – perhaps even a lion or a tiger. They seem to be much less bloodthirsty…

#3: Don’t Look Up

Okay, note to self: don’t look up around the parrots! I had no idea that these birds were such expert marksmen when it came to their poop. It’s honestly impressive but also kind of gross. I mean, who wants to get hit with bird poop? And in the mouth, no less! 

I guess it’s all part of the job as a zookeeper, though – you never know what kind of surprises the animals will throw your way. But still, I think I’ll stick to admiring the parrots from a distance… A very safe distance, one where there’s no danger of any poop cannons.

#4: Beware of Zebras

It’s hard to imagine these striped horses being anything but docile, but I guess everyone has their breaking point. And poor kangaroos, they just can’t catch a break! First, they have to hop around on two legs all day, and now they have to worry about getting torn apart by zebras. That’s just not fair…

It makes me wonder what other animal rivalries are happening behind the scenes at the zoo. Maybe the hippos have it out for the giraffes, or the sloths secretly plot against the lemurs. Who knows what kind of secret animal drama is unfolding right under our noses without us realizing it?