ANIMALS & NATURE 2. DECIDE IF THE MOVE IS RIGHT FOR YOU. Michelle—Having had previous experience with primates, carnivores and hoofstock, this was the perfect opportunity as The Downing Gorilla Forest keepers care for gorillas, colobus monkeys (primates), leopards (carnivores) and okapi (hoofstock). I knew of Sedgwick County Zoo’s great reputation as a leader in animal care. Plus, the exciting plans for the future were exactly what I wanted to be a part of.
Michelle & Kivu’s
Kivu—The professionals that monitor the gorilla SSP decided that Kivu would be a great match for Matt. It would be his first time as the silverback in a family group. Kivu, having had family group experience, was the best choice to help him out in his new role. Plus, with the possible addition of more females, Kivu may have the opportunity to watch another female raise a baby. Since she has never successfully raised her own, seeing how it is done first hand could be a big help to her.
10 TIPS
for Making your Move 1. HAVE A GOAL. Michelle—After spending nearly 10 years as a firefighter/ paramedic in my hometown of Tampa, FL, I was ready for a career change. I made the switch to zookeeping and never looked back. I worked with many different species but knew that my heart was with great apes. I had experience with chimpanzees and orangutans but really wanted to work with gorillas. Kivu—Kivu was cared for by humans when her mother was unable to. She was born in Chicago and lived in a few other places, most recently in Philadelphia. However, she needed to find the right situation for having a family of her own. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) is responsible for making breeding recommendations for many endangered species, including gorillas. They were charged with finding the best genetic match for Kivu.
3. FIND A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. Michelle—I knew if I was offered the job, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to travel to Wichita again to look for a place to live. So while I was here for my interview I checked out a few apartments. Of all the ones I saw, I only really liked one. After I was offered the job, I called the complex and they had one available apartment. It was perfect timing! Driving around also gave me a chance to see a little bit of Wichita and I knew I really liked it here. Kivu—When the SSP decides that two animals should breed, it can vary who moves between the male and the female. When it was determined that Matt and Kivu would be a good match, they decided that it would be best for her to move to Wichita. We had just moved three boys to another zoo and had the room. Plus, our success with bachelor groups proved we were ready for a family group.