Zoo Keepers Take Care of Your Favorite Animals

National Zoo Keepers Week is July 19-July 25

The Virginia Zoo is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of zoo keepers during National Zoo Keeper Week, Sunday, July 19 through Saturday, July 25.

“We’re encouraging guests who visit us this week to say ‘thank you’ to our keepers,” says Greg Bockheim, executive director of the Virginia Zoo. “The work zoo keepers do is critical. Not only do they care for the health and wellbeing of your favorite Zoo animals, they are ambassadors for conservation and species survival. Their work with captive populations constantly teaches all of us more about animal behavior and health. This knowledge has proven to be instrumental in our industry’s work to protect and support wild populations, too.”

Zoos and aquariums offer hope for many endangered species through conservation research, release programs and by creating opportunities for the public to view and appreciate wildlife. Zoo keepers make this work possible through their care of animals and by raising public awareness through education and exhibition.                                                        

National Zoo Keeper Week was created by the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) to honor animal care professionals. There are 6,000 professionals in this field in the United States.

At the Virginia Zoo, dedicated keepers are responsible for the care of over 350 animals. Their achievements this year have included:

• Healthy birth of four lion cubs in May through the Species Survival Program (SSP)
• Introduction of new male red panda to the Zoo’s existing female, with the hope of breeding them in the future through the SSP
• Birth of six-banded armadillo pups – the Virginia Zoo is one of only two US Zoos with this breeding program
• Birth of Bongo calves -- The Virginia Zoo has participated in release programs in the past for this endangered African animal
• Hatching of Angolan pythons

The Virginia Zoo is open daily so visitors can come and appreciate our animals and their zoo keepers from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.virginiazoo.org  or call (757) 441-2374.