Welcome back to Zookeeper Diaries, dear readers! In today’s post, we continue our series in which different zookeepers share their worst day ever working at the zoo. This time, we hear from Thomas, a reptile keeper who had to deal with an unexpected disaster that put the lives of the reptiles he cared for at risk. Let’s dive into his gripping and unforgettable story.
Thomas had been working as a reptile keeper for several years, and he knew the ins and outs of maintaining the delicate balance required for the reptile house. One rainy day, however, that balance was severely disrupted.
“I remember that day clearly,” Thomas recalls. “It had been raining non-stop for days, but we never imagined it would lead to such a catastrophe.”
As Thomas entered the reptile house that morning, he was met with a scene of chaos. A pipe had burst overnight, flooding the entire building and putting the lives of the reptiles at risk.
Thomas: “Oh my god! The entire reptile house is flooded! I need help in here right away!”
Supervisor: “Stay calm, Thomas. I’ll send help immediately. In the meantime, try to assess the situation and prioritize the animals’ safety.”
As the water levels continued to rise, Thomas and the other zookeepers worked frantically to evacuate the reptiles to temporary enclosures.
Thomas: “We need to get the snakes out first – they’re the most vulnerable to drowning!”
As the team worked together, they managed to save every reptile in the house, despite the incredibly challenging circumstances.
After hours of hard work, the last of the reptiles was safely moved, and the zoo’s maintenance team arrived to assess and repair the damage.
Thomas: “We got them all out. Thank you, everyone, for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Supervisor: “Great job, Thomas. Now let’s get this mess cleaned up and make sure this never happens again.”
In the aftermath of the disaster, the zoo took steps to improve the reptile house’s infrastructure, ensuring that such an event would never occur again.
Looking back, Thomas says, “That day was the most challenging of my career, but it also taught me the importance of teamwork and the resilience of the animals we care for. I’ll never forget the feeling of relief when we saved the last reptile from the flooded building.”
Join us next time on Zookeeper Diaries as we continue to share the incredible stories of zookeepers’ worst days on the job. Don’t forget to subscribe and share our blog with your friends and fellow animal enthusiasts!
Until next time,
Alex