- Zoos: A Historical Perspective from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
The National Zoological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
AZA
Invertebrate Exhibit
How did you become interested in animals and becoming a keeper?
I’ve always been fascinated with the ocean, as long as I can remember. I also had aquariums when I was young, and it eventually grew from keeping freshwater to saltwater. Keeping marine aquariums professionally just seemed a natural fit.
What made you interested in the animals you work with?
Through scuba diving. Once I learned to dive, I was taken by the bounty of life underwater and the absolutely foreign world surrounding me. The more I learned about corals being the ecosystem builders of coral reefs, the more fascinated I became with them.
What’s your typical day like?
It starts with a systems check: check that the air compressor, water pumps, and chillers are functioning normally. Then I look at all the animals and exhibits to see if there is anything out of the ordinary and/or if anything needs fixing. I check temperatures of the tanks, organize the volunteers’ duties for the morning, and orchestrate any needs.
Can you give some examples of how a typical day changed quickly to an atypical one?
If a pump has shut down or if a tank has sprung a leak—either of those scenarios will change my day very quickly.
What's the most interesting thing about the animals you work with?
Corals, at first glance, are very simple animals. Yet, the more I learn about them, the more complex I realize they are. For example, it’s amazing to me that these brainless animals (corals do not have a brain—they have, what we call, a “nerve net”) have timed their reproduction to the same hour of the same few days of the same months every year. Truly amazing.
Read about Mike Henley's coral conservation work.
What is one thing you think most people do not know (or understand) about the job of an animal keeper?
We all work in a zoo; however, we are all very different. We are certainly not all built to work in just any exhibit with any animal in the Zoo. Personally, I am most comfortable working with and designing marine ecosystems. If I had to go work in one of the large carnivore exhibits, for example, I would be completely out of place. We all have our strengths and specialties.
How do you incorporate each animal's natural habitat and behaviors into its daily routine?
Well, the basics that corals needs are salt water, strong lighting, clean water, and plenty of “flow” (or water movement). So, we are trying to recreate the ocean in a box. To achieve this, I have various combinations of high-intensity lights to try to replicate the sun, filters to clean the water, and water pumps to simulate ocean currents and waves. And the corals get an assortment of plankton to eat.
How do you continuously expand your knowledge about each animal?
I read numerous books and scientific papers. I also speak with aquarists at other zoos and aquariums, and work alongside researchers from the Smithsonian and universities. I think spending as much time in the field—the coral’s natural habitat—is integral to understanding them better and learning more about them. In short, LET’S GO DIVING!
