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Laurie Thompson, Animal Keeper Giant Pandas Great Apes & Other Primates

How long have you been a panda/primate keeper?
I have been working at the zoo with the pandas and primates since 1994.

What makes you like your job?
I spend my day with the most amazing animals! I get to know them as individuals and discover their unique personalities. It’s a job I look forward to going to every day.

Do you love working with animals?
Yes! Even when I am having a bad day, they always do something that makes me smile. I love to watch the pandas somersaulting in the snow, or the gorilla youngsters wrestling each other. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have this job.

Is there any particular individual animal or species that you have come across in your experiences that stands out as being among the most memorable or fascinating? If so, why?
Each species is fascinating and has its own appeal. Primates are very intelligent and they always keep you on your toes. Pandas are so unique. There is so much that we have to learn about them, so every day is exciting. I feel very lucky to work with both primates and pandas. The birth of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian's first cub had been one of the greatest experiences of my career.

What is the favorite part of your job?
I enjoy interacting with the animals. We don’t go into the enclosures with the animals, but we can still form relationships with them. One of my favorite parts of the day is training the pandas. We are training them to allow us to draw blood, take radiographs, and do ultrasound on them without having to anesthetize them. This training takes place in a special training chute. The pandas enjoy their training so much that they don’t like to leave the chute!

What do you dislike about your job?
There really isn’t anything I really dislike about my job. It is difficult when animals get sick or die. And it is not a Mon-Fri job. We have to work weekends and holidays, and we have to work when it snows! But it is worth it just to have the opportunity to work with such amazing animals.

What are your main responsibilities?
Basic care of the animals involves: monitoring for health problems, medicating, preparing diets, feeding, cleaning enclosures, providing environmental enrichment, writing daily keeper reports, talking to the visitors, etc. I also do training with the animals, assist with medical procedures, cut bamboo for the pandas, monitor web cams, assist with research, work special events at the zoo, etc.

What was your career path that led you to the job you do today?
I have always known that I wanted to work with animals. As a child, I wanted to become a marine biologist and work with whales/dolphins. In college, I became interested in primates (especially apes). I have a degree in Biological Sciences (with a zoology concentration) from the University of Maryland. While going to school, I volunteered at the zoo as a keeper aide in the ape house. When I graduated, I was hired as a keeper.

What advice would you give to students who may pursue a job like yours?
I would tell them to get a degree in either biology or a related field. They should get as much animal care experience as possible. Volunteer at a zoo, animal hospital, humane society, or even horse farm. Take your pets to obedience classes to learn about animal training.