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Craig Saffoe, Biologist
African Savanna and Asia Trail

Craig Saffoe is a biologist at the Zoo’s Cheetah Conservation Station. Here he talks about what it is like to have such an interesting job.

How long have you been a zoologist?

I’ve been working here at the National Zoo since 1994.

What makes you like your job?

I’ve always wanted to work with big cats, so for me this is a dream job. I think the most gratifying thing about my job, though, is knowing that I am making a difference in the survival of such a critically endangered species.

Do you love working with animals?

I absolutely do! It’s great because you never know what to expect. There is always a challenge and you have to be prepared for any situation. Each individual animal has its own personality and it’s kind of cool to see them every day, get to know them, and watch as they get to know you.

What is the favorite part of your job?

I think I have two favorite parts of my job. One is that it’s an awesome feeling to know that every day I get to work with cheetahs. So I never dread coming to work. The other is that I get the unique opportunity to share my passion with visitors and help them understand the animals that I love so much.

What do you dislike about your job?

Just as people do, cheetahs sometimes get sick. I really hate watching sick animals and knowing that sometimes there is nothing we can do to help them. That’s a bummer and, to me, the worst part of the job.

What are your main responsibilities?

I have a lot of responsibilities here. The three primary ones are:

  • Taking care of the cheetahs—the basic stuff like feeding cats and cleaning enclosures, but also things like exercising the cheetahs and finding other means of enrichment for them. We exercise the cheetahs using a mechanical system that moves a white flag at about 40 miles per hour. The cheetahs can’t resist chasing the flag as if it were prey. In the wild, they chase gazelles and other smallish animals.
  • I am responsible for trying to breed the cats.
  • I do a lot of education—I get to talk to visitors and help them understand cheetahs better.

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