#zoo keepers as well

[h0wi1e]

Imagine if people just sometimes came to Wallace's enclosure just to rant and vent about random stuff, and Wallace ends up getting all the tea.

[farsailing]

I would never work at the zoo again because it was really bad for my health (and I’d have to work seasonally for years before getting hired full time there), but I really miss the animals :( Especially the bettongs and my favorite roo

Like I can absolutely visit and go see them, but that’s very different from spending hours with them, hand feeding them, giving chest scritches to some of the roos, and making rain showers for the birds with the hose :(

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

There's a viral video circulating from the Fort Worth Zoo, of two keepers who ended up in a habitat at the same time as a silverback gorilla. Spoiler for good news: neither the humans nor the gorilla got hurt. It's a bad situation that ended extremely well, and that's why I want to talk about it.

The audio for this video is mostly someone praying loudly, so if you need to turn the audio off to watch it, you won't miss anything relevant. If you don't want to watch it, here's the summary: it starts with a keeper running around the corner into the main exhibit, pursued by a large male gorilla. She is quickly able to get into a doorway at the back of the exhibit, but does not completely close the door because the gorilla is standing across from her, watching. He eventually moves off to the right hand side of the exhibit, where we can see a keeper is trapped in the corner at the front. She was trying to move towards the exit as he moved to the right, and she stops, standing very still behind a tree, while he stays along the far right wall. They stay like that for a minute, and then the gorilla runs to the front right corner, and the keeper is able to run to the door in the back of the exhibit and get to safety.

Let's start with basic information. Even though it's just going viral now, this video is from October of 2023. It was taken not by a guest, but by the zoo security officer responding to the situation. Hmmm, seems like he maybe should have been doing something else during that situation, instead of than taking a phone video. It's going viral now because the guy (who is no longer employed at the zoo) decided to post it on TikTok for his five minutes of fame. This guy immediately started giving all sorts of media interviews, answering questions like "why no tranquilizers" inappropriately, making memes out of his own video, generally distasteful shit.

Zoo spokesperson Avery Elander gave a public statement that "thankfully, there was no physical contact between keepers and gorilla, and all staff and animals are safe." A comment from the zoo has also indicated that the incident was due to keeper error. (As opposed to, for instance, something in the fencing breaking.) According to the guy who posted the video, a lock was left unsecured and the gorilla was able to open the door to the habitat. I don't know if I buy it, and again, this just... is probably why he doesn't have a job anymore. By sharing that detail - real or not - he places a ton of public scrutiny and blame on that keeper team. (If that's what happened, I can promise you it will have been dealt with internally.) He also was nice enough to say he wouldn't name the women in the video... but verified they're still staffers at the zoo... which means they're eminently identifiable! Excuse me while I ragequit for a second.

So there's two reasons I wanted to talk about this. The first is to make sure it is well known that this guy is purposefully and intentionally exploiting the worst day of someone's life for media attention. Their lives were in danger, and he's using it for fame. His name is in the media articles - I'm not going to share it because he doesn't deserve that attention. The second reason, though, is because this video is a masterclass on how to survive if you end up sharing space with a gorilla. Every zoo person I've spoken to or seen comment on the video is so, so impressed with how the keepers handled themselves.

The gorilla in this video is 34-year-old Elmo. All apes in AZA zoos are managed in protected contact, so keepers are supposed to be separated from them by a barrier at all times. The zookeepers were in the habitat putting out a mid-day meal when he got out. Watching the video, you can see he's not actively being aggressive towards them - he's not making threat displays or trying to approach them. Mostly, Elmo seems like he doesn't know what is going on and he's kinda freaked out about it. (This is confirmed in the zoo's press statement, too). The staff stayed calm, and importantly, watched and waited to see how he'd move and act.

The zoo did say one thing, though, that's a bit misleading. In one article, their press person I quote as saying “In general, gorillas are considered the “gentle giants” of the great ape species.” Just because this may be true in comparison to other great ape species doesn't meant gorilla aren't still incredibly dangerous. This type of messaging always worries me, because I think it leads people to misunderstand the risks of being close to megafauna. Gorilla are extremely strong animals, and their social norms/behaviors are very different from that of humans. That's why it's such a big deal any time people end up in gorilla habitats, and why sometimes in those circumstances lethal measures have to be taken to protect human life.

These keepers are incredibly lucky to be unharmed. These women stayed safe specifically because they're trained professionals who knew how to act around gorilla, they knew this particular animal well, and they'd learned the escapes from the exhibit just in case this ever happened. We should applaud them for their cool heads and quick thinking.

As for the guy who posted the video? As a colleague put it, may he always step on a Lego.

[sonofcelluloid]

Wake up, my love! I’ve purchased us two tickets to Thailand! We are going to visit the young Moo Deng! You’re aware how fond I’ve grown of her little dumpling face and well documented lust for blood. I plan to hypnotize the zoo keepers into letting us pet her. Pack your things! Quickly! I’d dread to interfere with her sleep schedule. And if we make good time I’d also very much like to fuck you on the beach where James Bond dueled Scaramanga.

[evie-sturns]

geronimo - 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤

summary: after matt suprises you and your daughter with an at-home petting zoo, your toddler has quite a hard time saying bye to geronimo the hedgehog.

contains: girl dad!matt, fluff, crying, tantrums, swearing.

-------------------------------------------------------------

"mama! look at germ-noni-mo!" layla squeals as she gently picks up the small hedgehog, a wide smile spread across her face.

she crouches down on the floor, clutching the hedgehog in her hands as matt sits on the couch.

"matt- you literally have to stop these suprises." i giggle, staring at the array of farm animals in my living room.

"god he does this all the time." nick laughs, crouching down beside a pig.

"look- laylas loving it though." matt smirks as layla trots over to the couch with geronimo clutched in her tiny hands.

"is she spiky?" i ask layla with an exaggerated gasp,

layla shakes her head, "no! he- he's just- i dont know" she smiles, bouncing up and down excitably.

"chris- that guinea pig is about to crawl up your shirt- be careful." matt giggles,

chris hands the guinea pig back to the keeper with a small laugh.

the petting zoo keeper starts to put the various farm animals back in the cage, securing them tightly and placing them in the line.

"layla, i think geronimo needs to go back to the petting zoo now!" i say softly, a large grin on my face as i try to sound as excited as i can, knowing that laylas already attatched to the hedgehog.

her face instantly drops, she holds the animal to her chest with a pout.

the zoo keeper stands beside layla, "im sorry sweetie! just gonna have to grab him from you." she says softly,

layla shakes her head with a whine, "but- no!"

"come on layla." i whisper, gently removing the hedgehog from her hands and handing it to the keeper.

i look over at nick, whos watching the whole situation unfold with a small grimace, chris stands beside him as layla continues to whine.

the zoo keeper genty puts geronimo back in his cage before packing up, ready to leave.

"but- mama- daddy no!" layla squeals, folding her arms as her eyes well up with tears.

"shhh, inside voice please sweetheart." matt instantly cuts her off, standing up off the couch and picking her up.

nick and chris help the zoo keeper load the cages out of the house into the van as matt and i try to cool down layla.

matt holds layla in his arms as he carefully walks down the hallway into matt and i’s bedroom.

i follow close behind, ready for the intense tantrum that’s on its way

matt sits down on the floor with layla, who’s absolutely fuming now.

i decide to let matt handle, so i start to clean up our room by wiping down the desk.

suddenly my ears are pierced with a blood curdling squeal.

“i want gern-oni-mo!!” layla screams, her little face fuming.

“layla no, we don’t use that voice inside, enough.” matt says sternly, grabbing her wrist as he holds her still.

“no! you stole him from me!” she yells, slapping her small hands at matt’s large wrist.

“enough, no hitting.” matt warns, his hands holding her sides.

she pouts as her bottom lips trembles, she folds her arms over her chest and plops down onto the floor in a fit.

“look at me layla.” matt speaks, his voice is firm but not raised.

“no!” she whines, balling up her fists at her sides.

i sit down on the desk chair, watching the whole situation unfold, letting matt handle this one.

matt reaches out to adjust her small pigtail, but he screams again.

“layla, enough.” matt raises his voice, standing up off the floor and looking down at layla.

layla goes quiet,

matt never yells at her. she’s basically his little princess, matt could never bring himself to be mad at his sweet girl.

her bottom lip trembles,

her eyes glaze over,

and she bursts into tears.

“oh sweetheart.” matt sighs, a hint of frustration still clear in his voice, but his tone is softer now.

he leans down and picks layla up, holding her in his tattooed arms.

he sits down on the bed with her, his large hands resting on her cheeks, gently wiping her tears.

“shh, shh.” matt whispers softly, peppering kisses to her damp nose.

“i understand you’re upset about the hedgehog, but what if i told you daddy had a suprise!” matt smiles encouragingly.

laylas ears perk up, she lets out a small hiccup as she nods.

“how about, on saturday, we take you to the petting zoo to visit geronimo!” matt grins,

instantly she cracks a small smile, she buries her face in matt’s shirt, trying to hide the fact she’s happy.

“yeah? you like that idea?” matt asks, gently pulling her away from his chest.

she nods frantically with a big smile plastered across her face

“you’ll get to give geronimo a big cuddle!” matt speaks, gently grabbing her chin and wiggling her face.

layla stands up on the mattress, bouncing up and down happily before jumping on top of matt.

“dada!” layla claps,

“do we- do we get to hold him aswell!” she giggles,

“yeah you do! of course!” matt grins,

layla squeals out of excitement,

“now can i have a hug?” matt asks gently, opening his arms.

layla fully body slams herself into matt, matt gently wraps his arms around her and presses a kiss to her forehead.

“i didn’t mean to make you upset earlier princess, but remember that using your inside voice is necessary.” matt whispers into her ear, keeping his arms wrapped around her.

she nods with a small pout,

matt puts his finger on her bottom lip, “what’s gotcha so pouty!” he smiles, gently pushing her small lips back.

she giggles,

“alright, now let’s get you some snacks.” matt speaks, standing up off the couch and picking up layla.

he carries her down the long hallway into the kitchen,

“are the carrots okay for your teeth? or would you like me to cut them up.” he asks layla, rummaging through the fridge,

“carrots ‘s okay!” she says, grabbing the whole carrot out of matt’s hand and gnawing on it.

matt carries layla down to the living room, plopping her down on the couch and putting on spongebob.

“you call me if you need anything okay? i’m just gonna be with mommy.” he tells layla,

she’s too absorbed in the tv to respond,

i hear matt’s gradual footsteps coming down the hallway until he reaches our room,

he walks in with a smug expression,

“did you see that? i’m a professional!” matt laughs, flopping down on the bed beside me,

“you are so adorable when you try to cheer her up.” i grin, resting my head on matt’s chest.

“but i do a pretty good job!” matt defends himself, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me ontop of him.

“mmmm.” i hum with a smile,

“you know i do!” he protests,

“okay maybe you do,” i crack with a smile,

matt nods with a smug smile, “what can i say.”

“such a good daddy.” i giggle, burying my face into matt’s shirt.

“oh my god- enough with that corny daddy shit.” matt groans, jabbing his fingers against my ribs.

“i saw the opportunity and took it.” i laugh,

i lay ontop of matt, propped up on my elbows so my face is inches from his.

i lean down and press my lips to his,

i can feel his smiles as he kisses me back, rolling us over so he’s ontop of me.

he peppers kisses all over my face,

“i got layla distracted with spongebob, we have some alone time.” matt whispers,

“so romantic.” i tease,

-

@sturnsdoll @obvisturns @stupid4sturniolo @meerkatzthings @witchofthehour @rosalierenee43 @gabrielle-brun1 @ilovemymannnnnnnn @sturnioloxlver @buckys-goodgirl @sturniol0s @ilovemymannnnnnnn @chr1sgirl4life @luanetaluenta @sturnsssbow @mattfangirl girl @luvr4miya @luvtay111 @lolasturniolo @freshloveforthefit @ruedowney @lovingchrissposts @333michelle @h3arts4harry @jamiesturniolo o @chrisstopherfilmed @ @daddyslilchickenfingers2 @ev3rgreenxtrees @certifiednatelover er @solarsturniolo lo @mattsenthusiast t @yomamaslays4lyfe @peachmels @alinaa131 @pepsiluvr0209 @creamoncreamoncream2 @szobofc @mattscoquette @blahbell668 @sturniolo04 @bitchydragonparadise @sturni0l0tripletzz @ratatioulle @sturnsfav @mattsonlybitch @justalittle47 @sunsetsturniolos

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[questions-about-blorbos]

People in my inbox trying to accuse Khao Kheow zoo of abusing Moo Deng and acting like they are experts who can point fingers and say the zoo and Moo Deng’s Thai keeper are unfit to take care of Moo Deng are so silly.

I’m Thai and I live only an hour drive away from the zoo. I used to visit the zoo frequently when I was a kid, and I — as well as any other Thai people — know the zoo does NOT abuse animals. It’s actually the opposite when they rescue and take in injured animals or animals who they rescued from abusive backgrounds.

Please don’t act like you know better than locals, who are familiar with the zoo and how they treat and save animals, just because you saw one TikTok post where a white person with white savior complex said Moo Deng was abused because her caretaker patted her on her butt a little too hard when they played, or because he manhandled her playfully when she, just like any other kids, threw a tantrum and tried to squirm away— even though Moo Deng’s mom, who could literally be seen eating next to Moo Deng when her caretaker “abused” her in those videos, trusts the caretaker to take care and look after Moo Deng for her and are always unbothered by the way Moo Deng is treated. (Because she knows Moo Deng is fine.) Just like how he took care of her other kids, Moo Deng’s older siblings, for the past 8 years.

And did I mention that Moo Deng’s older siblings are literally so clingy that they always demand to be close to their human caretaker? HE MUST’VE BEEN SOOOOO ABUSIVE TO THEM THAT THEY LIKE HIM THIS MUCH 😡

LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS (and gif) OF ONE OF MOO DENG’S OLDER SIBLINGS WITH HER CARETAKER (the same man who takes care of Moo Deng) AND HOW “SCARED” SHE IS / sarcasm

Anyway, this post explains so absolutely well why the baseless claims, about the zoo being abusive, are complete bullshit.

My favorite quote from them: “Please don't trust random (may I add racist?) foreigners on the internet over locals who actually knows what they're talking about.”

As a local who’s familiar with the zoo and has visited the place many, many times, Khao Kheow zoo and the caretaker NEVER abuse Moo Deng or any of their animals. Thank you.

*Please also follow and support the amazing, hardworking caretaker of Moo Deng and her family over at khamoo.andthegang — gif and all photos above credit to him

— peace and love, mod 2

[local-hellhound-steals-spaghetti]

Let's talk about zoo animal welfare for a second...

(And I want to preface this by saying I have a 4 year Bachelor degree in Animal Science (focusing in welfare and behaviour with a major in Canine and Equine Science) before I got sidetracked into zoo animals and did 3 internships working with wild canids, ungulates and marine mammals - this involved both hands on behaviour modification/desenitisation as well as hands off behavioural observation and welfare study. I worked for 2 years as a marine mammal specialist and worked specifically in facilities to improve husbandry, behavioural training and welfare practises.

I also worked in a facility in the Asia Pacific, working to improve welfare standards for bottlenose dolphins and continued to work with cetacean welfare researchers after this. I also did a course in zoo management, husbandry and welfare and this involved working in an accredited zoo facility learning things like exhibit design, behaviour management and husbandry with multiple species.)

So a few points to say about zoo animal welfare when discussing zoo standards and practises:

The average person does not have the expertise to do behaviour observation and welfare evaluation in zoo animals - that's why when the general public visits a zoo and says "the animal looks sad" it's worth being skeptical of that claim. But it doesn't mean a gut feeling about a zoo's quality can be completely invalid. Just that it might be worth researching further or seeking more information.

However, with experience, it is possible to analyse behaviour in the context of welfare. And context to that behaviour is always important (for example, Moo Deng showing stress related behaviour towards the specific context of being touched or followed around by her keeper - very much an indication of poor handling practises)

Poor animal husbandry and welfare is not limited to specific countries or regions, however it can be more normalised and accepted under the influnce of cultures and laws. Or even just the culture of the zoo itself such as the "this is the way we've always done it" places.

Being an accredited zoo is a start to good welfare, but it doesn't make any sort of welfare concern obsolete. And accreditation is supposed to ensure that welfare concerns are addressed but because they are mostly run as a volunteer based organisation, they often don't have resources to check into every concern (unless it's a government funded organisation)

A zoo contributing to conservation research is great, but not if it is at the expense of the animals' welfare - welfare should always be prioritised, with research and conservation efforts to follow.

Welfare is a state that is in flux. So a negative welfare state can move into positive welfare state under different influences.

There are multiple factors that influence zoo animal welfare: enclosure/habitat, expression of natural behaviour, guest interaction, diet, enrichment, water quality, hygeine ect. It'll rarely just be one factor, though it does depend how salient that factor is.

Just because a keeper or management of a zoo have been there for a long time, doesn't mean they can't be criticised - it is possible to be still using outdated practises and believing in methodologies and management practises that need updating - that's the whole point of continued education

Having limited resources can often impact welfare. Giving a facility the resources they need to improve is a good start to improving welfare.

Even if an animal is being handled in an inappropriate way for a short time, that doesn't mean that can't have long term implications for welfare eg. if every time your dog jumped on you when you got home and you smacked him in the face once before going on with your day, that doesn't mean that your dog won't learn negative associations with your arrival just because it was one time.

Best practise husbandry of zoo animals involves:

Use of positive reinforcement based voluntary husbandry and health care

All interaction based on choice and voluntary interaction that is reinforced with primary reinforcement such as food

Mostly hands off approaches for the species that require them (ungulates, large primates, large carnivores)

Relatively stable social groups with aggression only in specific situations/contexts that are normal for the species

Back areas for animals to rest outside of public view

Species appropriate habitats to meet species specific behaviour requirements

Five freedoms of welfare being met but goes above and beyond the bare minimum

Poor zoo animal husbandry involves animals:

Being forced into anything such as presentations, education programs, medical procedures/gating

Any use of physical punishment such as chasing, slapping, pushing or poking - negative reinforcement such as bull hooks are also fairly outdated in handling species like elephants

Being excessively handled, chased and touched/restrained for no reason (eg. for social media videos)

Showing signs of avoidance and aggression constantly towards their keepers

Have constant conflict happening in their social groups

Are living in enclosures that are not suitable for their specific specific needs - size is only one factor in this. Substrate, habitat design, water quality ect. are also things to consider.

Are too close to the public/at risk from the public

Have no areas to retreat from the public/rest away from potential stressors

Have no enrichment program/no daily enrichment

Those are all flags that there could be some poor welfare happening and that a zoo is not prioritising welfare

Okay there's the ramble of the day done. Feel free to ask questions for further clarification if needed.

[pol-ski]

Unique albino from Polish zoo named international penguin of the year

/© Gdansk Zoo, © Notes from Poland

An albino penguin born in a zoo in the Polish city of Gdańsk – the only one of its kind kept in captivity in the world – has been chosen as penguin of the year in an international contest.

Five-year-old female African penguin Kokosanka won almost 83% of public votes cast in the final round of March Of The Penguin Madness, an annual contest organised by Penguins International, an organisation committed to preserving and protecting penguins.

As a reward for her success, Kokosanka was presented by staff at her zoo with a cake made from herring caught in the nearby Baltic Sea, her favourite snack.

When Kokosanka hatched in Gdańsk in December 2018, her birth was initially kept a secret. Her carers feared that her albinism would mean she had poor health or that she would be rejected by her parents and other penguins.

Although Kokosanka was indeed initially rejected by her parents, with the support of her keepers she has grown into a healthy adult, well integrated with the other 84 penguins living at the zoo on Poland’s northern Baltic coast.

She has also become an informal face of Gdańsk Zoo, which offers Kokosanka-themed merchandise to its visitors.

🤍!

[despazito]

I'm anti captive cetaceans but it is frustrating how well meaning people pressure aquariums stop doing live shows because a lot of those animals really do benefit from those performances as enrichment activities. They're already in tanks and now whatever novel experiences they got to have has been taken away just because it felt "wrong" on some dialectical level.

In general I think the angle of "exploitation" is not a very great approach to argue for better welfare, it's an extremely abstract and subjective measurement. We've come a long way from Barnum and Bailey style animal tamers. The reality is for a lot of intelligent animals in accredited zoos, getting to interact with their keepers and new humans is actually a highlight of their day and not some kind of torture they dread lol.

Idk people have it in their minds that a species probably not best suited for captivity must therefore be spending every waking moment of its life acutely suffering, but I don't think that's a fair assessment unless it's a neglected roadside zoom and it flattens nuance. A lot of the cases it's not so much "is this animal in a torment nexus" and more "can we simulate a good breadth of the species' natural environment and behaviours for them to really thrive" which I think is challenging for many giant, long lived, socially complex species with tight family bonds.

[thedisablednaturalist]

Apparently zoo visitors are throwing water and other objects at Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo that has become popular recently. If you love something why would you throw things at it?? and now the keepers had to limit visiting days to Saturdays and Sundays with each visitor having 5 minutes each. All because some people can't control themselves. How disgusting and disrespectful to the conservation efforts of the staff and zoo as a whole, not to mention showing complete disregard of the animals welfare as well. Pygmy hippos are ENDANGERED, with only 2,000 remaining in the wild. People should be HONORED for a chance to see this magnificent animal. God it pisses me off so much when people treat animals like god damn disney animatronics rather than living creatures. And usually they do this shit for tiktok views.

[charliemwrites]

Mm today I’m thinking about kidnapped-by-Simon scenarios.

Specifically, I’m thinking about this big scary man essentially treating you like a well-loved zoo animal. Like a rare specimen that needs to be protected. And he is your keeper.

He feeds you, waters you, grooms you. You’re obviously not allowed to roam around! But you’re “enclosure” (an admittedly comfortable but heavily modified safe house) is big and full of enrichment to keep you “happy” and warm and safe.

He knows wild animals are to be treated with respect, even if they’re fragile. They’ll lash out when scared, they just don’t know better, it’s not their fault. So, he’s endlessly patient with you, coos when you get your teeth in his hand, gently croons “oh I know, you’re big and scary” when you scratch at his arm. When you demand he lets you go, he soothes “it’s not safe out there, you have to stay here.”

He uses his stealth to his advantage to just watch you wander about your pretty cage sometimes. Curled up with books. Picking through the pantry for snacks. Running off frustration on a treadmill. Putting together puzzles or watching tv.

Sometimes he just sits. At first you skitter off to another room, shocked he doesn’t follow and impose himself. Soon you realize it’s safe to stay, but keep a healthy distance, eyeing him in distrust. He’ll speak at you without expecting a response, never tries to coax you closer or approaches.

Eventually YOU get curious about HIM. You start to respond when he speaks, even if you glare when he smiles like you’re a cute chattering bird. You inch closer and closer, because he speaks so quietly and there’s only so much you can stand your own company.

One day he comes in with a bunch of bags. You poke your head around the kitchen door, eyes narrowed as he pulls things out. Flour, sugar, vanilla….

“Are you baking?” It’s the first time you’ve initiated. He carefully doesn’t look up.

“You are, if you want.”

A long beat of silence. “What am I baking?”

“Whatever you like. I’ll pull up a recipe.”

You decide on a cake. You want something sweet. He prints out a recipe from his phone and lets you snatch it from his hand, stands back to watch you work. You even let him mix for you when your arm gets tired, backing only just out of reach this time.

And when the cake is done, you let him have a piece, muttering a sullen “thank you” that he’s quick to reward with a gentle “good girl”. Your nose scrunches, but he notes the way your cheeks flush as you flounce off in a fit of haughty embarrassment.

[13uswntimagines]

3 More Days (Alessia X Leah X Child!R)

part of the Big Emotions Universe. Set before Big Emotions and Cookies for Luck

Summary: It's your first World Cup. Your first time in Australia, and the first time you ever had to be away from your Mama thanks to the stupid FIFA rules. The truth is that neither of you are dealing with the separation well. You just need to make it 3 more days.

warnings: none. soft angst if you squint, otherwise it's just a cute kidfic.

You decided you did not like Australia. 

You didn’t care if they had cute koalas, and a super cool aquarium, and people with cooler accents. 

You didn’t care that Uncle Luca had taken you to meet a turtle named Irwin, or that he let you and Squirt pick out a new stuffed octopus friend (you and Squirt hadn’t decided on a name yet). 

Australia was mean. Your mama was mean. 

The stupid soccer rules that said you couldn’t stay in the shiny hotel with her were mean. 

All of her teammates were mean. 

You did not like Australia. 

You frowned at the field, wiggling in your seat as the keepers jogged out of the tunnel for warmups. 

You decided you did not like the World Cup either. 

“Why the long face Tiny?” Uncle Luca asked you, adjusting your turtle jacket. 

Your shoulders lifted and fell, and a little crinkle appeared between your eyebrows as Mary took her place in the goal in front of you. “No wike it,”

He hugged you, lifting you from your seat into his lap. “What don’t you like?” 

You leaned back into his chest. Your little shoulders shrugged again. “No wike it,” 

“Ok,” He sighed. “Do you want a cookie? So Mama has good luck against Australia?”

He pulled a small chocolate-covered cookie out of your turtle backpack, offering it to you. 

Your nose scrunched as you pushed it away. “No wan it,”

You didn’t care that it was your favorite, the one with oranges in the middle. You didn’t want your mama to have good luck. 

You just wanted to not be in Australia. 

You wanted to be back in your apartment that Leah sometimes visited. 

You wanted to not have to say bye to your Mama after the game. 

“Alright tiny,” He said, slipping the cookie back into your backpack, and pulling you closer to him. “Hey look, Mama is coming,”

He hoped that seeing Alessia would pull you out of your funk. 

You had been… moody, even for a 2-year-old, ever since you landed in Australia. You hadn’t been able to fly with the team, but Alessia and Luca ensured you got to see your Mama daily. And the days you couldn’t, Uncle Luca and Nona did their best to distract you with trips to places like the Aquarium, the Zoo, and the beach. 

It seemed to work at first, but with each passing day, your smile dimmed, and your interest in their planned activities dwindled. 

Even your favorite pastime, watching your mama play soccer, didn’t pique your interest. 

Your eyes followed his hand, watching with halfhearted care as your mama finally emerged from the tunnel, chatting with your Aunt Ella and Lucy. 

You waited for her to look up. 

To wave to you like she always did. 

But she didn’t. 

You sunk back into Luca, your gaze drifting away from your mama, and towards Mary just as she dove for a save. 

She caught the ball easily, rolling her shoulders as she stood, and glancing back towards the crowd who cheered behind her. She smiled when she saw your tiny form bundled in Luca’s lap, sending a wave your way. 

You brightened considerably, lifting your hand in response, and nudging Luca. 

“Mazza,” You mumbled, pointing towards the keeper. 

“She’s pretty good, isn’t she?”

You blinked toward the new voice, taking in the sight of your second favorite person. 

“Leah!”

You launched yourself towards the defender, uncaring of the fact that she was still on crutches. The force would have knocked her over had she not been standing against the guardrail. 

“Hey Bug,” She said as you buried yourself in her neck, clutching her England jersey like you thought she would disappear. 

Things had been difficult since she had torn her ACL and hadn’t been able to visit you and your Mama as much as she liked.

Her rehab was difficult and consumed her. It was why Alesia’s brother and mother had been tasked with caring for you during the tournament. 

“Hey,” You mumbled back, keeping yourself tucked into her neck. “No go? Stay now?”

“Yeah Bug, I’m going to stay and watch the game with you,” She promised, rubbing your back. “We’re going to watch your Mama win,” 

She shifted, settling into the chair next to your Uncle, and pulling you into her lap. You didn’t look up, ignoring when she waved towards your Mama and received a wave back in return. 

You missed how Alessia stared at the two of you, and the unspoken conversation that passed between them. 

The continuation of the conversations they had been having since before you left for Australia, and Fifa had announced the rules that banned children from the team hotels. Since Serina had reached out to make sure that You would be taken care of during the tournament. 

A conversation that both women knew wasn’t over yet. 

But warmups were not the time to continue it. 

********

Leah was worried. 

More than worried. 

You were normally like a ray of sunshine. You followed a game with rapt attention, cheering, and booing like it was in your blood. You waved at the players you knew and got excited when they waved back, especially if it was mid-match. 

Today, you just… didn't. 

You seemed wilted. Tired. 

You barely peeked out of her chest, even after the game had started. 

“Hey look, they’re getting ready for a corner,”  Leah said, bouncing you a bit as the teams set up in front of you. 

You glanced up at her, both eyebrows raised. “Flying header?” 

“Maybe,” Leah hummed, running a hand through your wild curls. “You’d have to watch to see,” 

Your nose scrunched immediately. 

“No wike it,” You grumbled, pressing yourself impossibly closer to Leah’s chest. 

“What don’t you like bug?” She asked you, trying to coax you out of your hiding place. 

“Elle is going to take the kick,” Luca added, nudging your arm, trying to get you to look. 

You didn’t.

You whined loudly, clutching Leah’s jersey impossibly tighter in your little fingers. 

They shared a look. 

You were not a winy child. 

You didn’t generally get fussy unless you were tired or sick. 

“Ok bug,” Leah sighed as Elle lined up for the kick, raising her hand as the rest of the team jockeyed for position in front of goal. “It’s all ok,” 

Elle’s foot hit the ball with a low thump, sending it flying in a perfect arch towards your Mama’s waiting head. 

All it took was a perfect flick, and it was in the back of the net. 

Alessia’s eyes immediately found the two of you as the stadium erupted. 

She expected you and Leah to be cheering too. For you to be clapping and happy like you normally were any time she scored. 

Instead, your face was buried in Leah’s neck, Lucas's hand rubbing your back. 

She frowned, raising her eyebrow towards the pair. 

Leah shrugged, rocking you gently. 

Neither of them knew exactly what had upset you. Only that you apparently didn’t want or like whatever it was. 

“Mama scored!” Luca cheered, rubbing your back more insistently. 

You turned your head to blink at him. 

“No want it,” You mumbled miserably, a contrast to the excitement still buzzing around you. 

Leah sighed, gently scratching the back of your head. “I know bug. It’s ok,”

“Nooo!” You screeched, shaking your head, because she didn’t know. No one knew, and no one was doing anything about it. 

They just kept telling you that it was ok. 

It wasn’t ok. 

“Ok, let’s take a walk tiny,” Luca scooped you out of Leah’s arms easily, already sensing the impending meltdown. “I think I saw a cool turtle shirt and a snack,” 

It was becoming a twisted routine of sorts. You becoming frustrated and overstimulated, and Luca would take you for a walk to try and distract you from the big feelings you didn’t have words to explain. 

Your hands twisted in his shirt and you tucked yourself into him, quieting more quickly than Leah thought you would. 

“Nack,” You repeated. 

“Yeah, let’s go get a snack,” Luca said, bouncing you gently. “We’ll bring one back for Leah too,”

He winked at the defender, as he headed up the stairs towards the concessions, and you peeked over his shoulder at her as he carried you away. 

She sent you a little wave, smiling slightly when you waved back. 

She hoped that things would look up for you now that she was here. She was by no means Alessia, but she had integrated nicely into your life since they had started dating (and she hoped the upcoming move to London would only strengthen the relationship you shared). 

Hopefully, the familiarity and the plan her and Alessia had made would help to pull you out of your funk.

*******

“Hey love,”  Leah sent Alessia a wide smile as she approached the Friends and Family section.

The game had ended in a neat 3-1 victory and Alessia had completed her mandatory lap around the field with the team. 

Normally you liked to join her, holding her hand and playing with your aunts, but you hadn’t been waiting at the rail behind the bench with Luca like usual. She noticed that you hadn’t even been in the friends and family section. 

Leah wrapped her in her arms as soon as Alessia helped her down onto the field. “Your goal was fantastic,”

“Thanks,” Alessia’s smile was half-hearted, exhaustion clear in her blue eyes as she supported the blonde who was still mom weight-bearing on her leg. “Where’s Bug?”

“Your brother disappeared with her to find a snack before halftime, and they haven’t come back yet,” Leah said, glancing in the direction the two of you had gone. “She’s having a hard time,” 

Alessia followed her eyes with a sigh. “Beyond,” 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so sullen,”

“It’s only getting worse, I think,” Alessia ran a frustrated hand through her hair, tugging lightly on her ponytail. “I don’t know how to fix it,”

Alessia had always been an incredibly involved parent. She had raised you herself, with a little help from Luca and her parents. She wasn’t used to being away from you for the night, much less days on end. 

It broke her heart each time you cried when she had to say goodbye. And it killed her how you had retreated back into yourself with each passing day. 

You had even started refusing phone calls with her so she could read you your bedtime stories. 

It was clear that the Fifa restrictions were taking their toll on both of you, but she felt powerless to stop it. 

Even Serina hadn’t been able to get her an exception. 

Leah caught her hand, pulling it to her chest and drawing all of Alessia's attention back to her. The striker met the defender’s eyes, and warmth leached into her chest. It was something bright and safe. 

It was the thing that had made Alessia fall in love with her to begin with. The thing that had allowed your mama to feel comfortable enough with Leah to introduce her to you. 

“We’ll figure it out together,” Leah said,  her voice sure and soothing. It made Alessia believe her. “I’m here to help,”

Alessia let out a shaky breath. “I don’t like being away from her,”

Leah pulled her closer, and she buried her face in Leah’s neck much like you did. “I know. We’ve only got one more game, and then we will be bringing the World Cup home,”

“Three more days, and then the FIFA rules don’t apply,” Alessia agreed, letting Leah’s words calm her. “We can make it 3 more days,” 

“We can make it 3 more days,” Leah said, kissing Alessia’s forehead, just as Luca appeared with you at the top of the stairs. “Between Me, you, and Luca, she’ll make it 3 more days too,” 

Alessia pulled away, glancing up the stairs. Her breath caught again when she saw you, clutching Squirt, a dark blue stuffed octopus and her brother for dear life at the top of the stairs. 

You didn’t look out from your hiding place in his chest as she carefully made his way towards them. 

She pulled away from Leah when he got to the rail, making sure she was stable on her crutches before reaching for you. 

“Hey cuddle bug,” She sent you a blinding smile, reaching out for you. “Do you want to come down to the field?”

You peeked out at her as if you were contemplating the decision. You had never not willingly gone to her before. 

It took you a long second before you shook your head and tucked yourself back into Luca’s chest. “No like it,”

Her shoulders drooped, and she had to fight to keep the corners of her lips from turning down. “Alright,” 

It was like a dagger in her chest, deflating her and sending a sinking feeling through her stomach. It was a feeling of total failure. 

She had failed you, and you didn’t want to go to her. 

It was like an invisible wall of glass had erupted between you. Like there was a barrier she didn’t know how to pass keeping you from her. It was like she was the polar bear in the zoo that you had been too terrified to look at. 

Leah rubbed her back, and Luca bounced you lightly, sending her a sympathetic look. 

They just had to make it 3 more days. 

She just hoped you could both hold on that long. 

[yanderecrazysie]

Twisted Zoo: Chapter 11

Prologue (beginning): here

Previous Chapter: here

Next Chapter: here

Note: THE TAGS BROKE AGAIN, I'M SO SORRY!

This is based on the stories of a keeper reader with the octotrio by @ashensgrotto and @merakiui

Also @twistedcece @cenatour @xiaopleasecomehome @bearshideout @koebishrimpuwu @vash-yuu @twstsandturns @help-whatdoimakemyusername @secret-potion @magmdnv @sunshine-for-serotonin @the-ace-reader @mel-star636 @silkkorchid @pamv11 @coffee-or-hot-cocoa @hrhqueenfox @goseew @luxthestrange @juno-of-wonderland @who-mst @despairingy-obsessed @lanxianschoenheit @ceramic-raven @m0063576 @kimdourden @rammylog @sushiperson @starshiningsirius @im-here-for-the-fun-of-it @the-monochrome-jester @owodi @girl-nahh-two @obeythehuman @berry-efoy @ivorette @the-broken-truth @losingmybrain @sxftiebee @queens-unheard-thoughts @medicine-san @strugglingsleeper @asdorlia @nightskylark @cashmerek @rocketstyx and @ryovel wanted to be tagged! Let me know if anyone else wants to be tagged for future chapters. If you no longer want to be tagged, please tell me! (I have removed the tags that weren’t working for me, apologies if yours was removed!)

Summary: You’re a brand new zookeeper at The Halfling Zoo- a place where half-animals live in captivity. Your job is simple- feed them and study them. Your main worry is that one of the more dangerous halflings might kill you. 

Unfortunately, that may become the least of your worries.

WARNINGS: yandere themes

Note: All characters are aged up, since there will be mature themes in future parts.

Also, I can’t promise I’ll finish this. I suck at finishing stories.

NOTE 2: Sorry that it took over a month to write this, but I needed inspiration + my new job is kicking my butt. It’s pretty short and bad but I didn’t have a lot of inspiration.

—-------------------------------------------------------

You were on your way to the birds’ enclosure when you heard your name being called. You turned around to see Crowley making his way towards you, one arm raised to flag you down. You hurried over to him.

“Yes, Mr. Crowley?”

As you drew closer, you could see the concern on his face. 

“I need you to come with me,” he said softly, leading the way to the aviary. You nodded and followed him, worry starting to consume you.

“Is everything okay?” you asked.

Mr. Crowley led you around to a side of the aviary you hadn’t been to before- a side that faced neither the employee entrance nor the zoo visitors. It took only a few seconds to realize why he had led you there.

The metal enclosure had been dented outwards, as though a lot of force had been applied to it from the inside. The seams were starting to split apart, artificial light from inside the enclosure peeking through the cracks. It looked like an elephant had been body-slamming the aviary’s walls.

“Wha- what happened?” you asked, stunned.

“We’ve had some… incidents recently. All of the halflings have been acting up more than usual and, as you can see, there’s been some damage to the aviary’s metal dome.”

“But the birds are so well-behaved!” you protested in shock.

“That’s the thing,” Mr. Crowley said gravely, “It seems to happen after your visits. The halflings become… agitated when you aren’t around.”

You couldn’t believe that the gentle, friendly birds had caused this kind of damage to a metal enclosure. And because of you? It was almost unthinkable.

“I don’t understand,” you said in a near whisper, “Why would they do this?”

Mr. Crowley sighed wearily, “Halflings form strong bonds, that’s why we have so many bonded species at this zoo. They will especially latch on to anyone who shows them true kindness. You clearly mean a lot to them and your absence upsets them.”

“I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” you said, a pang of guilt tugging at your heartstrings.

“I know, and I don’t blame you,” Mr. Crowley reassured you, “But we need to find a solution.”

“Do you have any ideas?” you asked.

Mr. Crowley went silent and avoided eye contact. A thrill of apprehension shot up your spine but you willed it away. Mr. Crowley would never put you in danger, right?

“For now, just continue as normal,” Mr. Crowley replied, “We’ll work on fixing the enclosure.”

You nodded and the zoo director dismissed you with a careless wave. You hurried to the enclosure’s employee entrance and were disturbed to hear, instead of the usual quiet, the sounds of squawks and hoots and other cries. 

You stepped inside and were surprised by the scene you were met with. The halflings were clearly distressed: pacing in their cages and looking around wildly, feathers fluffed up in agitation. Even calm-and-collected Vil looked ruffled.

“Guys? Are you alright?” you called out softly.

Ace was first to respond, “Where were you?” he demanded to know, voice tinged with panic, “You’re late! You’ve never been late before!”

“I’m sorry, Ace,” you said, trying to sound as soothing as possible, “I was talking to Mr. Crowley about some… problems with the enclosure.”

Ace’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “Problems? What problems?”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” you said, feeling a little nervous by the intensity of his gaze. Glancing around, you could see that every bird halfling had their eyes trained on you.

Trey flew from his birdhouse to his perch, landing gracefully on the wooden perch and fixing you with a stern glare and saying, “You can’t disappear.”

You nodded, trying to calm them all down, “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

Vil stepped forward, his beautiful feathers out of place and ruffled. His eyes were narrowed and he was frowning as though disappointed in you, “You always leave us.”

You were overwhelmed by all of their intense gazes and you felt a lump form in your throat. “I’m here as often as I can be.”

Epel looked up at you with watery eyes, “We worry when you leave. Not safe out there.”

You forced a gentle smile to your lips, “I’m perfectly safe. And I’m here now. Let’s all calm down everyone, okay?”

Slowly, the halflings relaxed. Rook stopped pacing, Vil smoothed his feathers, and Trey flew back into his bird house. Even though the tension had mostly disappeared, the underlying worry and hint of possessiveness remained.

You turned to Deuce, who hadn’t spoken yet, but instead looked at you wistfully. “Are you doing okay, Deuce?” you asked.

Deuce’s eyes softened, but the troubled frown remained on his face, “I’m fine,” his voice was strained, “I missed you.”

Your heart ached, “I missed you too,”

Ace piped up in an annoyed tone, “Why can’t you just stay here with us?”

You blinked in surprise, “I have a life outside the zoo. I’m sorry, but I can’t stay here.”

It was Cater’s turn to speak, and the expression he gave you made your stomach twist unpleasantly, “You’re too good to stay with us halflings, mademoiselle? We do not have a life outside this zoo, but we deserve that, don’t we?”

“Wh-what? Of course not!” you spluttered.

“Then stay!” Epel whined, a tear sliding down his cheek.

“I- I can’t,” your voice came out in a whisper. You shook yourself and turned around, heading for the staff door,  “I’ll go get your meals…”

There was an eerie silence as you passed out their meals. Each of the halflings took their salads and set them aside, their appetites gone. The tension in the air was so thick you thought you might choke on it.

Finally, the time came for you to leave. As you turned towards the staff door, a hand grabbed the back of your shirt. You turned in surprise to find Riddle outside his enclosure, his pink feathers standing on end.

“Promise… you’ll come back.” Riddle choked out, fighting back tears.

You turned to him and gave him a gentle smile before pulling him into a hug. “Of course I’ll come back.”

“Promise!” he demanded.

“I promise.”

With the way they all looked at you, with victory and possessiveness, you halfway wondered if you had sold your soul with that promise.

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

The Woodland Park Zoo is my home zoo, and the possibility of a strike has been brewing for a while. The staff at the zoo have been working without a union contract for over 200 days because the zoo is unwilling to pay them a living wage.

Zookeepers around the country are consistently underpaid, and Seattle is an incredibly expensive place to live. The zoo is losing animal care staff rapidly - I've been told they'd lost five keepers and a vet tech to another nearby AZA zoo this year alone - because they can't afford to live here. And I've been told that because there's no contract, the zoo is on a hiring freeze, which means they're perpetually understaffed.

Photo credit: Yulia Issa

There was an informational picket outside of a big event last month, which got a ton of community support. Then the only content the zoo put out for National Zookeepers Week was a single post about how much gratitude the staff are owed, which... hmmmm, came off a little tone-deaf in the current moment.

Now it looks like staff might end up striking to make their point, after almost a year of negotiations.

"Workers at Woodland Park Zoo, who are members of the Joint Crafts Council (JCC) Coalition of Unions, have been making plans to protect the animals if they go on strike. If the group of 200 workers is unable to reach an agreement with their employer over a new contract, they say they will run a skeleton crew that would provide necessary care to the animals but require the Zoo to close its doors to the general public. “We are making contingency plans to ensure the continued well-being of the animals if we are forced to strike,” said Janel Kempf, a learning coordinator who has been with the Zoo for 25 years and is a Shop Steward with Teamsters 117. “A strike is an absolute last resort and one that none of us takes lightly, but the Zoo keeps pushing us in that direction. If the Zoo doesn’t change course soon, we will have no other choice than to withhold our labor.” Negotiations between the Coalition of Unions and the Zoo have been ongoing for the last ten months with workers growing increasingly frustrated at what they say is the Zoo’s failure to value and retain an experienced workforce. “We are hemorrhaging critical animal care experience which directly affects the standard of care we can provide for our animals,” said Allison Cloud, an animal keeper and member of Teamsters 117. “The Zoo is forcing us to choose between our livelihoods and our animals, a heartbreaking decision no zookeeper ever wants to make.” Workers say low wages, the skyrocketing cost of healthcare, low morale, and high turnover have put the Zoo’s AZA accreditation at risk. Loss of accreditation could cripple the Zoo’s resources and lead to the transfer of animals to other accredited facilities. "Woodland Park Zoo cannot maintain AZA accreditation without us,” said Joe Gallenbach, an Exhibit Technician with IATSE Local 15. “The loss of AZA accreditation would demonstrate catastrophic mismanagement on the part of the Woodland Park Zoological Society.” The Coalition of Unions and the Zoo have one more bargaining session on the calendar: Friday, August 9. If the Zoo does not make an acceptable proposal next Friday, workers say they will take their case for fair wages and benefits to the public through direct, concerted action."

Now, when you bring the risk of AZA accreditation loss into the conversation, things get interesting. I've written before about how some zoos are legally or contractually obligated to maintain AZA accreditation and couldn't choose to leave. Woodland Park Zoo is one of those facilities: the agreement with the city that allows the Woodland Park Zoological Society requires them to be AZA accredited. If they lose it, they default on the agreement.

So, would there actually be a chance the facility could lose accreditation if the staff struck? I couldn't find any recent information about staff at other AZA zoos striking and how it related to their accreditation cycle, but I did find this, in an AZA press release about how the Aquarium of the Bay lost accreditation a few months ago.

"Silver Spring, Md. (May 24, 2024) –  The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Commission unanimously voted to rescind the accreditation of the Aquarium of the Bay.  The independent Commission notified the institution on May 13, 2024, following its conclusion that the aquarium was not meeting accreditation standards in a number of key areas, including financial stability, staffing capabilities, and employee morale and turnover. Aquarium of the Bay has until June 13 to appeal the Commission’s decision."

So it looks like staffing issues and employee morale can definitely be things taken into consideration. Let's look at the AZA standards for more info. I found a couple standards that appear to be relevant:

7.3 "There must be an adequate number of trained paid and unpaid staff to care for the animals and to manage the institution’s diverse programs." Justification: "Although there is no set formula for prescribing the size of the staff (paid and unpaid), some of the criteria that may be used to define what is considered “adequate” include the number and type of species within the institution, the general condition of the animals and exhibits, and past staffing practices."

7.4 "Compensation for paid staff should be competitive with other similar positions in the local/regional/national market, as appropriate." Justification: "Institutions must be able to recruit and retain qualified paid staff. Competitive compensation is a key component in recruitment and retention of paid staff. Some positions can be successfully recruited for locally, while others are competitive on a more regional or national basis (e.g., animal care specialists)."

Both of those look like they could quite reasonably be an issue for WPZ at this point. They're losing paid staff due to low wages and operating understaffed due to the hiring freeze. Staff obviously aren't getting appropriate compensation if they're looking for jobs at nearby facilities that pay better.

Now, would the zoo actually lose accreditation if a strike came to pass? Honestly, I doubt it, because WPZ is too big a feather in AZA's cap for them to penalize them that harshly. Columbus - an equally prominent institution - got kicked because of a major public animal use scandal, but it was pretty clearly political because of how quickly they were re-accredited. I'd expect AZA might give WPZ a slap on the wrist, some stern public comment, maybe some minor penalties, but I'd be very surprised if they were willing to kick WPZ to the curb over something "just" as minor as a staffing problem.

Regardless, zoo staff deserve to be paid a living wage. I'll be really sad if the zoo is closed to a strike once the snow leopard cubs get old enough to debut - but I'd still rather the staff be paid a living wage than be able to see the fluffballs immediately. I want the people working at the zoos I visit to not be living in poverty. Zoo staff pub in an incredible amount of effort to care for animal collections and to facilitate the guest experience, and they should be able to do that without multiple roommates or three jobs. I know that the practical reality is that not all facilities can afford to pay their staff as highly as is ideal, but I'd expect a big zoo with reliable city funding to be able to do better. Supporting the zookeepers (and other zoo staff) is supporting the zoo.

I'll be keeping an eye on this going forward, both from a personal perspective (I'm a member, and I have a vested interest in what the organization I give money to does) and a professional interest in industry politics (what does AZA choose to do). I'll update if there's anything interesting on either end.

[ragingbullmode]

im seeing very little coverage (at least on here) about how moo dengs popularity on the internet is leading to her being harassed at the zoo as well as how the khao kheow open zoo has a history of multiple cases of animal abuse for sake of entertainment (tw for the last link specifically- its a video that begins with a few seconds of moo dengs image but shows a baby elephant being stabbed & swat with a stick by a keeper for ‘discipline’).

while im glad that moo deng IS bringing awareness & a new love for pigmy hippos (which have a dwindling suggested 2000-3000 number population in the wild), i think we should also take into account that not all zoos/animal sanctuaries take the best interests of the animals they are supposed to care for to heart- especially ones that put more of a focus on entertaining tourists than caring for their animals.

[animals-why]

Giant African millipede at the Denver Zoo!

The keeper said that because these guys would thrive in Colorado (of all places), they have to have a special permit as well as incinerating anything the 'pedes might have had a chance to lay eggs in! We got to pet them!