by Chad Petri
Published: Tue, May 20, 2008 - 5:58 am CST
Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:35 am CST
While the rhino is safely behind his iron bars, I litter his yard with some brown banana treats. My guide this morning is Amber Myers. She says her passion and commitment for animals is all the reward she needs.
“Not everyone can get that close to a black rhino an almost extinct animal or a hippo and train and command them so you're able to cut its teeth or trim its teeth or be that close to it,” says zookeeper Myers.
After making sure the electric fence is energized, we coax the young rhino into the yard. Big animals move when they want to
“You read your own animal and you know what they're displaying you can react upon that,” says Myers.
“If they're in a bad mood I'm going to leave them alone ultimately it's whatever they want to do.” African Brown Horn Bills are birds of prey. They get mice and chicks for a snack, but you have to let them think they're still in charge by dangling it in front of them.
“You want them to think they're the ones killing it so you dangle it, they think it's alive they're going to be more likely to come up and eat it,” says Myers.
The birds also get raw meat. The strange food and close contact with animal waste doesn't faze Myers.
“Just wipe it on your jeans and go on to the next thing,” says Myers.
“Maybe at lunch I'll wonder if I washed my hands today. I've done it for so long it just won't affect me.”
Watch the other stories in Chad's Tough Stuff series:
Tough Stuff: Tiny Diny
Tough Stuff: Auto Mechanic
Tough Stuff: Firefighter
Do you have a job that you think is Tough Stuff? Email us at mornings@wkrg.com. Chad may try his hand at your job in a future Tough Stuff series!
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