- Zoos: A Historical Perspective from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
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From Erika Bauer, the Zoo’s first Fujifilm Curatorial Resident in Animal Care
January 2009
An Honor and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
As this residency comes to a close and the new year begins, I find myself reflecting on what this experience has meant for me here at the National Zoo. It’s been an outstanding learning experience. First, working at the Smithsonian—one of the foremost institutions in the fields of science and education—has been an honor.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo, with its team of animal care staff and research scientists, is one of the best places to work and to learn. It’s a stimulating environment filled with motivated people who are not just skilled in what they do, but who truly care about the mission of their organization: to provide leadership in animal care, education, science, and conservation. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to call the staff of the National Zoo my colleagues. The people I have come to know have influenced my career in ways they will probably never know and that I had never expected. And my experiences with the animals have truly been once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Very few positions like this curatorial residency exist, and very few zoos have the funding to support these kinds of career development experiences. That this residency program was ever even developed for the Zoo, and funded by Fujifilm, make it a rare opportunity in the zoological field. I feel very lucky to have been accepted into this program, and I hope that similar opportunities will be provided to other emerging scientists, conservationists, and zoo professionals in the future.
Beyond the uniqueness of this opportunity in the zoological field, I have learned over time that even within the National Zoo, my position provides many unique opportunities. During my first year here I was able to spend several days working in each of the animal units, shadowing keepers and learning about the challenges faced by each of the area curators. The ability to move through the different units within this one zoo is something that many members of the staff wish they could experience themselves, and although it is possible, it’s not so easy to coordinate. I was very lucky that a rotation through the units was built into my job description.
Working with each animal area was a great way to begin my training because I got to meet and spend time with pretty much every animal care staff member who was working here. Not only did this facilitate my future cross-departmental initiatives, but it gave me the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation for all of the expertise that exists within the individuals working at this institution. Much of our work takes place quietly, with little fanfare, yet amazing things are happening every day. Our success as an organization truly relies on our staff, and one of the biggest lessons I will take with me is that one of the most important responsibilities of a good manager is to hire excellent staff and then set them up for success.
Another advantage of training within each of the units is that I got to see how each individual unit functions, and what the staff in every area must do on a daily basis. I’m so glad I was able to get into the muck of it! After cleaning many enclosures, working in exhibits in the harshest of weather conditions and experiencing just how unpredictable zoo animals can be, I have returned home most exhausted on the days that I performed keeper work. But I must admit, those days were also the most rewarding. There’s a certain pleasure in the physical work, in feeling prepared to deal with the unexpected, and there’s no better way to get to know the animals in our care than working with them directly.
At a big organization such as this ond, it’s hard to understand everything that has to be done to keep things functioning smoothly. For me, cross-training really helped when it came to implementing research projects that either had an impact on keeper staff or had to be designed in conjunction with daily schedules and procedures. But on a larger scale, it gave me an even broader understanding of how the Zoo works.
It’s easy to disappear into your own world while you’re here. There’s so much to do on a daily basis. And the Zoo’s campus is quite large—it’s difficult to move around and visit different areas without really making an effort to do so. Yet cross-training and the cross-pollination of ideas are so important. And because units and departments do need to work together on specific projects, it really helps to have at least a basic understanding of how all the gears work together and how one unit might be able to learn from another unit right here at the Zoo.
After all of my experiences here, it is difficult to wrap things up. I want the projects we’ve started in the time that I’ve been here to continue after I go. I want the internship program that we initiated to provide training opportunities to even more students who are interested in pursuing behavioral research careers. And I want science to continue to support the management efforts of our collection.
I know that all of this can happen without me here, but I’m very sad to have to say goodbye to such a wonderful organization and such an exceptional group of animal care professionals. The National Zoo is a very special place. It touches the lives of so many animals and so many people.
I thank you for following my stories in this diary and I hope that these journals have given you enough a glimpse into the experience to appreciate this special place, and the special people here, as I have come to appreciate them.
