Taking its inspiration from the United States, where Congress is currently working to ratify legislation designating July 15-21 'National Zookeeper Week', the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) is using the same dates to show its own appreciation for all of its dedicated and hardworking zookeepers.

Most visitors to the popular Flatts facility have no idea what it takes to maintain the animals and their habitats. In fact, it takes a dedicated team of keepers, lead by Robin Marirea, to carry out all of the day-to-day management and care of the animals.

Among the huge range of duties the zookeepers fulfil are diet preparation, animal well-being and enrichment, exhibit cleaning, habitat design and maintenance, education, and public interaction through animal encounters.

Their duties apply to 80 different species, and they have 288 different animals under their care, including mammals, reptiles and avians, all of which have very different needs and requirements.

Many zoological institutions have become the final hope for Endangered Species recovery programmes, and are making a positive difference through conservation research, release programmes, and by offering a window through which the public can appreciate and learn about disappearing wildlife.

The majority of the animal species housed at BAMZ are on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) 'Red List of Threatened Species', or are at risk of being added soon. This makes the jobs of the zookeepers even more important. These animals are ambassadors for their species, raising awareness and motivating the public to take action to help their threatened relatives in the wild.

All of the animals' needs at BAMZ are specific, and require specialised attention. Public awareness of those which are endangered can help to make a difference for that species' survival.

"The most rewarding part of the job is the animal interaction," senior zoo keeper Claire Porteous said. "Keepers are assigned to specific sections of the zoo, so that the animals in those locations get to know the keeper on a one-to-one basis, and even enjoy the interaction, enrichment and stability which these keepers bring to their lives."

The zookeepers' official work week is of 37.5 hours, but the animals don't clock out for the day and head home to their families at 5 p.m., so it is often necessary for these dedicated individuals to devote additional time to ensuring that coverage is maintained 24 hours a day, seven days a week when urgent situations such as storms, animal illnesses or births occur.

Now that Bermuda in the midst of the 2007 hurricane season, it is also timely to draw attention to the preparations BAMZ zookeepers take to ensure the safety of all the animals.

Many of the Zoo exhibits maintain an open air environment, which is great for the visitors and animals on sunny summer days, but would leave the animals over-exposed in hurricane-strength conditions, so they must be placed in enclosures which can provide the shelter, food and water they will require throughout the storm. Areas and articles which could prove dangerous in high winds must be secured, and at least two staff members are required to remain on duty to ride out the storm at BAMZ.

During a storm, these brave souls must deal with any problems which arise, as well as ensuring that the animals are as safe and comfortable as possible — something they describe as "just another day in the life of a zookeeper".

While the spotlight is on the BAMZ zookeepers in the week ahead, they, in turn, wish to recognise the time and energy put in by their valued interns, volunteers, junior volunteers and staff.

"Running a facility such as BAMZ would not be manageable without the dedication of so many individuals," a spokesperson said.

As the need to protect and preserve our wildlife and vanishing habitats has increased, so too has the role of zookeepers as educators and wildlife ambassadors has become essential. The BAMZ is asking the public to join with it in expressing appreciation for all the dedicated individuals who care for the animals during the week of July 15-21.