WHY I LOVE MY JOB:

Large mammal keeper, Zoo Atlanta

Job: Large mammal keeper, Zoo Atlanta

What I do: Ever wonder what it takes to entertain an elephant? Harwood, a keeper at Zoo Atlanta, not only finds new ways to keep pachyderms entertained but also feeds them, cleans up their messes and trains them. The entertainment side of the job is called enrichment. "We fill their day, keep them busy and happier," he said. One device keepers use is a barrel with two short pipes cut into it that is suspended over the elephants' heads. The elephants can rotate the barrel, and fruit falls out of the pipes.

KARL RITZLER/Special
Kenn Harwood gives 24-year-old Victoria a reward of chopped-up carrots at Zoo Atlanta. While the animals aren't trained in a circus sense, it's important for keepers to be able to coax them to move in certain ways when it's time to eat or get a checkup. Making sure the animals are engaged in challenging activities is an important part of the keeper's job.
Harwood, 36, and the other keepers also provide enrichment for other large mammals, including lions, giraffes and pandas, the zoo's prize exhibit. Stimulation uses scent, sounds and hidden food to bring out natural behaviors the animals would exhibit in the wild. "You won't see a keeper do much of anything," he said. "But the animal will investigate an object or act on a scent -- mark over it or rub it." The keepers also give the animals toys and food puzzles. "They are more than just fun; they enhance natural behavior." Training won't turn the zoo's animals into circus performers. It's a reward-based way to teach the animals to go where the keepers want them to go and do what they're supposed to do for feeding, cleaning or medical checks.

What got me interested in this: "I was always interested in animals as a kid," Harwood said. "When I went to college, I kept coming back to animal stuff."

Best part of my job: "Just being here, coming to work and doing things people dream of doing -- being with animals," he said.

Most challenging part: "Coming up with new and interesting things for the animals to do that are safe and cost-effective." Harwood also finds it a challenge to "find new ways to educate the public about the animals."

What people don't know about my job: "This job is more than feeding and cleaning. Enrichment is a big part, training is a big part and education is a big part." Harwood conducts "keeper talks," during which he tells the public about the animals and conservation efforts. He noted that, because the animals are wild, keepers don't deal with most of them face-to-face in their environments. "Much caution is needed," he said. "There's always a barrier between us and the animals." Through a system of gates and holding pens, animals are isolated out of an exhibit until the keepers have finished setting up enrichment activities or leaving food.

What keeps me going: "Knowing I'm making a difference in animals' lives. ... People get an appreciation of animals, which helps the animals here and in the wild through conservation." And when people get to know the animals, they develop a bond with them.

Preparation needed for this job: After getting a college degree, usually in biology, candidates should get internships or volunteer at zoos or similar places, where they can learn the basics of animal keeping from the bottom up, Harwood suggested. Harwood earned his zoology degree at Michigan State University and worked at the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science and at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida.

- By Karl Ritzler, for ajcjobs. Got an interesting job that you love? E-mail your story to jobseditor@ajc.com.