During the third week in every July, AAZK (American Association of Zoo Keepers) holds the National Zoo Keeper Week. Not only does this week bring awareness of the continuing pressure for important topics such as conservation, but show appreciation to the extremely dedicated and hardworking keepers that spend their lives loving and caring for wild animals.

Zookeepers do not have an easy job. It is constant and daily care for animals in all weather conditions 24/7, 365 days a year. While the job is rewarding, it is far from easy. Their main job is making sure exhibits are well kept and cleaning up poop. While they do get the chance to feed them, possibly groom them, do enrichments, etc., their job is not what the media portrays it to be.

Many people believe that zoos are cruel to animals and that all animals belong out in the wild - that is not the case at all. Zoos help not only save species of animals, but teach the general community about the importance of animals' repopulation and how much zoos help animals. If a "zoo" is harming their animals and treating them cruelly, that is not a zoo.

I have been working at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan for four seasons now. While I have not worked one on one with our keepers, I have been to countless keeper chats and chatted with them in the office or on grounds about the animals and the dedication to their job that they have (and show) is out of this world. Our keepers here are the most generous and kind people I’ve ever met. They are the most hardworking individuals and truly care for their animals.

So, for the remaining portion of this week, thank a zookeeper that you might know. Their job is incredibly hard but at the end of the day, they should know that they are doing a wonderful job by caring for animals. While the keeper appreciation week is only a week, don't stop showing continuous love and support to them for all that they do. Without keepers, many animals would not only be without a home, but possibly extinct as well.