Zookeeping

Zookeeping, an interview with Jeff Poulsen. Conducted by Kathy Lester.

饲养员工作——杰夫·波尔森访谈录 凯西·莱斯特 采访

Jeff Poulsen is a lead zookeeper at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Interviewer, how did you become interested in being a zookeeper? Jeff, I was working for the Metroparks, the city park system in Cleveland, Ohio, at the stables when I heard about a position at the zoo. I started working at the Birds of the World building and later transferred to the African Animal Area where I've been for 17 years. Growing up on a farm, I've always liked working with hoofed animals. Cows and horses are related to giraffes and zebras, so their behaviors and body structure are similar. But there are also a lot of interesting differences. I learn new things every day.

杰夫·波尔森是克利夫兰都会公园动物园的首席饲养员。 记者：你是怎么对饲养员工作产生兴趣的？ 杰夫：我当时在俄亥俄州克利夫兰的城市公园系统都会公园工作，在马场时听说动物园有空缺职位。 我最开始在世界鸟类馆工作，后来调到了非洲动物区，已经在这里待了17年。 我在农场长大，一直都很喜欢和有蹄类动物打交道。 牛和马和长颈鹿、斑马亲缘关系近，行为和身体结构都很相似。 不过它们之间也有很多有趣的不同之处。 我每天都能学到新东西。

interviewer. What skills do you need? Jeff, observation is the most important skill. You have to be able to look at a group of animals and figure out what's happening. Maybe they're getting sick, or one is going to give birth, or they're not all getting along. These are wild animals that can be dangerous, so you need to use a lot of common sense.

记者： 这份工作需要什么技能呢？ 杰夫：观察力是最重要的技能。 你得学会观察一群动物，弄清楚它们身上发生了什么。 可能是它们生病了，或是有动物要生宝宝，又或是它们相处不愉快。 这些都是野生动物，可能会有危险，所以你得具备足够的常识判断。

interviewer, which kinds of animals are you responsible for? Jeff, I'm a lead keeper, a working supervisor over our African savanna and the Rhino Monkey Island area. I oversee many animals including giraffes, zebras, antelope, ostriches, vultures, and native African birds. We run mixed species exhibits where we have birds and mammals that are safe together in the same yard.

记者：你负责照顾哪些种类的动物呀？ 杰夫：我是首席饲养员，负责管理非洲稀树草原和犀牛猴岛区域的工作。 我照看的动物很多，有长颈鹿、斑马、羚羊、鸵鸟、秃鹫，还有非洲本土鸟类。 我们运营混物种展区，把可以安全共处的鸟类和哺乳动物放在同一个园区里。

Interviewer, what do you like most about your job? Jeff, I get to work independently without someone telling me what to do. Everyone finds the position they enjoy most in the zoo business. Some people enjoy working with the monkeys or birds. The hoofed animals are my favorites. We've had many giraffe babies born here, and I enjoy working with them.

记者：你最喜欢这份工作的哪一点呀？ 杰夫：我可以独立工作，不用别人指挥我做这做那。 在动物园行业里，每个人都能找到自己最喜欢的岗位。 有的人喜欢和猴子或是鸟类一起工作。 有蹄类动物是我的最爱。 我们这儿出生过好多只长颈鹿宝宝，我很喜欢照顾它们。

Interviewer. Do you come to care a lot about each animal, as you would with a pet? Jeff. It's hard to avoid getting attached to certain animals. Zoo care has progressed a lot, so animals live longer than they used to. I see illness and other problems developing as an animal gets older, and I have to make decisions about how to care for an older animal. Sometimes the animal is suffering and it's best to put it to sleep.

记者： 你会不会像对自己的宠物一样，对每只动物都产生很深的感情呀？ 杰夫： 很难不对特定的动物产生感情。 动物园的护理水平进步了很多，所以动物比以前活得更久了。 看着动物年纪变大，慢慢生出疾病和其他问题，我得做决定怎么照顾年迈的动物。 有时候动物承受着巨大痛苦，安乐死就是最好的选择。