Celebrating 130 Years—Together

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Today we`re introducing Krystin Maloney, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA.

Krystin has been a zookeeper for nearly 12 years and is approaching her 10-year anniversary at DZCA this fall. And her tattoo is a tribute to a bird who taught her some of the most important lessons of her career.

🦅 Tucson the bay-winged hawk is 22 years old and one of the most meaningful animals Krystin has ever worked with.

Tucson is shyer than his female counterpart, Sonora, and building a trusting relationship with him required patience.

About six years ago that patience was tested in the most profound way. Tucson injured his wing and needed surgery and rehabilitation and it was their bond that helped him through it.

"Our relationship gave him the chance of recovering his ability to fly and taught me patience and commitment to a goal."

Tucson and Sonora live behind the scenes as part of our Animal Ambassador team, but you just might spot them during Wild Encounters around the Zoo! 🌿

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether @ninjakixxtattoo

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Introducing Gracie Gilbert, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA and a keeper whose tattoos represent unique chapters in an extraordinary career. 🖤

Gracie has been a zookeeper since 2019 and joined our team in 2024. Her ink tells the story of three animals who shaped her into who she is today:

🐐 Seamus the West African pygmy goat was Gracie`s very first training assignment at Houston Zoo was helping a mischievous pygmy goat stop knocking over small children. What followed was one of the most unlikely and meaningful partnerships of her career. She pitched turning Seamus into an Ambassador Animal, and he thrived, mastering over 20 behaviors, doing on-stage shows, campus walks, and even virtual painting demos during COVID. "He was my greatest achievement and my closest, most unexpected animal friend."

🦜 Molly the blue-and-gold macaw, described by Gracie as "the golden retriever of macaws," Molly won over even the most self-proclaimed non-bird-people with her sunshine energy and endless antics. Their conversations doubled as comedy routines, and the quiet moments were just as precious. Molly can still be seen at the Denver Downtown Aquarium! 🌊

🐦 Meep the greater roadrunner — Meep was Gracie`s baby bird. Even as a full-grown adult, he followed her everywhere at her heels, wings flapping, trilling away. "To be loved by one has no comparison."

Stay tuned tomorrow for our next keeper spotlight! 🐾

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Today we`re introducing Amanda Ostroske, Seasonal Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA and a keeper with a meaningful tattoo tradition.

Amanda has been a zookeeper for three years and joined our team four months ago. And in that short time, one animal has already made a permanent mark:

🐒 Vinh, our female white-cheeked gibbon.

Amanda gets a tattoo of an animal she`s worked with to commemorate every research project, internship, and seasonal role she completes. A living, breathing portfolio of every chapter in her journey. 🖤

"Vinh has the sweetest personality, is fun and challenging to work with, and is unlike any other animal I`ve cared for. I decided she would be perfect to capture my experience at DZCA."

The result is a stunning line art portrait: delicate, simple, and perfectly suited to an animal as graceful as Vinh herself.

You can meet Vinh for yourself! Look for her at the gibbon boardwalk up in the trees or swinging on her ropes, as gibbons do. 🌿

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether