Celebrating 130 Years—Together

🐾 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

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Meet Disa Peery, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA and a keeper whose tattoo is a love letter to two very special boys. 🖤

Disa has been a zookeeper for 13 years and has been part of our team for 10 years. And on her skin are two animals who permanently claimed the top spot on her favorites list.

🦏 Rudy the black rhino and Sekele the okapi.

Disa`s tattoo was commissioned for Rudy`s 30th birthday in 2023, drawn by her artist @jacquelyntattoo from photos Disa took of them herself. But the story behind it goes much deeper than a birthday gift.

As a Night Keeper, Disa`s interactions with animals look a little different: less feeding, more presence. And it was that dynamic that made her bond with Rudy so extraordinary.

"We developed a relationship without food. His response to me when seeing or hearing me was not because I was a food source, but because we had an actual connection."

Sekele won her heart the same way, showing up for scratches and love, no food required.

Rudy was humanely euthanized in late May, and Disa was fortunate to be by his side with the rest of his loving care team. Sekele, however, is still thriving here at DZCA and you can currently find him in the yard across from Kamala Cafe. Keep an eye out for his upcoming move to the front of the Zoo! 🌿

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Today we`re introducing Meryt Schumacher, Animal Care Specialist in Carnivores here at DZCA, who carries her love for polar bears with her everywhere she goes. 🐻‍❄️

Meryt has been part of our team for 16 years, and in that time, few animals have left a mark quite like Lee, one of our beloved polar bears.

When the polar bears left Denver Zoo in 2018, Meryt honored her time with the species the best way she knew how: with a tattoo of Lee`s footprint. 🐾

"Lee was incredibly smart and loved enrichment. Not only did I love working with them, but I also enjoyed teaching our guests about the species."

But Meryt`s connection to polar bears goes far beyond the Zoo. In 2015, she had the opportunity to participate in Polar Bears International`s Climate Alliance program, traveling all the way to Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears in their native habitat and deepen her understanding of the species and the climate threats they face.

"It was a remarkable experience for me and really drove how much I love this species."

Stay tuned for our next keeper spotlight! 🐾

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #PolarBears #SavingWildlifeTogether