In this episode, Debbie talks with Sam, a former student who has blended her love of teaching with her passion for animals to become a primate keeper at Wellington Zoo. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a biology minor, Sam now spends her days caring for tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and lemurs, while also teaching visitors and school groups about conservation.
Sam reflects on the teachers who inspired her, the lessons she loved during her degree, and how learning about human development now helps her read her audience and create meaningful learning moments at the zoo. She shares her path into zookeeping, including the resilience it took after being rejected from the certificate course the first time, and how volunteering opened the door to her dream job.
Listeners get a glimpse into her daily routine—from feeding and enrichment to talking with visitors and running close encounters. Sam also speaks honestly about the realities of the job, the joy of working with primates, and the strategies she uses to look after her wellbeing.
Her story is a powerful reminder that an education degree can open many pathways, and that following what you love can lead to unexpected, fulfilling places.
Hosted by Debbie Ross
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Thanks for listening!
