Name: Kara Hamman, age 27.
Profession: Large Carnivore Keeper at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona.
What do you do for a living?
I work at Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary in the carnivore department. I provide care for a number of different animals like wolves, bears, tigers and lions. My day as a zookeeper involves cleaning habitats, preparing diets, providing vet care and enrichment for the animals.
What type of training do you need for your job?
Zookeepers have a lot of backgrounds. I personally got a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and conservation Biology. I then went into Environmental Education, where the classroom is outside and I taught kids about different ecosystems. A lot of the lessons involved our ambassador animals like birds of prey, snakes and small mammals that I also provided care for. From there, I decided I wanted to be involved in more animal care and most of my training included hands on experience at the
different facilities I have worked at.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love many things about my job which makes it hard to pick! One of the best times of the day is when we give the animals enrichment. Enrichment is something that that gives animals a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise. One way we do this at Out of Africa is our Tiger Splash
show. With the Tiger Splash we are able to provide play, exercise and trigger their natural hunting instincts all in one!
What did you want to be when you grow up?
I’ve had a love for animals since I was a little girl. I have always told people I wanted to take care of lions and monkeys. My favorite channel to watch was Animal Planet and I was greatly inspired by the legend, Steve Irwin. I always knew I was going to work with animals in some capacity and help
conserve the natural world.
What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career?
You can do anything you put your mind to! If you want to work with animals, you can start getting hands on experience now. You can volunteer at your local animal shelters, farms or even start your
own dog walking business. I also watched a lot of animal documentaries and read books that gave me a lot of useful information that still use today.
What’s do you like to do when you are not working?
I like to hike and kayak and spend time outdoors. You can always find me lounging by the river in the summertime!
Give us one fun fact about you that is NOT about your job?
I like to thrift shop and have collection of vintage jackets.
