Here in Flamingo Land we have outlined to readers what it is like to be a zookeeper for a day – hard! But now is the turn of another member of staff without which our animals would not be as they are today. Our zoo vet, Matt Brash, takes care of all 125 different species of animals here on site.

The job of a vet is not an easy one, they have to make tough decisions and the health of the exotic animals housed here at Flamingo Land is on his shoulders.

So what is involved in a zoo vet visit? Some zoos have a vet on-site every day, while others, like Flamingo Land, have a vet that is on call all day every day but is not here on a daily basis. Instead, once a week, our vet comes in to ensure the health and well-being of the animals. It is the job of the zookeepers to ensure that if any animal needs to be seen that they are ready and prepared. For a vet visit, the animal will have to be kept inside, allowing the vet to get a close look at the animal in question. This is no mean feat, as I believe animals, especially our warthogs in Children’s Planet, have a sixth sense to why they are being lured in to their indoor areas when usually they would be being encouraged to forage in the outdoor area. It is when this sixth sense kicks in that zookeepers have a job on their hands. Rather them than me to be luring a large warthog into a confined space, even if they have their favourite food at hand. Once the animals are in place, the vet has the opportunity to get close to the animal and observe. It is through this observation that the vet will be able to notice the problem outlined by the zookeeper. If the vet needs a closer look or if some hands-on work is needed then it is necessary to anaesthetise the animals for a small period. The vet needs to be able to solve a wide range of problems that regularly occur in domestic animals, however when dealing with a three tonne hippo the way in which you approach the problem can be different!

All in all, the day in a life of a zoo vet is one that is exhilarating, inspiring, dangerous… but rewarding. Being able to treat, keep healthy and maintain a healthy zoo stock is a fantastic job to have!