Animal Keeper's Association of Africa

Hello all

As an ocean animal keeper, I am happy that the African Penguin has been adopted as our AKAA official conservation project.  There are so many terrestrial and aquatic animals and plants that deserve our attention.  The reason I am happy with the African Penguin—is because it is something I know.  Animals with whom I have been in a personal relationship.  These kinds of relationships make us passionate about the cause of the species as a whole.  And the species plays a part in the web of life.  This is what makes us keepers vital to conservation.

Our directors operate at a strategic level.  They do not have the emotional attachment that we have with the creatures in our care.  We do.  And we need to feed this passion and love for the individuals to the public, and to our superiors in the most effective manner.  Often we don't.  We forget about our role in the greater scheme of things, and focus on the animals only.  Forgetting that with our insight, we can change the world.  Caring for their needs is our job, but we also need to honour our charges and ensure that their lives with us are worthwhile, for the planet and all the animals in the wild—ensure that we share them with as many people as possible in the most effective manner, for the benefit of the whole.  Only when we do this effectively are we fulfilling our responsibility. 

At Sea World, we lost Shadow, one of our seal family on the 29th of November. His memory is a beautiful one.  We acknowledge it with gratitude.  In light of what has been outlined above, when we lose a member of our family, we ask ourselves.  Did we do his life proud?  Was his experience in captivity worth it?  Did we provide him with the best care we could?  Each of us will answer the questions differently.  And use the answers to ensure that we continue to do our level best for the individual animals we care for, and for the planet.

Till next time

Gabby