My name is Steve, and I am an ungulate keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Currently, I am on a three-month exchange with a keeper from the Melbourne Zoo, Jason Barry. Why, you ask? Last year two keepers did the same exchange: Adam from the San Diego Zoo and Brent from the Melbourne Zoo. (Read Adam’s post, Hopping along the Exchange, and Brent’s post, An Aussie in San Diego.) I was so intrigued by this that I thought I would give it a shot. I must thank Adam for laying the groundwork!

It was pretty easy to get started on my quest because I had Jason’s name from Brent. So I decided to send Jason an e-mail to see if he was still interested in a keeper exchange, and it turned out he was. We e-mailed each other for about six months and decided it was a perfect fit. As soon as we decided it would work, I bolted to my supervisor’s office. My supervisor thought it was a great idea, too.

October 18, I touched down in Melbourne; Jason arrived in San Diego on the 18th as well. Back in the States, I work with large ungulates, with some exceeding 800 pounds (360 kilograms). It’s a little different out here, where I work with tamarins that weigh as little as 5 pounds (2 kilograms). That’s right, primates. My round consists of ring-tailed lemurs, ruffed lemurs, and tamarins. Also, in my area we have capuchins, gorillas, gibbons, baboons, and mandrills.

After meeting my new crew, I set off with Uli. She has been here for a long time, so she knows the animals just by observing them on a daily basis. For me, identifying each will be a little more complicated; nope, no ear notches to help me…darn!

Everyone, from the keepers to the vets as well as the curators, has been very welcoming. I may not know the Australian lingo or even feel right saying it on the radio, but it is fun to listen to. Well, I “reckon” I should go play with the ringies. G-Night!

Steve Wieczorek is a keeper for the San Diego Zoo.

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