Meet The Team: Kirsten Elliott - Living Collection & Grounds Keeper

Caring for our array of ducks, geese, swans, cranes and flamingos, as well as our two Asian short-clawed otters, is no small task. Not to mention creating and maintaining the habitats and landscapes they live in. Let's meet Kirsten, whose job it is to make sure they're all thriving and showcasing to our visitors the very best that wetland nature has to offer...

Hi Kirsten. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! First up, how long have you been at WWT Washington, and what inspired you to become a Collection Keeper?

I have been a Collection Keeper at Washington for a year now, after being in the industry for 5 years working with a wide range of captive animals including primates, exotic mammals, avian species and reptiles. I even spent some time teaching college level animal management.

What qualifications or experience would you recommend for someone who wants to become a keeper?

Gaining real work experience is the main thing I would suggest to anyone looking to work in the animal sector. It helps to not only understand the day-to-day responsibilities that it entails, but it also allows you to see the constant change in the industry. No two days are ever the same.

I would also say that is beneficial to gain some academic experience. For example, I did a level 3 in animal management and then went on to university to do a BSC in animal conservation science.

Do you have any advice for someone hoping to get into animal conservation and animal care?

I think practical experience is the main thing to try to gain. Volunteering at any type of animal related company would be amazing. Try to go to a range of different organisations for a broader knowledge and experience base. Gaining real world working experience is vital for anyone who is wanting to start a career in the animal sector.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

My day always starts with going out and feeding the animals in the morning, making sure to count all the birds and performing visual health checks on them to make sure they are visually healthy. I will then go through what routine jobs need to be done for that day, for example full cleaning the otter enclosure and making sure the ponds are clean.

However, no two days are ever the same. Sometimes there are medical issues we need to deal with, or we might need to catch a bird to take to the vets or to monitor, or a fence might need to be fixed. It is all about working with what needs to be a priority and going from there.

What’s the most rewarding part of your role at WWT?

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to be part of the conservation efforts we do here at WWT. Helping to restore and protect wetland habitats and the fauna and flora that thrive there. It is also amazing when we have lovely interactions with younger people who fall in love with nature and animals and want to get involved in the industry.

What are some of the challenges you face as part of the Living Collection team?

One of the challenges I face working as a keeper is always the weather! Something we wish we could control but cannot. It can be difficult to do specific job that may need to be done, especially in the winter. I work a lot around water and the ponds freezing over is a big task, not only for us as keepers but to also make sure that the animals are safe.

Another challenge is the fact that some parts of the job are unpredictable. We need to make sure we can plan for things to not go to plan. This is something we face most days. Working with animals never really goes to plan so it is important that we can prepare for it.

Do you have a favourite species on site and why?

Of course I love our two ASCO otters, Buster and Musa (below). It is amazing to see them interact with each other and spend their days - especially in the warmer weather - splashing in and out of the ponds.

However, I do have a soft spot for our two Eurasian cranes. Watching them doing their courtship display dances is a truly amazing thing to be able to watch and to be able to do hands on work such as training with these two magnetic birds is a privilege.

If you could swap roles for one day with a colleague, who would it be and why?

If I could swap roles, it would be with our reserve warden Michael Jones. It would be nice to do work with more native wildlife and get to see how the other department lives. Taking part in more local conservation efforts like the willow tit surveys, Eurasian otter surveys and webs count would be nice and allow me to brush up on my native fauna and flora skills.

Are there any species that you’re particularly passionate about protecting?

One of the main species I am passionate about protecting is our Baer's pochards (below). They are a critically endangered species with only around 1000 individuals left in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting. To me, it is extremely important to be able to educate the public and our visitors about the importance of protecting these birds and hopefully we can see a population increase due to conservation efforts and protecting these amazing birds.

Where’s your favourite location on site and why? (Great views, relaxing vibe, or just a good place to spot something interesting).

One of my favourite spots on site has to be our stream channel enclosure. It has amazing views over the west side of the site, and it is a great spot to sit and watch our cranes, barnacle geese and white fronted geese interact with each other.

Ready to visit?

If you'd like to come and see the amazing animals and habitats that Kirsten helps care for, why not visit WWT Washington this spring?

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