Simon Brown

After Taronga keepers helped Monifa adjust to her new home in Melbourne Zoo, the young Pygmy Hippo has definitely captured the hearts of her new keepers and the Melbourne community.

Monifa’s sire Timmy was once a resident himself at Melbourne Zoo, so the keepers were especially delighted to have his first offspring back at the zoo.

Exotic Fauna Keeper, Taronga Zoo

What animals do you work with?

Ungulates (Hoofed animals)

How long have you been working as a zookeeper?

Five years at Taronga zoo but eight  years in total

How did you get into zoo keeping as a profession?

I knew that I was destined to work

Keepers at Melbourne Zoo now have 4 Sumatran Tiger cubs and one of their Meerkats needs an urgent trip to the dentist, while at Healesville Sanctuary a Gannet undergoes anaesthesia to remove a fish hook while staff at Taronga Zoo emotionally farewell their hand-raised Pygmy Hippo Monifa as she moves to Melbourne Zoo.