Bridgette Collis

Marine Mammal Keeper, Taronga Zoo

What animals do you work with?

Seals, Penguins, Pelicans

How long have you been working as a zookeeper?

2.5 years

How did you get into zoo keeping as a profession?

Started volunteering with rescue animals and couldn’t take anymore home so decided to volunteer at the zoo. I had always had an interest in marine mammals so interviewed for a volunteer position on the division. After two years of volunteering was lucky enough that a position became available in the new Great Southern Oceans exhibit which I applied for and have been here ever since.

What do you love most about your job?

The diversity. On Marine Mammals, I am very lucky to have huge variety in my day from training and conditioning Leopard Seals to working on the breeding program for Little Penguins. I also love spending time with and training one of our pelicans, Mani.

What has been the wildest moment of your career so far?

I was very lucky in December of 2008 to be sent down to Kanowna Island to assist with the research of the breeding colonies of Australian Fur Seals done by Deakin University. We were set up in the middle of the breeding colonies surrounded by around 3000 – 4000 seals each day to do observations on how the seals set up harems and females with their pups. On one of the days we were required to do a whole island count which required us walking through colonies with males up to 400kg, the only protection being a stick. Scarier than that was walking along cliff tops to try and count seals below.