Rachel Laing

What animals do you work with?

Australian Fauna Precinct: Native Australian animals including koalas, echidnas, gliders, possums, kangaroos and wallabies.

How long have you been working as a zookeeper?

I've worked in the zoo industry for 10 years and have worked for the Taronga Conservation Society Australia for almost 6 years.

How did you get into zookeeping as a profession?

Perseverance! It is usually pretty hard to get into the zoo industry so I started at a wildlife park, working in the gift shop while I was studying; a position came up in the same wildlife park, on the animal section so I jumped at the chance. I then took another job at another wildlife park after that and then finally managed, after a couple of years of being a keeper volunteer at Taronga Zoo, landed a keeping job.

What do you love most about your job?

I love the variety and that every day could bring along something different. No two days are generally the same. I'm very passionate about Australia's native wildlife so I love being involved with helping out our own species.

I also love having the privilege to hand raise native orphans like wombats, ringtail possums and wallabies, that may have lost their mum due to being hit by a car or injured through a dog or cat attack.

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

Really there are two things. The first one is hand raising an orphan wombat, knowing that it will be re released back into the wild. Second, would have to be going to Scotland to work at Edinburgh Zoo as part of the keeper exchange program.  I worked with some amazing endangered species that I hadn't even heard of before. It was a wonderful18 month experience. 

Whilst looking after 'Matari', the orphaned common wombat, what has your proudest moment as a surrogate mother?

When he did his first solid poo! It was also rewarding to watch Matari dig his first hole in the dirt. It was a small one, but you have to start somewhere!