Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1022720
ZOO NEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE 06 A DAY IN THE LIFE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A THREATENED SPECIES KEEPER With National Threatened Species Day just around the corner, we wanted to highlight the dedication and passion of Keeper Yvette Pauligk, who tirelessly works with the critically endangered Plains-wanderer at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Yvette Pauligk's been a Zoo Keeper at Zoos Victoria for more than eight years working with a range of species including Eastern Barred Bandicoots and Orange-bellied Parrots. SAVING PLAINS-WANDERERS In her role at Werribee Open Range Zoo, Yvette is part of a team of people caring for the critically endangered Plains-wanderer. The Zoo is one of a number of organisations that are part of the National Recovery Team protecting this species from extinction and assisting with a captive breeding program that has the long-term goal of releasing the birds back to the wild. Yvette and the team house the first seven birds of the collection in a purpose- built aviary which includes a camera, heat lamp, water mister and vegetation in each pen. Working with threatened species can be very rewarding, emotionally difficult and a constant learning journey all at once! Yvette is constantly learning about this species, how to care for them, what to feed them and of course, the team hope to learn the best way to breed them and raise young. "There are still so many unknowns and so much to learn about this species. We are seeing new behaviours, hearing new vocalisations and learning new facts about this species every week. We're pretty lucky to be part of a larger community who are all sharing knowledge and working together so we can continue to learn about this unique bird." "It is so exciting and rewarding when we observe or hear something that we have not noted before! Every day we learn something new." ››› DID YOU KNOW? ALTHOUGH PLAINS-WANDERERS HAVE A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO A QUAIL, THEY ARE ONE OF A KIND – THERE IS NO OTHER BIRD LIKE IT IN THE WORLD AND THE SPECIES IS IN A FAMILY OF ITS OWN, PEDIONOMIDAE!