Hamilton - Kara Goddard, keeper
Kara Goddard is Bird, Reptile and Amphibian Keeper at
Hamilton Zoo.
Get to know more of the keepers featured in Wild
Vets by clicking here.
What animals do you work with?
Birds, reptiles and amphibians
Why did you become a zoo keeper?
It is my passion and what I always wanted to do
Your funniest/most memorable animal story?
I was once locked in a bird aviary by a visiting child.
They snapped shut the paddock to the aviary while I was inside and
I had to radio for help.
Any memorable stories from the vet clinic?
A student once fainted while we were operating.
What animal would you like to have in your
backyard?
A Kimodo dragon
What animal would you most like to see in the
wild?
Kakapo
Where in the world have you worked and what animals did you
treat there?
I've worked in zoos in America, Canada and Australia,
with a lot of different animals.
Which animal do you relate to the most?
The lizard.
What do you love most about your job?
Getting to release native species back into the wild.
What would you change about your job?
Less rain and frosty mornings
If you could make one change to help save endangered
animals what would it be?
Getting rid of introduced pests.
Advice for future zoo keepers?
Be prepared to work hard in all types of conditions.
Tell us an animal joke:
Why are frogs so happy?
They eat whatever bugs them!
