Kelly Tarlton's - Laura Seaman, team leader
Laura Seaman is the team leader of the penguin department at
Kelly Tarlton's.
Get to know more of the keepers featured in Wild
Vets by clicking here.
What animals do you work with?
King and Gentoo Penguins.
How long have you worked as a keeper?
Five years.
Why did you become a keeper?
Well I didn't know I wanted to be a keeper initially, I always
wanted to work with animals and started out studying to be a
vet.
Due to the immense competition to continue studies following the
first semester, I decided to switch to marine biology with
aspirations of hanging out at the beach all day.
Needless to say that wasn't very practical and I was extremely
lucky that a job with the penguins became available when I
completed my biology degree. I couldn't imagine having to do
another job now.
What is you favourite animal?
Penguins of course.
Your funniest/most memorable animal
story?
Possibly when my cat proudly walked up the driveway with a rat he'd
caught, complete with the rat trap it was already wedged in.
What animal would you like to have in your
backyard?
One of our 'special' Gentoos, Bubba would be a wonderful
crazy backyard companion.
What animal would you most like to see in the wild?
I'd love to go to Macquarie Island and see the amazing
birdlife that have managed to make their home there. Although it
makes me sound like a bit of a penguin traitor, I'd love to see
skuas in the wild!
What do you love most about your job?
Being able to go underground into a dark, wet and cold environment
at 7am each morning. Not really - but the greeting the Gentoos
give me when I get to work each day definitely makes up for that
seemingly minor inconvenience.
What would you change about your job?
I'd spend less time on the computer and more time out in the
enclosure with the birds.
Advice for future keepers?
Get as much practical experience as you can, learn to
expect the unexpected, ensure you have a great deal of patience,
tolerance, flexibility and a sense of humour.
Most importantly, never verbally state that your whole colony is
fine, no one's been sick and joke that you haven't seen your vet
for ages because you'll come in the next morning to find someone in
the sick corner.
Tell us an animal joke.
Two goldfish in a tank, one says I'll drive you do
shift!
