2 of 19

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

little munch. Ouch - that did not go down very well I can tell you.

We also held a show in a large barn in the Park every day where the visitors could come in and have a talk and demonstration of some of the animals for an hour. These were normally young animals and birds of prey that were gregarious and enjoyed all the attention. One day the place was absolutely full of school children, probably about 100 of them. They were really enjoying the show taken by our reptile keeper that day. He decided to bring out one of the tarantulas, a red kneed tarantula but instead of showing it inside its glass cage he just put it onto a piece of moss covered wood. Before he started to walk around the arena with the spider he told all the children they must be very quiet and must not blow on the spider at all otherwise it will jump. He started walking around when, of course, some naughty child must have decided to blow anyway just to see what would happen. The spider flew up into the air and disappeared. All the children screamed and pressed themselves against the back wall. I am sure we could probably have got a further 100 people in that barn then. The reptile keeper was mortified because (a) he had lost his precious spider and (b) he might be sacked for letting the spider be free in the first place. We started searching where we thought the spider had flown when suddenly the reptile keeper pointed to a little boy's jacket. There was the spider looking very much like a pretty brooch nestling on the little boy's lapel. The reptile keeper slowly walked over to the boy telling him not to move and managed to grab the spider back and put it in its cage.

I loved all the animals at the Park and often used to go around at the end of the day when all the visitors had gone just to quietly chat to them. The only animals I did hate, and still do, are snakes however. I had not been at the Park very long when the reptile keeper who was presiding over the show asked if I could go and help him bring the boa constrictor up from the reptile house. He said normally he would have already gone but the weather was not very warm and of course snakes have to be kept at a constant temperature and as the reptile house was at the other end of the Park could we go in my car and get it. Snake in my car I thought, no thanks. However, I worked there, I suppose I had to do it. I presumed it would be in a box anyway so no problem...... We drove to the reptile house and the keeper jumped out of the car and

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Employment: Fun jobs?
We want to hear your view. Write now!