The petite 20-year-old who has landed the job at Folly Farm

• Sep 09, 2014 
• By Rachael Misstear

Twenty-year old zoo keeper Rosie Badger reckons she has landed the best job in the world as a lion keeper at Pembrokeshire zoo Folly Farm

Rosie Badger Feeding the Lions

She's just 20, 5ft 4in tall, weighs in at less than 9st – and has just landed a job managing some of the strongest and most powerful big cats in the world. Rosie Badger has been picked for what she describes as the best job in the world, as a lion keeper at Pembrokeshire zoo Folly Farm.

 

She will be responsible for the day to day upkeep of six African lions at the park – all of which weigh in at over 250kg each - a staggering four times her own weight. The lions can also reach a height of more than 8ft tall, towering over their new keeper, when they stand on their hind legs.

Rosie, along with the rest of the team at Folly Farm, has undergone extensive and rigorous training at other zoos across the UK in order to prepare her for  the arrival of the lions at the West Wales attraction.

She has been taught about the strict safety procedures she must undertake when entering and leaving the enclosure to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both her and the lions. She has also learned a lot about the general behaviour of the lions, their diet and how to keep them stimulated and entertained in their new environment.

Pride in the job: Rosie Badger

 “I’ve always dreamed of not only working at a zoo but working with big cats like lions but I never imagined it would become a reality,” said Rosie, from Pembroke.

“I’ve really enjoyed all the training we have done and am totally ready to take on my new role. I literally can’t wait to work with such amazing animals on a day to day basis. I feel extremely honoured to be given the role by Tim and trusted with looking after the pride.

“It’s not a job where you can afford to become complacent. While the lions have built a rapport with us, we can never take safety for granted. These are dangerous and very powerful animals.
“In the first few weeks we spent a lot of time letting them get to know our scent and to trust us. There is strict protocol that we have to follow making sure safety and security is paramount.”

 Tim Morphew, zoo manager said of Rosie’s appointment: “When working with lions trust is fundamental and I trust her explicitly. Not only is she very passionate about lions, she is meticulous and responsible and a proper stickler for routine which is extremely important when it comes to lions.”

After spending her childhood dreaming about working in a zoo, Rosie joined Folly Farm in Kigetty in 2012 after completing her animal science degree at Pembrokeshire College.

Since then she has been working as a keeper with everything from giraffes to squirrel monkeys, giving her experience with a huge variety of animals and develop and enhance her zoo keeper skills.

Having now landed her dream job as a lion keeper at Folly Farm, Rosie will be responsible for feeding the lions as well as cleaning out their enclosure and looking out for their health and wellbeing. She will also need to ensure that the lions are constantly stimulated by hiding their food and making them hunt for it and providing them with toys to play with.

The arrival of the lions at Folly Farm - which has also seen them being fed by former British Lion Ryan Jones in an encounter with his "scariest opponents yet" - marks the completion of a £500,000 project to build a purpose-built, state-of-the-art two-acre enclosure for the lions. It will also highlight the valuable work the attraction already does with UK charity Wildlife Vets International as part of its commitment to conservation, raising awareness and funds for in situ big cat conservation projects.

source