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Zoo Biologist - Environment and Natural Resources

Vocational Biographies (Published By: Vocational Biographies Inc., P.O. Box 31, Sauk Centre, MN 56378)

Series Y Vol. 3 No. 5

A color photograph of Stuart Wells inside the cheetahs pen. (80K)

Stuart goes out with the cheetahs in their field,

"but it's a balancing act, a form of ballet," he admits.

Zoo Biologist

BRIEFLY: Caging exotic animals in stark pens for long periods is no longer a common practice in zoos. Many, however, do not yet subscribe to the philosophy that captive animals should be allowed to be themselves instead of being trained to make life easier for human care givers. Fortunately, pioneers like Stuart Wells are spearheading a return to natural animal habitats

Stuart Cha-Chas With Cheetahs

Complex Cats Call for Sensitive Handling

Armed with two long eyedroppers, Stuart Wells leans over a 3-foot-high fence enclosing a pen into which he has lured a large male cheetah. The big cat has a virus that has made his eyes puffy and inflamed. Stuart hopes to medicate the eyes without actually touching the animal. Five minutes later, he walks away, shaking his head slightly, the eyedroppers empty. Squirting medicated drops into a cheetah's puffy eyes is a little like shooting buckshot, he says. You just hope that at least some of it hits the intended target.

Stuart (34), the "cheetah guru" at National Zoological Park (NZP) in Washington, D.C., is charged with the basic care and feeding of the park's big cats. He also coordinates an educational program about the history and conservation of cheetahs. He trains volunteers and employees to assist him in his work.

His greater goal, however, is to study cheetah behavior so human caretakers can accommodate them better in a captive environment. "I wasn't attracted to cheetahs solely because of their beauty or intelligence," Stuart explains. "Rather, I wanted to work with them because they have problems [in captivity]. Right now, I'm focusing on creating optimum breeding situations for captive cheetahs."

Historically, he points out, animal keepers have tried to train captive cheetahs so people could deal with them more easily. "I don't train the cheetahs. I learn to work within their natural behavioral parameters, not change them to suit my management needs. I think it needs to be done that way. In a way, I feel like a pioneer. A lot of people in my field are not interested in caring for cheetahs this way. They don't want to. It's not as easy!"

Stuart has long been interested in nature. An avid hiker and camper as a youth, he credits the Boy Scouts for fostering his love for the outdoors. He remembers spending hours watching ants and other insects and dreaming of the day he might become an entomologist.

During his formative years, Stuart also experienced a little of what he now assumes wild animals must feel in captivity when they are forced to deny their natural instincts to suit human care givers. He still remembers how he had to suppress his natural inclinations because of the prejudices of others.

Fortunately, Stuart's father, a physician, believed that perseverance and self-discipline would allow Stuart to achieve whatever he wanted. "My dad would say 'Just do it!' long before Nike promoted that phrase," he recalls.

After graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in zoology, Stuart went to work as a zoo keeper at the Phoenix Zoo in Phoenix, Ariz. Five years later, he was named its lead keeper. That same year, he initiated a cheetah conservation program there.

Every Sniff and Scratch Important

Under Stuart's direction, the zoo began a behavior-watch program. Volunteers were enlisted to observe the cats closely and to record their every sniff, scratch, and growl. The purpose of this was to learn more about how cheetahs behave naturally.

In 1991, representatives of the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park visited the Phoenix Zoo to view Stuart's program. A short time later, they invited him to move his work to NZP in Washington, D.C. He accepted.

At NZP, Stuart divides his energy between his office and the cats. He supervises the feeding, watering, and monitoring of their behavior. Under his supervision, their various enclosures are cleaned and their movements recorded by interns and volunteers he trains. He and his trainees also talk to exhibit visitors and answer their questions about cheetahs.

In his office, he compiles and analyzes research data on the cheetahs' movements, orders supplies and equipment, writes grant proposals, develops educational conservation programs, and meets with other professionals.

On a recent morning, Stuart arrived at the zoo shortly before 6. He immediately checked the holding area in which the park's one female and four male cheetahs were kept overnight. He lured the male with infected eyes into a small pen to medicate them. He then allowed him to rejoin the others.

Next, using an elaborate system of pulleys, he reclaimed the cats' supper dishes. One of the cheetahs, responding to the sound and movement, jumped at the fence and hissed loudly at Stuart. He flinched; then smiled. "I think it's great that the cheetahs hiss and jump," he says. "That's the kind of behavior they would exhibit in the wild."

At 7:30, volunteers arrived to continue the behavioral study. Stuart released the cheetahs into three open fields separated from the public's viewing area by a short wall and a 15-foot drop. The volunteers positioned themselves to record each movement the cheetahs made. They also noted vocalizations, such as stutters and hisses, and resting postures.

Later, Stuart will enter the data into a computer file and correlate it with previous entries. Comparing data collected over a period of time helps him decipher specific behaviors. For example, when a male scratches the ground with hind legs, he may be marking a permanent territory or expressing sexual interest in a female.

Mating behavior among cheetahs is an important issue, Stuart explains, because the cats are endangered and have rarely reproduced in captivity. One reason for this is that the cheetah's complex social structure has been poorly understood for a long time. For example, females are solitary and males live in coalitions, usually composed of pairs of brothers. In addition, there is evidence of a cheetah hierarchy. Not only will a cub not be conceived if the wrong male and female are put together, Stuart says, but the female may even be killed in the process.

At 8:30, Stuart debated whether or not to set up a running course for the cheetahs. To do this, he strings nylon rope through a series of pulleys in the center cheetah field. He attaches a bright orange cloth to the rope and runs it across the field at up to 30 miles an hour to entice the cheetahs to run as they would in their natural habitat.

The exercise is a big attention-getter. If he scheduled it every day, he could draw a large crowd to the cheetah exhibit. If it is raining, however, or the weather is otherwise not conducive to safe running, he doesn't use the exercise.

On this morning, the day was overcast, hot, and muggy. Thundershowers loomed in the distance. Stuart decided to postpone the exercise.

[Due to many variables, the Cheetah Run is conducted on an infrequent basis.]

At 9, Stuart met with two college teachers who wished to talk with him about a video they are producing on animal behavior. He spent half an hour explaining some of the complexities of cheetah behavior to them.

A color photograph of Stuart with a zoo visitor outside of the cheetahs pen. (69K)

Stuart (left), sharing information on cheetah habits

with a college teacher, is always willing to talk to

individuals and groups about his favorite topic.

Cheetah Calisthenics

After the meeting, he surveyed the sky again and decided to let the female cheetah run. As the teachers set up their camera, he and a volunteer set up a microphone so they could explain to zoo visitors the impending run and talk to them about cheetah behavior and the need for cheetah conservation programs.

As a crowd began to gather around the area, Stuart grabbed a walking stick and a ball and moved confidently into the field with the female cheetah. He threw the ball past the big cat, and she chased it and pounced on it. As Stuart approached her, the cat relinquished the ball and backed away from the stick. Stuart again picked up the ball and tossed it.

"The ball game is a way of warming her up," Stuart explains. "And, though the cat appears to behave like any dog, she is a wild animal, a real predator! The trick is not to enter her space too quickly. I don't make her move fast, and I don't make her hiss. I'm constantly aware of my proximity to her. I find her tolerance level, and I move along its edge. It's a balancing act, a form of ballet."

After the warm-up, Stuart climbed a hill on the field so that he stood level with the audience. The nylon-rope running course was set up just below him. Speaking to the crowd through a clip-on microphone, he explained the purpose of the exercise program and how cheetahs run in the wild.

At his direction, a trained volunteer set the rope course in motion, and the orange cloth flew past the cheetah. Moving in short bursts, she ran 20 feet; then waited for the cloth to come past her again. After 20 minutes of exercise, the cloth was removed, and the cheetah retreated to the shade to rest.

While the interpreter trainee continued to field questions form onlookers, Stuart disappeared into the "Employees Only" section of the cheetah exhibit. It was 11 and time for the cats to be fed. Opening a metal sliding door, he lured the cheetahs into the feeding area by placing food inside.

Stuart then drove to his office at the other side of the zoo. Quickly, he ate his lunch from home; then drafted a grant proposal for new equipment. At 3, he set aside the proposal and left for home. On his way, he stopped to work out at a health club.

Single, Stuart still hikes frequently and plays pool when he wants to relax. To prepare himself professionally for the future, he is working on a doctorate in zoology. "Hopefully, at some point, the cheetah's problems will be resolved," he says. "Then I'll be ready to move on to another set of conservation issues."

FOR THE RECORD

A b&w photograph of Stuart A. Wells.

Stuart A. Wells

Biologist

National Zoological Park

Smithsonian Institution

Washington, D.C.

EDUCATION

WORK HISTORY

JOB BENEFITS

CLOSE-UP

DATA File

D.O.T.: 412.674-010 CF S.O.C.: 5534

WORK DESCRIPTION

Feeds and cares for cheetahs in a zoological park-feeds, waters, and cleans enclosures housing cheetahs; observes them to detect illnesses and injuries; treats injuries and dispenses medications as needed; exercises the animals; provides information to public spectators and answers questions; trains and supervises volunteers and interns who assist in caring for the animals. Monitors behavior patterns and compiles data for research purposes. may develop educational conservation programs, write grant proposals, and meet with other professionals.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Outdoors in and around exhibits in all types of weather. Indoors in holding areas and office. Time split between caring for and exercising animals and completing office work. Risk of injury or illness from working near wild animals and handling injured or ill ones.

PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT

Zoos and zoological parks; medical research facilities; colleges and universities; private wildlife preserves.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Interest in wildlife and its preservation; responsibility; thoroughness; accuracy; flexibility; dedication; sensitivity; patience; carefulness; willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather; curiosity; self-motivation; analytical ability; independence; judgment; calmness; willingness to perform routine and unpleasant tasks.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Bachelor's degree in zoology, biology, animal science, or related field minimum. Experience with exotic animals recommended.

JOB OUTLOOK

Steady, although keen competition exists for most openings.

SALARY RANGE

$10,000 to $25,000 per year, depending on experience, employer, and location.

RELATED OCCUPATIONS

  • Wildlife Biologist
  • Aquarium Curator of Education
  • Zoo Curator
  • FOR MORE INFORMATION

    The subject of this biography is not available to answer personal inquiries. For more information, please write to the following organizations. Addresses are current as of publication date.

    American Institute of Biological Sciences

    730 11th St., NW

    Washington, D.C. 20001-4521

    American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums

    7970-D Old Georgetown Rd.

    Bethesda, MD 20814

    American Association of Zoo Keepers

    Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd.

    Topeka, KS 66606

    American Society of Animal Science

    309 W. Clark St.

    Champaign, IL 61820

    To find information about similar careers, see separate Vocational Biographies booklet index and cluster listing, an encyclopedia, or books on careers found in your library, career center, or counseling or placement office. Check the vertical file, card catalog, microfiche, or computer listing. Look up the following words:

    Animals, Biologist, Conservation, Curator, Education, Environment, Preservation, Research, Trainer,

    Wildlife, Zoo. Also see the Environment and Natural Resources, Hospitality and Recreation, and

    Public Service Careers clusters in the Vocational Biographies Career Library Index.

    WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

    Visit a zoological park and speak to biologists there about what they do. Get a part-time or summer job at such a park or work with exotic animals at another facility. Get a part-time job at a pet shop, animal shelter, or veterinary clinic. Volunteer or arrange an internship at a zoo. Learn about wildlife and explore natural environments. Take good care of your own pets and animals. Stay in god physical conditions. Take courses in biology, mathematics, English, psychology, and physical education.

    LIFESTYLE IMPLICATIONS

    May work weekends. This may interfere with family and leisure-time activities.

    Persons are portrayed herein without regard to race, sex, or religious background. Careers discussed are to be considered acceptable for either sex. Information is current as of publication date.


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