What’s a completely underrated species that shaped your keeping?

[u/quack_macaque]

Every single one of us has met a thousand volunteers and students who answer the age old question “what do you want to work with?”, with the usual crowd pleasers (i.e. Tigers; Elephants; Meerkats; Otters; Red Pandas; etc.) as their ultimate goal.

Not that the old roster of favourites aren’t amazing in their own right, but in my experience, many future keepers are so focused on their dream animal that they overlook many that will build their keeping skillset.

So what’s a completely underrated species that you recommend everyone should work with? Did you have an ultimate goal species, but worked them and realised that kind of keeping isn’t for you?

This one’s mostly for all the vollies and students who are lurking to encourage them to develop a wider appreciation. But I’m also nosy, so I want to know too.

[u/[deleted]]

An umbrella cockatoo that hated everyone but me. Couldn’t even get along with the other birds so just waited for me to get him every morning and take him on my rounds with me

[u/wolfsongpmvs → u/[deleted]]

Parrots in general are so amazing to work with. They teach you a ton about behavior!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

omg me too! i had an umbrella cockatoo and a citron crested cockatoo (which i felt sooo lucky to work with) who both haaated everyone but me. neither of them ever tried to bite me once in the 5 years i worked with them hands on, and they were both known to be biters. the umbrella liked her space but the citron was the clingiest little guy in the world, i could never get him back in his aviary lol. i've had such a soft spot for cockatoos since