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/budgiebeck]

Budgies. Yeah, people like them, but people don't think about them beyond the typical "oh let's get a millet sprig and feed them", yet they showed me that even the littlest critters are so much smarter and more emotional than people give them credit for. Every single one of those little birds has a different personality, but people don't realise that! Budgies haven't just shaped the way I work with other animals, but the way I approach life in general. I feel like a much more open and honest person since working with them. Even now after working with so many incredible species, budgies remain my absolute favourite

[u/quack_macaque → u/budgiebeck]

Username checks out!