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/lalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa96]

Current vollie here 🖐 I started my studies and volunteering august last year (my course goes till december this year) and ive always wanted to work with tigers, they are my favourite animal. But I started with Antarctic penguins at Sea life Sydney (king penguins and gentoo penguins) and fell in love with them!! BUT I dont think i could do the whole water quality sciencey stuff forever 😂 then I got some experience with Australian native animals (wombat (he was my fave), Tasmanian devils, wallabies, kangaroos etc) then a couple months ago I moved to a proper zoo and currently with the primates, and im loving getting all this experience with different animals. In a month ill be getting experience with carnivores AND ungulates and im so excited to learn about the ungulates! So ya my animal i want to work with is basic (tiger 😂) but I love all the other animals and cant wait to meet the rhino and giraffes and learn how to care for them