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Emily Weiss
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| July 20, 2003--On Hatteberg's People, If you take a walk with Emily Weiss at the Sedgwick County Zoo, you'll hear her say she has the best job in the world. |
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"I always wanted to be Dr. Doolittle, that was my dream job."
Now in the zoo environment, Emily is curator of behavior and research at the zoo. With a doctorate in animal behavior, her job to keep the animals active and most important 'thinking'. |
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Her first stop is with a black Jaguar.
"This is Sula, hello sweetheart."
The training and behavior modification for these animals helps to keep the stress away. With the Jaguar, she trains it so that if it needs to be seen by the vet, it will open its mouth on cue for inspection.
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She uses a pole with a rounded end as a target to help in the training.
The cat looks at her and you can tell there is a 'bond'.
"Can you say 'ah'?
The animal responds and opens its mouth on cue.
"That makes so that anytime we need to handle her or check if she has a tooth infection, instead of having to give her anesthesia, all she has to do is open up her mouth and it makes it much easier...all for a little piece of meat."
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One of her other 'friends' as she calls them is an Orangutan. It openly displays affection when she walks near the cage.
"Can we see your hand? Good." |
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The Orangutan puts out his hand, Emily and touches the fingers.
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| "And when I have his hand I can inspect his fingers and look for cuts and boo boos. I make sure that nothing is wrong, but if there is I can treat it. Can I see your belly? You want a raisin; I have to see your belly first. |
Almost unbelievably the animal puts his belly close to the cage. Weiss then rubs his belly and feels for any problem that might show up. |
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"This was the hardest one because when he was two he was so ticklish. He's considered an adolescent now so he's getting a tad ornery. He and I have really grown up together and learned about the zoo world together. |
He's taught me so much about training and patience. To be able to have a part of your day be the interaction with the animals and to be around people who are just as committed as you are that also work here, it is just amazing."
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| Surprisingly one of her favorite animals isn't exactly cuddly. They are the Aldrabra Tortoises. Rocket is one of them; he's huge and 75 years old. Then there is Missy, she's only 50. |
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| "These animals are motivated by us. By being near us, by touch, by interaction and they are one of my favorite animals not so much because of the interaction that I have with them but because of what they have taught me. They taught me to keep my eyes open and to never assume and also to be patient. Because you must be patient when training a tortoise...but they are incredible." |
While talking with me, she gently rubs the tortoises' leathery neck. They seem to enjoy both the touch and Emily.
"It's such an honor to be able to interact with the animals. It's unbelievable I get to do what I do."
At the Sedgwick County Zoo, animals and people interact. Sometimes it's difficult to tell who enjoys it the most.
Emily Weiss can't imagine doing anything else. |
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