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Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Posted by Animal Care Team on
Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo - Absorbine

Honoring the values of our founders, Mary Ida and Wilbur Young, and continuing the Absorbine® legacy of compassion for horses and animals, in 2017 we’re sending all employees out to volunteer at an animal welfare charity of their choice.

Mara and Debbie volunteer for a day at the Forest Park Zoo in Springfield, Massachusetts. The zoo, not part of the city’s park program, is solely funded by volunteers, sponsors, entrance fees and generous donations.

Mara:

Arriving at the zoo, we were met with the raucous sounds of the residents. The wolves were howling, the peacocks were making tons of noise, the rooster was crowing and the monkey was swinging. The zoo animals are very active in the morning.

Wouldn’t want that to happen, now would we?

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Wolves were howling

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Peacocks were making peacock noises

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

The rooster was crowing

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

The monkeys were swinging

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

The lemurs were leeming

Our task for the day was to spread mulch around the property and plant bulbs, as the zoo was opening for the season in 2 days. I started to mulch, while Debbie planted tulip bulbs.

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Our supervisor was this awesome white peacock, who would follow me around whenever I went!

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

“Back to work!”

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

“I’m still watching you!”

As the day progressed, the sun came out and it became very humid. The animals all became very quiet as they went into “rest” mode.

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

After eating, it’s time for a kangaroo nap

All but the Raven. This raven was raised from a baby in one of the zoo keeper’s homes. This raven was trained to speak. So, we’d be mulching around his cage and he would say “hey you” – “come here”. It was awesome!

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

“Why does everyone call me Polly?”

We took breaks, as the humidity increased. There was a LOT of mulch to spread!

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Debbie and her rooster friend

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Tamarins don’t care

Debbie:

We met with Nick Kinsman (Membership & Annual Giving Manager) to begin our volunteer day at the zoo. “The animals are waiting for the warmer weather to roll in, but other than that we are working hard and loving it! Just over 150 animals, of 80 species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods call The Zoo home.”

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Nick Kinsman, Membership & Annual Giving Manager

Debbie:

For me it was like stepping back in time. As a child my family often visited the Forest Park Zoo. I hadn’t visited the zoo in many years. I loved all of the animals but was never a big fan of the monkeys. I actually have a fear of monkeys. We spent some time spreading mulch around the spider monkey enclosure which was a little scary for me. To my surprise this animal was beautiful to watch swinging from the ropes in the massive enclosure. The end of the day came and we felt great that we were able to beautify the zoo and help out this wonderful “hidden gem” in Springfield, Mass.

Absorbine Volunteer Days - Forest Park Zoo

Look at that scary face!

 

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