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Métier de soigneur à la Réserve © MNHN - F-G Grandin

Professions

A visitor attraction and a research centre, the Reserve brings together various highly specialised professions.

Animal care and management team

Animal keeper and head keeper

The animal keeper is in charge of preparing and giving out feed rations, cleaning the inside of the pens and enclosures, inspecting fences and buildings, observing the animals and taking note of any changes in behaviour (illness, injuries, birthing, etc.). They might administer medication by putting it in the animal’s food, help design the enclosures and make improvements to their surroundings (method for keeping the animals occupied and developing their natural behaviour). They help to capture and restrain animals with the vet and sometimes lead educational events.

The head keeper supervises the keepers’ daily duties, manages the schedules, monitors work, orders and purchases related to their department...

Collection manager

The collection manager is in touch with a large number of zoo and park managers and supervisors from all over the world in order to be able to bring in animals or, conversely, send them away. They handle administrative requests needed for animal transfers and help to monitor EEP programmes. They decide which animals can live together, which should breed together and which ones are to be swapped, etc.

Veterinarian

The veterinarian works on the ground, caring for sick or injured animals, but also works on prevention by scheduling vaccination, deworming and parasite removal campaigns. They practise all aspects of veterinary medicine (surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia, pathology, preventative medicine, radiology, etc.) with a wide variety of animals.
They decide on the diets for all of the species at the Reserve, collect and analyse veterinary data (reactions to anaesthetics, parasite treatment schedule, health monitoring, food, etc.) and maintain health records.

In addition to their animal care activities (see care team - management - animals), the veterinarian also takes part in research work: virology, developing screening examinations, studying new diagnostic tools, etc.

Technical Officer

The Technical Officer is in charge of maintaining all of the equipment and infrastructure, repairs to equipment and enclosures, and the construction of enclosures and buildings for housing the animals.

Métier de soigneur à la Réserve © MNHN - F-G Grandin
Vétérinaire et soigneur à la Réserve © MNHN - F-G Grandin
Soin sur une tortue © MNHN - F-G Grandin
Métier de soigneur à la Réserve © MNHN - A. Iatzoura

Science team

Ethologist

The ethologist studies animal behaviour and, using their knowledge, they help to ensure that the animals living at the Reserve are able to express their most natural behaviour as much as possible. They also manage contact with new individuals in close collaboration with the keepers, develop programmes for enriching the environment, etc.

Researcher

The researcher develops and carries out scientific studies. They are responsible for drafting projects, conducting experimental procedures, analysing results and writing scientific publications. While the Reserve’s research activity also centres on animal behaviour, it is mainly focused on the physiology of reproduction and, more specifically, on the development of assisted reproduction techniques. The studies are carried out in-house and as part of multiple partnerships (INRA, university veterinary schools, etc.).

Laboratory and research technician

The laboratory or research technician assists the scientist with their work. They help to develop projects, prepare experimental protocols, take part in science programmes and record and use data. They manage and maintain laboratory equipment and stocks of products and consumables. At Haute-Touche they are also closely involved in managing experimental herds and the cryobank.

Le travail de recherche à la Réserve © G. Proust
Éthologue en observation à la Réserve © MNHN - P. Roux

Educational team

Education head and leader

The educational team creates and hosts educational workshops or guided visits, adapted for visitors of all ages, in order to raise awareness of and educate them about the mysteries of Nature. They also design and produce educational tools (panels, signs, folders, leaflets, etc.) in order to make the visit interactive and informative.

Our education staff also regularly involve the keepers in order to provide direct and exciting dialogue with the public and also visit schools for weekly extra-curricular workshops.

The Reserve’s educational team conducts professional training (keeper schools, veterinary schools, universities, etc.) and takes part in a regional educational network (the “Cistude” Network) with the academy and various educational players in Brenne (CPIE Brenne Berry, Parc Naturel de Brenne, LPO, Indre Nature, etc.).

Animation à la Réserve Zoologique de la Haute-Touche © MNHN - F-G Grandin
Animation à la Réserve Zoologique de la Haute-Touche © MNHN - F-G Grandin

Administrative team

In order to maintain an animal park, administration staff are needed (administrative manager, accountant, secretary, human resources manager, supervisor, communications officer, cashiers, shopkeepers) as well as catering staff. Many professions are represented in this team.