I am now well settled into my daily routine here. Before breakfast I help to clean out the baby reptiles. After breakfast there are usually some general tasks to be carried out.
Examples include, baking sand for the terrariums, cleaning out some of the larger enclosures and cleaning algae off the turtles. I then take a quick lunch before patrolling the park for an hour whilst the regular staff have lunch. Recently I have started to help with the educational snake talks on the young rock pythons.
I have really enjoyed this as I like snakes especially.
The afternoon is generally spent doing more tasks and working on my project, (re-designing one of the python enclosures). Every second day I fish for snails and feed the Caiman lizard in the evening. I then help put rain covers over the baby reptile enclosures.
In the evening I am generally able to have some time to relax after dinner, it is a good time to do so as it is nice and cool, unlike the middle of the day. Fortunately there is a washing machine here but it is quite temperamental. Mosquitoes can be a problem in the morning and evening, but a good repellent and a quick slap is usually enough to deal with them.
There is a good relaxed atmosphere among the staff here and I really feel that I am one of the group. I realize now that it has taken me at least two weeks to get properly settled, and I may realize next week that I wasn't quite settled this week, etc... However I am very happy that I came here and I enjoy every minute (except telling people who don't understand English to "please take you child off the wall" but it can't all be all fun).
John