August 5, 2025 • 16 mins
What happens when those dedicated to saving wildlife are themselves struggling to survive emotionally? From the heart-wrenching grief of losing animals they've cared for over decades to the physical exhaustion of daily animal husbandry, conservation professionals face mental health challenges rarely discussed in public forums.
"How do you cram 24 years of life into an Instagram post about a monkey?" This poignant question captures the profound attachment caregivers develop with their animal charges and the insufficient space given to process loss. Conservation and animal care work demands extraordinary commitment—missed holidays, physical injuries, and the emotional weight of fighting for species whose wild populations continue to decline despite best efforts. Beyond the physical demands, staff face compassion fatigue, the burden of constant caregiving without adequate emotional support.
The podcast explores the political realities of conservation—corruption, funding challenges, and the demoralization that comes from feeling like progress is constantly undermined. Yet amid these difficulties, hope persists. As Jane Goodall reminds us, real hope requires action and engagement, not passive wishing. For those in the field, hope manifests in the individual animals they care for daily, buying precious time until broader conservation solutions take hold.
Mental health resources, supportive leadership, and community building among colleagues emerge as critical factors in sustaining long-term conservation careers. For listeners working in wildlife care, the message is clear: loving your job and struggling with its emotional toll aren't contradictory. Your compassion, while sometimes exhausting, makes you a better caregiver. For those in leadership positions, creating space for staff mental wellness isn't a luxury—it's essential to effective conservation.
Join the conversation about mental health in conservation. Share your experiences or access resources through the links in our show notes. Remember: conservation isn't just about saving species; it's about sustaining the people dedicated to that mission.
Resources:
Conservation Optimism https://conservationoptimism.org/
For more information visit us online at www.rarespecies.org and follow us on TikTok (@rarespecies.org), Instagram (@rarespec), YouTube (@rarespec) and Facebook (@rarespec).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome to Conservation Beyond the Cage,
the official podcast of the RareSpecies Conservatory Foundation
.
Rscf is a non-profitorganization specializing in
breeding and recovery strategiesfor some of the world's rarest
wildlife.
Here we go beyond headlines andhashtags, beyond exhibits and
(00:33):
press releases, to bring you thetruth about species
conservation and the peoplebehind the programs fighting
every day to save what remainsof nature.
Each episode is a journey intothe forests, the labs, the
rescue centers and the policyrooms where science, expertise
and courage intersect.
We're here to inform, toenlighten and to inspire a
(00:55):
deeper understanding of whatreal conservation looks like Up
close, unfiltered and undeniablyurgent, because this isn't just
about saving individual species.
It's about saving wildlife andwild places.
This is Conservation Beyond theCage.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Hey everyone.
I'm Karen and welcome back toConservation Beyond the Cage,
where we explore the issuesfacing wildlife conservation
from behind the scenes, and I'mCassidy.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Today we're going to talk about a tough topic, and
one that we don't discuss nearlyenough mental health,
specifically, the emotional tollof working in animal care and
wildlife conservation.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
You know, there's always been a sort of a romantic
notion about working withanimals.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, like you're living in a Disney movie or
something.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And for most of us this work is a calling.
You can't imagine doinganything else.
But the fine print includesthis job is physical, it's
emotional, it's purpose-driven,but it's also exhausting,
heartbreaking and at timesisolating.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, you know, people see the cute animal
videos or hear about excitingconservation efforts, and that's
real.
But what they don't see is whatgoes on behind the scenes the
burnout, long hours and thephysical fatigue that comes with
the day-to-day long-term carethese programs and animals
require.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Okay, let's start with compassion fatigue.
It's something that comes upall the time in our field.
For those who don't know, it'sthe emotional exhaustion that
comes from constant caregiving,especially when you're caring
for animals that are highlyspecialized, aging or endangered
.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Absolutely, and we carry that emotional weight,
whether we're working in a zoo,a sanctuary or out in the field.
We don't just feed and clean,we worry, we advocate, we stay
late, we mourn when animalsdecline or pass, and often we
don't have time or tools toprocess any of it.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Right, there's this unspoken expectation that we're
supposed to be strong all thetime.
But strength doesn't meansilence.
Too many of us bottle up allthat emotion and stress to our
own detriment.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
So true, and along with compassion, fatigue, comes
grief and guilt.
We have to talk about thatbecause, let's be real here If
you work with animals in acaptive setting, you're going to
see animals live their entirelives in front of you, in some
cases birth to death.
And when an animal passes,especially one you've cared for
for years, it's real grief, deep, personal, sometimes traumatic.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It's all of those things and more, and even harder
for public-facing facilitieslike zoos.
Sometimes it feels like thepublic thinks animals in our
care live forever, that nothingever dies.
But loss is a constant part ofthis job and when it happens it
hits us hard.
We grieve deeply, even if wehave to keep smiling for the
(03:59):
next tour or feeding and we'renot supposed to talk about it
Like somehow that reflectspoorly on the organization you
work for.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I mean, not only do you have to deal with how you
feel as an animal caregiver, youalso have to deal with public
pushback that can often bedownright insensitive, and I
know you've dealt with thispersonally, right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Oh yeah, and more than once.
I remember losing one of ourolder primates a couple years
ago.
It hit me like losing a friend,but I came to work the next day
like nothing happened.
There wasn't time to stop.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You're talking about Mo, right?
I know he was something reallyspecial.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, mo was one of the oldest golden lion tamarins
in North America.
He lived at RSCF for decadesand he was such a cool dude and
lived a wonderful long life.
We called him the RobertRedford of GLTs because he was
so handsome.
Everyone loved him on staff andonline, and seeing him age and
eventually decline was tough forall of us, and sharing his
(05:00):
passing with our onlinesupporters was really difficult.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I can only imagine.
When an animal dies, especiallyone you've known for years, it
hits hard.
We form bonds, we work withthem every single day.
We know their quirks, moods,their history, their favorite
foods and enrichment.
Then you have to formulate anarrative for the public on top
(05:24):
of all that.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, how do you cram 24 years of life into an
Instagram post about a monkey?
Speaker 3 (05:29):
24 years.
That's incredible and atestament to the wonderful care
he had with your team at RSCF.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And let's not forget about the guilt that comes with
loss.
It's brutal, no matter thecircumstance.
You ask yourself did I misssomething?
Could I have done more?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Even if you did everything right, you question
it.
On top of all that, we'rerarely given the time or space
to process that grief.
It's back to work, back tofeeding rounds like nothing
happened.
That kind of suppression takesa toll.
And you don't forget, I miss Mo.
Well, that's okay.
He was a big part of your life.
You never forget animals likethat.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
And you know, grief takes a physical toll on top of
what's already a rough job onthe body.
Keeping healthy both mentallyand physically is essential, and
it ain't easy.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh yeah, showing up every day, no matter how you
feel, carrying hay bales in therain, building enclosures,
unloading tons of feed, it's nojoke Back pain, sunburns, bug
bites, bruises stress, fracturessound familiar and we just keep
pushing through because theanimals depend on us.
But physical exhaustion plusemotional stress, that's
(06:37):
burnout's best friend.
Karen, you know what makes itharder when the people outside
your field don't get it Totallythe missed holidays, the
birthdays you don't outside yourfield don't get it Totally.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
The missed holidays, the birthdays you don't show up
for, the 6 am shifts onChristmas morning and people say
, can't you just take the dayoff?
My family has an endless listof events I've missed and I feel
really bad about that.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Or the classic.
When are you going to get areal job that one hurts?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Okay, that's where I draw the line.
What we do is real.
It's skilled, scientific andspecialized.
But because it doesn't fit thenine-to-five mold, people don't
always respect it, and thatdisconnect creates a lot of
internal tension.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You want to be there for family, but you also know
you're needed where you are.
I think one of the hardestthings to do in our field is
finding balance between work andhome life.
It's so rough.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Well, I think it's really important to not feel
like you have to justify yourwork to family, friends or
partners.
I try to share my life as muchas I can with family.
I always encourage staff toinvite family and friends for a
tour.
Show them what we do.
Let them see the passion andlove for the job.
If they still don't get itwhile that sucks, you have to be
(07:50):
confident enough in your pathin life to continue.
Anyway, it's okay to remindthem.
You need their support, whetherthey agree with you or not.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, family support is so important, especially when
dealing with all the emotionaland physical challenges this
career path brings and workingfor that balance.
It's hard but necessary.
You have to be able to findspace and time for yourself and
your family and friends.
Make the most of your days offwhile constantly juggling.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yep, you become really good at
compartmentalizing.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Now we have to take a step back and talk about the
big picture stuff, the part noone really prepares you for or
talks about enough when yourealize how stacked the odds are
.
Conservation isn't just animalcare, it's politics, and
sometimes recognizing anddealing with corruption, greed
and even crime.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
This is the real behind-the-curtain stuff.
If you truly care about thespecies you work with, you want
to learn all you can aboutwhat's happening to them in the
wild.
So you pour your heart intosaving a species, building
breeding programs, doing fieldwork, lobbying for protection
and meanwhile that same speciesis being poached or trafficked
(09:03):
faster than you can intervene.
Speaking as an admin for aconservation, breeding and
recovery center, the challengesare huge.
Funding for programs is at anall-time low, in-country
governments change, there'sgraft and corruption and the
absolute worst seeing speciesyou love used as pawns in
political or economic games.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, there is so much more to this job than just
feeding the animals.
It can be soul-crushing,especially when you know the
animals don't have time forbureaucracy.
You feel helpless, like yourlife's work is being undone in
front of you.
How do you work through that?
I mean, I've had days where Isat in the car after work and
thought why are we doing this ifnothing changes?
(09:45):
That despair is real and it'sdangerous if you don't have a
way to work through it.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Cassidy, that's the part.
People don't see how much ofour mental health is tied not
just to our animals but to thisoverwhelming sense that we're
losing ground.
But we can't stop.
We just can't because we're theonly chance these species have
and while all those plates arespinning.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
it's wrapped up in a culture that glorifies overwork.
If you're not breaking yourselffor the job, are you even
dedicated?
The field is understaffed as itis, so we pick up the slack
Always.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, I haven't taken a day off in a month.
Gets applause, but I'm taking amental health day.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
still raises eyebrows that has to change, because
exhausted, burnt-out caregiverscan't give their best and they
can't stick around long-termeither.
For everyone out therelistening, this episode isn't an
endless list of complaints.
We're just trying to give voiceto the incredible difficulties
(10:47):
animal care staff face on thedaily and still show up, still
care, still give all they can,and to the facilities out there
that recognize these challengesand support their teams.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Cassidy, I couldn't have said it better myself
Self-care isn't selfish, it'ssurvival.
So let's turn this around.
What helps?
How do we work through all ofthis and come out still
believing in ourselves and thework?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
no-transcript.
Having someone to talk to whodoesn't think grieving for a
monkey or funding fatigue isweird.
That's huge.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And don't feel weird about it.
I mean, it's 2025.
There should be absolutely zerostigma attached to therapy,
especially when you can do itvirtually and there are online
groups hosted by zookeepers,field workers and veterinarians
dedicated to talking about allof this.
Having a platform to sharestories and ask questions is a
(11:50):
lifeline, and you can even stayanonymous if you want to.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Facebook and YouTube are two more great sources Agree
100%, and finding communitycoworkers who get it can be
life-saving.
Even just being able to saythat sucked without judgment
makes a difference.
Grabbing a beer and nachosafter work with the crew to
(12:14):
debrief and unload is not onlygood for the soul, it's good for
the team as a whole.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Let's not forget to take this to the top Leadership
matters.
Management that not onlysupports but encourages staff
wellness, mental health days,team debriefs, flexible
scheduling, being available totalk and listen is so important.
Those things aren't extras,they're essential.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
And we need to speak up more, not just when things go
wrong, but when we need help,when we need a break, when we
need each other.
Keeping these feelings bottledup will only lead to more stress
, more depression, more fatigue.
Give your feelings the voicethey deserve.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely.
Never be afraid to speak up.
Your feelings are valid.
Your needs matter, okay.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Let's take a positive turn here.
Let's talk about something thatcan feel a little cliche in
this field, but it's vital.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Hope.
Yes, it's easy to get swallowedby everything that's broken,
but sometimes you have to stepback.
Look at the animal right infront of you that tamarin, that
bongo calf, that egg in theincubator.
If not for you, they may notexist.
I'm going to quote Jane Goodallhere.
She says hope is oftenmisunderstood.
People tend to think that it issimply passive wishful thinking
.
I hope something will happen,but I'm not going to do anything
(13:34):
about it.
This is indeed the opposite ofreal hope, which requires action
and engagement.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Jane Goodall.
What an icon and inspiration.
Imagine working in this fieldfor over 60 years and still
maintaining a powerful, hopefuland purposeful view.
We need to carry that forwardand remember that in many cases,
if not for us, these animalswould have no chance at all.
We're not saving the wholeworld, but we are buying them
(14:03):
time.
We're holding the line untilthe world catches up.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And while we do realize that there are success
stories out there, In thetsunami of news cycles these
days, there are examples ofspecies brought back from the
brink Forests, regrown lawspassed.
The reality is bad news alwaysseems to get more press, but
good news is out there.
You just have to dig for it.
Stay informed.
Follow news outlets that coverthis field, like Mongabee and
(14:29):
the Guardian.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
And you know, karen, sometimes just giving one animal
a life that's safe, enrichedand dignified, that's enough for
that day.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
So true Hope isn't about pretending it's easy.
It's about choosing to stay inthe fight, even when it's hard,
in fact, especially when it'shard.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
And when you can't find hope, borrow it from your
team, from the animals, from thefact that the work does matter,
even if the results may takedecades to show, if you're
listening and work in animalcare feeling overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
know this You're not weak and you're definitely not
alone.
This work is beautiful, butit's also brutal.
Yup, you can love your job andstill struggle.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You can not weak and you're definitely not alone.
This work is beautiful, butit's also brutal.
Yup, you can love your job andstill struggle.
You can be passionate and stillneed rest.
That doesn't make you lesscommitted, it makes you human.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
I really hope there are people listening that work
in leadership roles.
Please make space for yourstaff to share and be heard.
Mental health support isn't aluxury.
It's a necessity.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Karen, I know you'll agree with me when I say
conservation isn't just aboutsaving species.
It's about sustaining thepeople who are doing the saving.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So true, in a perfect world, we'd all be kind to
ourselves and each other.
Step outside the checklist.
Look at the animals you'relucky to work and interact with
and remember why you started.
Your compassion, while it mayexhaust you, makes you a better
caregiver, and the animalsbenefit from that quality of
care every day.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
We've touched on a lot today and we don't have all
the answers, but we do offer thespace to voice how you feel,
with zero judgment.
There's a lot still to do andto discuss.
On that note, we'll wrap thingsup here.
If you've got questions,thoughts or just want to share
what helps you get through thetough days, karen and I would
really love to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
We're dropping some mental health resources in the
show notes.
I highly recommend the website.
Conservation, optimism and, asalways, you can find more at
rarespeciesorg.
And please remember how muchyou are needed and how much your
work matters.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Until next time.
This is Conservation Beyond theCage.
Welcome to Conservation Beyond the Cage,
the official podcast of the RareSpecies Conservatory Foundation
.
Rscf is a non-profitorganization specializing in
breeding and recovery strategiesfor some of the world's rarest
wildlife.
Here we go beyond headlines andhashtags, beyond exhibits and
(00:33):
press releases, to bring you thetruth about species
conservation and the peoplebehind the programs fighting
every day to save what remainsof nature.
Each episode is a journey intothe forests, the labs, the
rescue centers and the policyrooms where science, expertise
and courage intersect.
We're here to inform, toenlighten and to inspire a
(00:55):
deeper understanding of whatreal conservation looks like Up
close, unfiltered and undeniablyurgent, because this isn't just
about saving individual species.
It's about saving wildlife andwild places.
This is Conservation Beyond theCage.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Hey everyone.
I'm Karen and welcome back toConservation Beyond the Cage,
where we explore the issuesfacing wildlife conservation
from behind the scenes, and I'mCassidy.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Today we're going to talk about a tough topic, and
one that we don't discuss nearlyenough mental health,
specifically, the emotional tollof working in animal care and
wildlife conservation.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
You know, there's always been a sort of a romantic
notion about working withanimals.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, like you're living in a Disney movie or
something.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And for most of us this work is a calling.
You can't imagine doinganything else.
But the fine print includesthis job is physical, it's
emotional, it's purpose-driven,but it's also exhausting,
heartbreaking and at timesisolating.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, you know, people see the cute animal
videos or hear about excitingconservation efforts, and that's
real.
But what they don't see is whatgoes on behind the scenes the
burnout, long hours and thephysical fatigue that comes with
the day-to-day long-term carethese programs and animals
require.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Okay, let's start with compassion fatigue.
It's something that comes upall the time in our field.
For those who don't know, it'sthe emotional exhaustion that
comes from constant caregiving,especially when you're caring
for animals that are highlyspecialized, aging or endangered
.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Absolutely, and we carry that emotional weight,
whether we're working in a zoo,a sanctuary or out in the field.
We don't just feed and clean,we worry, we advocate, we stay
late, we mourn when animalsdecline or pass, and often we
don't have time or tools toprocess any of it.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Right, there's this unspoken expectation that we're
supposed to be strong all thetime.
But strength doesn't meansilence.
Too many of us bottle up allthat emotion and stress to our
own detriment.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
So true, and along with compassion, fatigue, comes
grief and guilt.
We have to talk about thatbecause, let's be real here If
you work with animals in acaptive setting, you're going to
see animals live their entirelives in front of you, in some
cases birth to death.
And when an animal passes,especially one you've cared for
for years, it's real grief, deep, personal, sometimes traumatic.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It's all of those things and more, and even harder
for public-facing facilitieslike zoos.
Sometimes it feels like thepublic thinks animals in our
care live forever, that nothingever dies.
But loss is a constant part ofthis job and when it happens it
hits us hard.
We grieve deeply, even if wehave to keep smiling for the
(03:59):
next tour or feeding and we'renot supposed to talk about it
Like somehow that reflectspoorly on the organization you
work for.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I mean, not only do you have to deal with how you
feel as an animal caregiver, youalso have to deal with public
pushback that can often bedownright insensitive, and I
know you've dealt with thispersonally, right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Oh yeah, and more than once.
I remember losing one of ourolder primates a couple years
ago.
It hit me like losing a friend,but I came to work the next day
like nothing happened.
There wasn't time to stop.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You're talking about Mo, right?
I know he was something reallyspecial.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, mo was one of the oldest golden lion tamarins
in North America.
He lived at RSCF for decadesand he was such a cool dude and
lived a wonderful long life.
We called him the RobertRedford of GLTs because he was
so handsome.
Everyone loved him on staff andonline, and seeing him age and
eventually decline was tough forall of us, and sharing his
(05:00):
passing with our onlinesupporters was really difficult.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I can only imagine.
When an animal dies, especiallyone you've known for years, it
hits hard.
We form bonds, we work withthem every single day.
We know their quirks, moods,their history, their favorite
foods and enrichment.
Then you have to formulate anarrative for the public on top
(05:24):
of all that.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, how do you cram 24 years of life into an
Instagram post about a monkey?
Speaker 3 (05:29):
24 years.
That's incredible and atestament to the wonderful care
he had with your team at RSCF.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And let's not forget about the guilt that comes with
loss.
It's brutal, no matter thecircumstance.
You ask yourself did I misssomething?
Could I have done more?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Even if you did everything right, you question
it.
On top of all that, we'rerarely given the time or space
to process that grief.
It's back to work, back tofeeding rounds like nothing
happened.
That kind of suppression takesa toll.
And you don't forget, I miss Mo.
Well, that's okay.
He was a big part of your life.
You never forget animals likethat.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
And you know, grief takes a physical toll on top of
what's already a rough job onthe body.
Keeping healthy both mentallyand physically is essential, and
it ain't easy.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh yeah, showing up every day, no matter how you
feel, carrying hay bales in therain, building enclosures,
unloading tons of feed, it's nojoke Back pain, sunburns, bug
bites, bruises stress, fracturessound familiar and we just keep
pushing through because theanimals depend on us.
But physical exhaustion plusemotional stress, that's
(06:37):
burnout's best friend.
Karen, you know what makes itharder when the people outside
your field don't get it Totallythe missed holidays, the
birthdays you don't outside yourfield don't get it Totally.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
The missed holidays, the birthdays you don't show up
for, the 6 am shifts onChristmas morning and people say
, can't you just take the dayoff?
My family has an endless listof events I've missed and I feel
really bad about that.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Or the classic.
When are you going to get areal job that one hurts?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Okay, that's where I draw the line.
What we do is real.
It's skilled, scientific andspecialized.
But because it doesn't fit thenine-to-five mold, people don't
always respect it, and thatdisconnect creates a lot of
internal tension.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You want to be there for family, but you also know
you're needed where you are.
I think one of the hardestthings to do in our field is
finding balance between work andhome life.
It's so rough.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Well, I think it's really important to not feel
like you have to justify yourwork to family, friends or
partners.
I try to share my life as muchas I can with family.
I always encourage staff toinvite family and friends for a
tour.
Show them what we do.
Let them see the passion andlove for the job.
If they still don't get itwhile that sucks, you have to be
(07:50):
confident enough in your pathin life to continue.
Anyway, it's okay to remindthem.
You need their support, whetherthey agree with you or not.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, family support is so important, especially when
dealing with all the emotionaland physical challenges this
career path brings and workingfor that balance.
It's hard but necessary.
You have to be able to findspace and time for yourself and
your family and friends.
Make the most of your days offwhile constantly juggling.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yep, you become really good at
compartmentalizing.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Now we have to take a step back and talk about the
big picture stuff, the part noone really prepares you for or
talks about enough when yourealize how stacked the odds are
.
Conservation isn't just animalcare, it's politics, and
sometimes recognizing anddealing with corruption, greed
and even crime.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
This is the real behind-the-curtain stuff.
If you truly care about thespecies you work with, you want
to learn all you can aboutwhat's happening to them in the
wild.
So you pour your heart intosaving a species, building
breeding programs, doing fieldwork, lobbying for protection
and meanwhile that same speciesis being poached or trafficked
(09:03):
faster than you can intervene.
Speaking as an admin for aconservation, breeding and
recovery center, the challengesare huge.
Funding for programs is at anall-time low, in-country
governments change, there'sgraft and corruption and the
absolute worst seeing speciesyou love used as pawns in
political or economic games.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, there is so much more to this job than just
feeding the animals.
It can be soul-crushing,especially when you know the
animals don't have time forbureaucracy.
You feel helpless, like yourlife's work is being undone in
front of you.
How do you work through that?
I mean, I've had days where Isat in the car after work and
thought why are we doing this ifnothing changes?
(09:45):
That despair is real and it'sdangerous if you don't have a
way to work through it.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Cassidy, that's the part.
People don't see how much ofour mental health is tied not
just to our animals but to thisoverwhelming sense that we're
losing ground.
But we can't stop.
We just can't because we're theonly chance these species have
and while all those plates arespinning.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
it's wrapped up in a culture that glorifies overwork.
If you're not breaking yourselffor the job, are you even
dedicated?
The field is understaffed as itis, so we pick up the slack
Always.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, I haven't taken a day off in a month.
Gets applause, but I'm taking amental health day.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
still raises eyebrows that has to change, because
exhausted, burnt-out caregiverscan't give their best and they
can't stick around long-termeither.
For everyone out therelistening, this episode isn't an
endless list of complaints.
We're just trying to give voiceto the incredible difficulties
(10:47):
animal care staff face on thedaily and still show up, still
care, still give all they can,and to the facilities out there
that recognize these challengesand support their teams.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Cassidy, I couldn't have said it better myself
Self-care isn't selfish, it'ssurvival.
So let's turn this around.
What helps?
How do we work through all ofthis and come out still
believing in ourselves and thework?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
no-transcript.
Having someone to talk to whodoesn't think grieving for a
monkey or funding fatigue isweird.
That's huge.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And don't feel weird about it.
I mean, it's 2025.
There should be absolutely zerostigma attached to therapy,
especially when you can do itvirtually and there are online
groups hosted by zookeepers,field workers and veterinarians
dedicated to talking about allof this.
Having a platform to sharestories and ask questions is a
(11:50):
lifeline, and you can even stayanonymous if you want to.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Facebook and YouTube are two more great sources Agree
100%, and finding communitycoworkers who get it can be
life-saving.
Even just being able to saythat sucked without judgment
makes a difference.
Grabbing a beer and nachosafter work with the crew to
(12:14):
debrief and unload is not onlygood for the soul, it's good for
the team as a whole.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Let's not forget to take this to the top Leadership
matters.
Management that not onlysupports but encourages staff
wellness, mental health days,team debriefs, flexible
scheduling, being available totalk and listen is so important.
Those things aren't extras,they're essential.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
And we need to speak up more, not just when things go
wrong, but when we need help,when we need a break, when we
need each other.
Keeping these feelings bottledup will only lead to more stress
, more depression, more fatigue.
Give your feelings the voicethey deserve.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely.
Never be afraid to speak up.
Your feelings are valid.
Your needs matter, okay.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Let's take a positive turn here.
Let's talk about something thatcan feel a little cliche in
this field, but it's vital.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Hope.
Yes, it's easy to get swallowedby everything that's broken,
but sometimes you have to stepback.
Look at the animal right infront of you that tamarin, that
bongo calf, that egg in theincubator.
If not for you, they may notexist.
I'm going to quote Jane Goodallhere.
She says hope is oftenmisunderstood.
People tend to think that it issimply passive wishful thinking
.
I hope something will happen,but I'm not going to do anything
(13:34):
about it.
This is indeed the opposite ofreal hope, which requires action
and engagement.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Jane Goodall.
What an icon and inspiration.
Imagine working in this fieldfor over 60 years and still
maintaining a powerful, hopefuland purposeful view.
We need to carry that forwardand remember that in many cases,
if not for us, these animalswould have no chance at all.
We're not saving the wholeworld, but we are buying them
(14:03):
time.
We're holding the line untilthe world catches up.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And while we do realize that there are success
stories out there, In thetsunami of news cycles these
days, there are examples ofspecies brought back from the
brink Forests, regrown lawspassed.
The reality is bad news alwaysseems to get more press, but
good news is out there.
You just have to dig for it.
Stay informed.
Follow news outlets that coverthis field, like Mongabee and
(14:29):
the Guardian.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
And you know, karen, sometimes just giving one animal
a life that's safe, enrichedand dignified, that's enough for
that day.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
So true Hope isn't about pretending it's easy.
It's about choosing to stay inthe fight, even when it's hard,
in fact, especially when it'shard.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
And when you can't find hope, borrow it from your
team, from the animals, from thefact that the work does matter,
even if the results may takedecades to show, if you're
listening and work in animalcare feeling overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
know this You're not weak and you're definitely not
alone.
This work is beautiful, butit's also brutal.
Yup, you can love your job andstill struggle.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You can not weak and you're definitely not alone.
This work is beautiful, butit's also brutal.
Yup, you can love your job andstill struggle.
You can be passionate and stillneed rest.
That doesn't make you lesscommitted, it makes you human.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
I really hope there are people listening that work
in leadership roles.
Please make space for yourstaff to share and be heard.
Mental health support isn't aluxury.
It's a necessity.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Karen, I know you'll agree with me when I say
conservation isn't just aboutsaving species.
It's about sustaining thepeople who are doing the saving.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So true, in a perfect world, we'd all be kind to
ourselves and each other.
Step outside the checklist.
Look at the animals you'relucky to work and interact with
and remember why you started.
Your compassion, while it mayexhaust you, makes you a better
caregiver, and the animalsbenefit from that quality of
care every day.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
We've touched on a lot today and we don't have all
the answers, but we do offer thespace to voice how you feel,
with zero judgment.
There's a lot still to do andto discuss.
On that note, we'll wrap thingsup here.
If you've got questions,thoughts or just want to share
what helps you get through thetough days, karen and I would
really love to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
We're dropping some mental health resources in the
show notes.
I highly recommend the website.
Conservation, optimism and, asalways, you can find more at
rarespeciesorg.
And please remember how muchyou are needed and how much your
work matters.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Until next time.
This is Conservation Beyond theCage.
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