"They're like cats, only bigger."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's how Alyssa Neal describes the lions at Altina Wildlife Park, where she's worked for the past three and a half years as a zookeeper.
It's the purr-fect job for Ms Neal, who is a self-described "crazy cat lady" who loves all things feline.
Feeding the lions is the highlight of her day, and coming home to her beloved cat Minerva is the highlight of her night.
"They've got the same personality," Ms Neal said.
"We've got a 5-year-old tawny lioness who likes to play with water coming out of a hose, just like Minerva likes playing with her little toy."
Lions aren't the only things on Ms Neal's list of responsibilities; she spends her days looking after dozens of rare and endangered species.
Addax antelopes, scimitar horned onyxes, and Mongolian wild horses are just some of the critically endangered species that have been rescued from the brink of extinction at Altina.
A passion for animal conservation is what gets her up in the morning, and she says it's a shared passion among her colleagues.
READ MORE
She first knew she wanted to become a zookeeper in her second year at university, where she studied animal science.
During her studies she did some placements at zoos, and it was then that she decided she wanted to become a zookeeper.
It's been a steep learning curve for Ms Neal, who had to learn how to look after more than 50 animal species when she first started at Altina.
She's come a long way since then, but she says there's always something new to learn from Altina's constantly growing roster of animals.
"No day is ever the same," Ms Neal said.
"Every day is a new experience and every day you get to meet new people."
She always happy to share her extensive knowledge of animals with visitors to Altina, who are shown around the wildlife park on horse-drawn carriages. The tours are one of her favourite parts of the job, second only to looking after the lions.
"A lot of the time I'll finish the day and feel like I haven't gone to work," Ms Neal said. "When you're around those animals it's just fun."
***
While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you're up to date with all the Griffith and MIA news you can sign up here.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
