By Alesha Capone
“CAN I pat the lion?” was one of the many questions Maria Georgiou has been asked over the past 15 years.
As a long-time volunteer at the Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo, Ms Georgiou said she enjoyed liaising with the public.
“Some of the children’s comments are priceless,” she said.
Ms Georgiou, who lives on the border of Sunshine and Braybrook, said she began volunteering at the zoos in 1994 because she has always been interested in animals, plants and the environment.
After seeing a newspaper article about Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ), an organisation for zoo volunteers, she joined the group and has never looked back.
“I have lots of favourite memories,” Ms Georgiou said.
“I was helping out as a volunteer at a Roar’n’Snore camp-out at Melbourne Zoo one night, when at 2am a sprinkler came on under the tent next to me and soaked the family inside.
“The gardeners had forgotten to switch off the auto-switch on the lawn.”
Her tasks at the zoos include helping out with school holiday programs, FOTZ member activities, “hamper watch” and promoting the zoo at shopping centres.
She has also helped to plant trees and with packing “Zoo Poo”, a garden compost made from the animals’ manure.
Another of her duties is the “Animal Watch,” which involves observing an animal for several hours over weeks or months.
“I do have a special soft spot for the elephants, tigers, orangutans and gorillas,” Ms Georgiou said.
“They all have their own personalities and traits.”
To find out more about volunteering with the zoo contact www.fotz.org.au or 1300 966 784.
