“It’s a privilege to work with so many species,” says Rhiannon Wolff — and she truly means it.
Wolff is a hoofstock keeper at Marwell Zoo, near Winchester in Hampshire. Her role involves caring for “everything with hooves,” including giraffes, zebras, white rhinos, tapirs, red river hogs and Visayan warty pigs.
For her, it’s more than just a job — it’s conservation in action.
From Animal Lover to Zoo Professional
Although Wolff always loved animals, she didn’t initially plan on becoming a zookeeper. At first, she considered veterinary medicine. However, once she discovered specialized courses focused on exotic and endangered species, her path shifted.
After earning a degree in zoo management and completing an unpaid internship at Chester Zoo, she took a maternity cover position at Marwell in 2020.
“I moved down in 2020 … and I’ve never left,” she says.
Her daily responsibilities are diverse and hands-on. She cleans enclosures, monitors fence lines, collects samples, observes animal behavior and provides nutritional enrichment. In addition, she helps train massive animals like rhinos and giraffes to voluntarily participate in medical procedures — including X-rays, blood draws and vaccinations.
“They just stand there awake and do it by choice,” she explains.
A Front-Row Seat to Conservation
Many of the animals Wolff works with are listed on the IUCN Red List. One example is the scimitar-horned oryx, once extinct in the wild but successfully reintroduced with significant contributions from Marwell Zoo.
“It’s definitely a privilege … you know these animals are very elusive or people rarely see them in the wild,” Wolff says.
Among all the species she cares for, one stands out.
A Special Bond With Przewalski’s Horses
Wolff describes Przewalski’s horse as one of her favorites.
“They’re very special,” she says. “They have some similarity to domestic horses, but they’re wild.”
Short, stocky and incredibly hardy, these horses evolved to survive harsh environments. At one point, they were declared extinct in the wild. In fact, all living Przewalski’s horses today descend from just 12 captive individuals.
Working with them requires caution.
“When they kick off at each other, it can be quite scary,” Wolff admits. “If people saw it, they’d be quite shocked.”
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Recently, two female horses named Shara and Togs left Marwell to begin their journey back to the wild in Kazakhstan. The first stage of their relocation took them to Berlin before continuing onward.
For Wolff, it was an emotional moment.
“I worked with them from when they were born to when they left,” she says. “It’s bittersweet, but it’s very cool to be part of that.”
Their departure is part of Marwell’s international conservation efforts to restore the species in its native habitat.
Continuing the Mission
Wolff still cares for the remaining seven females in the herd. Plans are underway to introduce a new stallion, hopefully strengthening the group and supporting future breeding efforts.
While saying goodbye is always difficult, she reminds herself of the bigger purpose.
“To be part of the conservation is a really exciting thing that we have to try and remind ourselves.”
And sometimes, the most magical moments happen unexpectedly.
“It’s even more special when they choose to interact,” she says. “You’re stood next to a wild animal that wants to see what you’re doing. It’s very cool.”