Hi, I’m Mo!
…a former Zookeeper and known by the children and staff of the schools I work in as the Animal Man! I set up Animals in Hands over ten years ago operating as a Birmingham based Animal Man, having previously worked as a Zookeeper at the West Midland Safari Park where I got to work with a wide range of animals, from the big cats to exotic insects and reptiles.
I have always had a passion and admiration for wildlife and that is why there is an exotic animal rescue service linked to Animals in Hands. Rescuing unwanted animals began well before I set up Animals in Hands! It began whilst I was working as a zookeeper when someone called the Safari Park asking if they were able to re-home two unwanted pet chinchillas.
Unfortunately (or fortunately for me as it turned out) the Park were unable to accommodate them, so I agreed to take them on! I guess that it can now be said that, I have never stopped taking-on unwanted exotic animals since then! Animals in Hands now house over 100 animals (70 different species), many of which have been rescued.
The rest is history; I am now doing a job that I love – working with animals and with children, having the distinctive title of the Animal Man and, more recently, Mo The Zookeeper.
Most, but not all my animals have been adopted by me having been unwanted exotic pets that previous owners could no longer care for. As a result of this, as well as running an educational mobile zoo service, I also offer free and friendly advice on and rescue support of exotic animals. I travel across the West Midlands and beyond taking in unwanted exotic pets from people who can no longer keep them for whatever personal reason.
A major message I try to impart to children in the schools that I visit, is that no animal should be acquired without a great deal of research on the animal first being undertaken – more and more people forget to do that very thing and, after a few months, realise they can no longer cope with their new pets!
Considering buying an exotic pet?
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch!