Former zookeeper appointed practice manager at vet practice

A former zookeeper has been appointed practice manager at Mimram Veterinary Centre in Welwyn, Hertfordshire.

Alexandra Spelzini previously worked with lions, penguins and pythons at Woburn Safari Park, and prior to that spent 11 years as practice manager at Village Vets in St Albans. She will head up a team of 17 in Welwyn, and says she was drawn to the role by the rewarding nature of caring for animals.

Spelzini said: “Originally I wanted to be an officer for the RSPCA but I was told I needed more experience so this is when I started as a zookeeper at Woburn, close to where I lived and went to school. I spent a lot of time in the park’s pets corner looking after the farmyard animals, but I would also help with the other zoo animals.

“A lot of the time it was preparing food for animals and mucking out enclosures but experiences like hand-rearing lion cubs is something you don’t forget.”

Spelzini owns many pets of her own including two horses, one mule and one parrot.