# @denverzoo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DbGRCOjDvqp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68169163-denverzoo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f73ad7f0ab.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-22T14:06:42.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (@denverzoo) — https://gondola.cc/denverzoo

## Caption

🐾 Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Introducing Gracie Gilbert, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA and a keeper whose tattoos represent unique chapters in an extraordinary career. 🖤 

Gracie has been a zookeeper since 2019 and joined our team in 2024. Her ink tells the story of three animals who shaped her into who she is today: 

🐐 Seamus the West African pygmy goat was Gracie's very first training assignment at Houston Zoo was helping a mischievous pygmy goat stop knocking over small children. What followed was one of the most unlikely and meaningful partnerships of her career. She pitched turning Seamus into an Ambassador Animal, and he thrived, mastering over 20 behaviors, doing on-stage shows, campus walks, and even virtual painting demos during COVID. "He was my greatest achievement and my closest, most unexpected animal friend." 

🦜 Molly the blue-and-gold macaw, described by Gracie as "the golden retriever of macaws," Molly won over even the most self-proclaimed non-bird-people with her sunshine energy and endless antics. Their conversations doubled as comedy routines, and the quiet moments were just as precious. Molly can still be seen at the Denver Downtown Aquarium! 🌊 

🐦 Meep the greater roadrunner — Meep was Gracie's baby bird. Even as a full-grown adult, he followed her everywhere at her heels, wings flapping, trilling away. "To be loved by one has no comparison." 

Stay tuned tomorrow for our next keeper spotlight! 🐾 

#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,431
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 24

## Tags

zookeeperappreciationweek, nationalzookeeperweek, savingwildlifetogether, animalcare, denverzooconservationalliance

---
Copyright (c) Gondola