Ever wondered how to weigh a cheetah? Well, you put it on the scales, of course. But it takes a professional to convince a big cat to step onto them willingly.

It’s just one of the many specialised tasks undertaken by Canberra’s dedicated zookeepers. From training giraffes and caring for critically endangered cotton-top tamarins to building years of trust with cheetahs, National Zookeeper Week (19-25 July) celebrates the people behind the scenes who keep the National Zoo and Aquarium’s animals healthy and thriving.

Cheetah Team Leader Leah Carnegie showed how two male cheetahs, Sani and Zambi, voluntarily (with a little encouragement from some tasty treats) step onto scales as part of their regular health checks.

“We weigh these guys at least once a fortnight, if not once a month,” Leah says. “It’s all about keeping a close eye on their health.”

Regular weighing allows keepers to monitor everything from seasonal weight fluctuations to overall wellbeing. The same training also enables the cheetahs to calmly participate in blood tests, vaccinations and crate training, significantly reducing stress for both the animals and their keepers.

To most people, getting up close to weigh a cheetah would be a little more than intimidating. For Leah, the process is built on something that takes years to develop.

“It’s taken many years to build those bonds of respect and trust,” she says. “They know we’re not there to harm them; we’re there to respect them. If they decide they don’t want to come near us, we won’t push it. I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with them and to share that experience with our guests.”

That same philosophy extends across the zoo. Hoofstock Keeper Stacey Rebolledo demonstrated the work she does with giraffes Skye and Khamisi during a target training session. The pair share their habitat with three zebras, with the mixed-species group living comfortably together.

In the Small Primates precinct, Primate Team Leader Courtney Hawkins showcased induction box training with the zoo’s endangered cotton-top tamarins. The behaviour teaches the monkeys to voluntarily enter a transport box, making future veterinary visits significantly less stressful than the old style of using a net.

“We try to make as many of our medical behaviours as possible completely voluntary,” Courtney says. “We want those experiences to be as positive and stress-free as possible.”

The tiny primates, weighing just 500 to 600 grams, are among the most endangered animals at the zoo, with only an estimated 6,000 remaining in the wild. The National Zoo and Aquarium is part of a national breeding program helping to safeguard the species for the future.

Courtney was one of the lucky ones who knew from a young age exactly what she wanted to do, dreaming of becoming a zookeeper from the age of four. The job has proven every bit as rewarding as she imagined.

“It’s the best job in the world,” she says. “It looks like the best job in the world, and from the inside, it really is the best job in the world.”

It’s a fitting sentiment for National Zookeeper Week, which recognises the incredible people whose work often goes unseen, but makes all the difference to the welfare and conservation of the animals in their care.

To learn more about the National Zoo and Aquarium, visit nationalzoo.com.au