Although the term “handler” is used to describe the men and women who look after the animals at Nausicaá, the job of a handler at Europe’s largest aquarium can take on many different aspects.
Learn all about the job of handler
Working as a handler in the largest aquarium in Europe.
At Nausicaá, nearly 30 men and women work 7 days a week to look after the animals.
How do you become a handler?
To answer this question, which we are asked quite often, here’s what the job of an animal handler involves and what training courses are available so that one day, you can join the team of men and women who look after the animals at Nausicaá every day.
Interview with Constance, penguin handler at Nausicaá
African penguins have been part of Nausicaá since 2006 and Constance has been looking after these seabirds for several years now, regularly monitoring the births of the pairs in the colony.
Diving with the sharks
The men and women who make up Nausicaá’s team of handlers are also divers. Every day, you can see divers in the giant High seas tank, surrounded by fish and sharks. Diving in the tank is one of the tasks of the handlers.
Medical training for sea lions
One of the tasks of the men and women who look after the sea lions in their daily routine is medical training to make it easier for the sea lions to undergo medical examinations, by teaching them the same exercises as those used during visits by veterinary surgeons.
Jellyfish breeder
For nearly 30 years, Nausicaá’s team of handlers have been perfecting their expertise in breeding jellyfish, which are then displayed to the public in the different tanks of the Mankind and Shores exhibition and the Journey on the High Seas exhibition.
Coral breeder
Nausicaá’s expertise in coral breeding and cuttings is so extensive that all the corals on show for the public come from our aquariological reserves, which means they are not harvested from the wild.
Mélanie, manta ray handler!
Since the age of 7, Mélanie has dreamed of becoming an animal handler! Today, she has accomplished her dream and is lucky enough to work at Nausicaá with a majestic species: the manta ray.
Watch a video of Mélanie’s daily routine as a manta ray handler on Nausicaá’s Facebook page!
What if you followed in the footsteps of a handler?
For an exclusive half-day, experience the daily routine of our handlers!
Conceived as a glimpse behind the scenes of Europe’s largest aquarium, the “In the footsteps of a handler” experience takes you up close and personal with the animals (sea lions, reptiles, manta rays and sharks) and reveals the job of a handler who is dedicated to the well-being of our animals.