Hear Me Roar: A memoir about zookeeping, and what animals taught me about feminism

by Erna Walraven

In the early 1980s, when Erna Walraven decided to follow her dreams and become one of the first female zookeepers in Australia, she thought her biggest challenges would be feeding big cats and subduing irate gorillas. In fact, it was her male colleagues who made work miserable, harassing and humiliating her for doing a 'man's job'. So, she looked to the animals under her care to prove them wrong.

Despite what Erna's colleagues seemed to think, the females of the animal world were far from weak and demure. Elephant matriarchs led their herds; female bonobos revelled in sexual exploration; emu mothers abandoned their chicks to the care of their fathers. Her colleagues wouldn't dare tell a female tiger that hunting was a 'male's job' - why were they so intent on limiting Erna?

In this insightful and delightful book, Erna blends memoir and pop science to tell a fiercely female story. She recounts a life spent caring for animals in a fast transforming industry, and dives into scientific evidence and evolutionary history to debunk the myths that once held her back.

Genres: Feminism

Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I don't want power over the animals; I now understand my job as a zookeeper is to give as much autonomy to the animals as possible. I'm in their service, doing what I can to let them live fulfilling lives with meaning and purpose.’

Hear Me Roar is a memoir by Erna Walraven, one of Australia’s pioneering female zookeepers. The book intertwines her personal journey in the zoological field with insights into gender roles observed in the animal kingdom.

In the early 1980s, Erna Walraven embarked on her career at a time when zookeeping was predominantly male dominated. Facing workplace harassment and skepticism, she found inspiration and validation in the animal world. Observing behaviors such as elephant matriarchs leading herds, female bonobos engaging in complex social interactions, and emu fathers taking on primary caregiving roles, she challenged traditional notions of gender roles.

‘My mother and many of her fellow resistance fighters were braver than I think I could ever be. Mum would say: You don't know how brave you can be until you need to be. You'll find a lot of courage when you're angry enough. Courage is the root of change.’’

Walraven’s memoir blends personal anecdotes with scientific observations, offering a perspective that highlights the strength and complexity of female roles both in human society and the animal kingdom. Her story not only sheds light on her experiences but also invites readers to reconsider preconceived notions about gender dynamics in nature.

Hear me Roar is a fierce female story! One to be read by everyone!

Thank you Affirm Press for my early readers copy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this beautiful memoir.

Congratulations Erna! Available from today.

My Highest Recommendation.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
A visit to the zoo is a rite of passage for a child and an experience that embeds in the memory bank.
Typically most zoos are entertainment and conservation driven.
Visitors only see a snippet of what really goes on behind the zoo gates.
Erna opens the gate for us to experience the nuts and bolts of the whole operation.
A fascinating account that covers everything from animal behaviours and traits, to the social and political hierarchies that form among staff and the dangers of involved.
The opportunity to observe creatures from the wild and ensure their well being is a badge of honour.
The animals form bonds and for the most cooperate.
Anecdotes that educate and perhaps shock the reader about how different species co exist, raise their young and instinctively act to survive is an eye opener.
The reiteration of the valuable work the zoo network provides and the role they play to ensure species survival is interesting.
The passage of time has alleviated most of the misogyny and sexism and for Erna to reach the top in the staff arena is a testimony to changes in policy and social values.
Insightful, educational and fascinating best describes my satisfaction levels.
I’ll never look at meerkats the same after reading this.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully engaging and informative memoir.

4.5 stars

[Georgia H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hear Me Roar by Erna Walraven

What a great, educational book!! Hear Me Roar a memoir x scientific exploration into Erna's experience as a zoo keeper at the infamous Taronga Zoo, Sydney. The pages highlight the highs and the lows that came with working in the 1980s in a 'male dominated' industry. After being harassed and doubted, Erna refused to be bullied into leaving.
If you are an animal lover and into the scientific analysis of many different animals then this is for you.

Thank you Affirm Press for this ARC.

[N. Wiklund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hear Me Roar is a memoir by Erna Walraven about her 32 years working at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. The memoir focuses on her experiences with the many different ways females are treated, from rude colleagues to dominating matriarchal communities in the animal kingdom.
I need to preface this by saying that I am not a fan of zoos. I was! I even almost got a job at one. However, since getting my degree, I have done research on zoos for my studies, and some 80% of the animals held in captivity suffer from mental health issues. I would have liked that to have been addressed somewhere in the book. I understand that wasn't the focus, and I found a good few pages under "curator" engaging. That being said, I also understand the importance of conservation and attention that zoos can bring to the public on wildlife; they just aren't for me anymore.
This book started off really strong for me. So strong that in the first few pages, I laughed aloud in a cafe. However, within the first few chapters, the author made some statements which were not true. For example: "In the 2003 hit movie Finding Nemo, young Nemo (a very cute clownfish) goes off looking for his mum, who unfortunately, was eaten by a big barracuda." Everyone who has watched it, and without spoiling it for those who haven't, knows it's because he "touched the butt" and not in search of his mum. The other one had to do with language. So, even though I found a lot of what she wrote super interesting, I didn't feel like I would be able to quote it unless I went and did my own research.
I found it pretty repetitive, with the subjects jumping everywhere. I also couldn't get a grasp of where I was in time—for example, the 1980s, the 1990s, or now. I also felt the pov kept changing, but that may have been a reflection of the setting.
It would have been a stronger book if it had focused on zoo keeping or femininity in the wild, but for some reason, the combination didn't work for me. Others may love this book, and I would never discourage anyone from reading it.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Zookeeper Stories, Fierce Feminism

- - -
My lovely friends at Affirm Press kindly sent me a copy of Hear Me Roar earlier this year and I finally decided to dive in via audiobook.

The narration was engaging (though I could’ve sworn there were two different voices at times but maybe just a me thing 🤷🏼‍♀️).

From the cover and tagline, I expected a collection of animal care adventures and I definitely got that but what I didn’t expect was such a strong, fascinating feminist thread woven throughout.

Erna’s memoir doesn’t just explore her life as a zookeeper, it shines a light on what it meant to be a woman in that world during the 1980s. She was a true trailblazer, paving the way for others in a male dominated field.

I have to say, I’ve never learned so much about animal anatomy (and I’ve watched my fair share of David Attenborough). But despite the talk about animals bits, every story was filled with insight and warmth, blending scientific facts, personal experience and reflections on gender roles.

Unique, engaging and fiercely female, Hear Me Roar is a fascinating memoir that celebrates strength, curiosity and standing your ground in a wild animal filled world.

[Annie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author was the Curator of Taronga Park Zoo. Book was interesting and informative but too Academic.
Reading was enjoyable but will never remember some really informative information about the Animal Kingdom because it was too Academically written. Shows female animals and the correspondence of human females. It dragged for me.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book was really interesting, involving the care of animals at Taronga zoo and the work involved. A lot of it was a bit repetitive, particularly the sexism etc from some of the authors older co-staff. Some amusing anecdotes and without the repetitiveness I would have given it 4stars so maybe 3.5.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting and informative documentary style autobiography.I learned much about the animal world, and the correlation with humans. Told with a sense of humour.

[Sharron Terrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I. think the author is a remarkable woman, but instead of all the scientific facts, I would have liked a more personal story.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story of a woman who found her feminist power through observation of animals while she was a zookeeper at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. I loved it!