Call of the wild: a versatile veterinarian relishes his unusual assignment of treating exotic zoo animals.

It's not all monkey business for Rodney Walker. The Jackson Zoo veterinarian also has a list of patients that also includes elephants, giraffes, and zebras.

Of course, that's just on Tuesdays and Thursdays--during the rest of the week, Walker is busy tending to his solo practice, Huntcliff Veterinary Clinic in Clinton.

A native of Jackson, Walker grew up being exposed to the work of veterinarians who frequently visited his family's farm to check on the horses and cattle. So it was only natural that he would become interested in taking up the profession himself one day. "There were several vets who influenced me when I was younger," remembers Walker. In fact, one of these early relationships led to a student job in a large animal practitioner's office.

After graduating from Mississippi State University, Walker went on to receive his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 1979. He returned to Mississippi and briefly worked at a Jackson animal clinic before deciding to open his own practice.

Walker's work took on an entirely new direction 17 years ago when the Jackson Zoo put out a call for a new part-time veterinarian.

"It sounded like an exciting opportunity, so I replied," recalls Walker. The job was soon his, and he went from spending all of his days caring for family pets to working with far more exotic patients as well.

During a typical week, Walker visits the zoo on two busy mornings. Thanks to full-time technician Donna Todd, Walker is able to bypass much of the ordering and organizing that is essential in a vet's office and concentrate on the animals. His duties include performing regular physical exams on the zoo animals and doing lab work such as tuberculosis testing on the primates. Zookeepers report to Todd about individual animals' problems, allowing Walker to focus on treating those who need his care most.

When Walker checks on the animals, whether for a routine exam or in an emergency, the creatures are sedated. But when they're awake, some animals are less than enthusiastic to see the vet coming their way.

"The chimps are given different objects that serve as enrichment tools, such as big balls and milk crates," explains Walker. "With this particular chimp, when she sees me coming, she puts the milk crate over her head. I guess she's not taking any chances--hoping she won't see me and I won't see her."

Once, the vet was called to treat a female zebra who had been wounded during an altercation with a male. "After the fight subsided, it turns out the female zebra was left with a one-foot gash along her neck," says Walker. "I began to tend to her wound, and it started raining--I'm talking heavy downpour."

He quickly stitched up her wound as best he could, but once the rain subsided, it became apparent that there was something that set this zebra apart from all the others--a fashion faux pas, you might say. "I didn't match the stripes," laughs Walker.

Emergency situations at the zoo typically call for Walker's steady hand, but sometimes they also require his climbing abilities. This was the case when a group of bearcats, brought in for a special exhibit, decided they didn't care for their new home in Jackson.

"Pretty soon, a few of the bearcats figured out a way to climb into the trees around the zoo," says Walker. "It wasn't long until I was in the trees with the mission of getting the bearcats back to their home."

Most of his work is done with feet planted firmly on the ground, but even during his time off, Walker is busy taking care of animals. "For the past six years, I've accompanied Pat Kyle, a fellow veterinarian in Jackson, to Alaska to work as trail vets for the mid-distance Iditarod qualifying races," says Walker.

The 10- to 14-day dog sled event, a precursor to the 1,150-mile Iditarod that takes place each March, is held every January and covers 300 miles. The race covers rough terrain such as frozen rivers, rugged mountains, and dense forests, all at temperatures well below zero.

Alongside other trail vets, Kyle and Walker treat race-related injuries and ailments at the mandatory rest stops along the trail. "Trail vets are dropped off at checkpoints all along the race, either by bush plane or snowmobile," says Walker. "Many of the ailments of the racing dogs are to their paws. Some conditions are serious enough to take the dogs out of the race." Surprisingly, this past year, when temperatures "soared" to 25-30 degrees above zero, a few dogs suffered from heat exhaustion.

No matter if Walker is across the country or across town, there are a couple of special animals that always get first-class attention.

Bratty, the "house cat" at Walker's clinic, saunters from room to room throughout the facility. According to Walker and his staff, if Bratty could talk, she would tell you she was the boss. Even with a leg injured at birth and a bobbed tail, Bratty isn't slowing down for anyone.

"A woman brought Bratty in when she was a few days old," says Walker as he watches the 10-year-old cat dart toward her food. "She didn't think Bratty had much of a chance, but we bottle-fed her and took care of her, and she's still around."

Maggie, the "house dog," is a little more inclined to sit by a visitor's side while enjoying a scratch behind the ears. A couple of years ago, Walker and his wife Charla inherited the 7-year-old mixed breed when their daughter, Marianna, left to attend the University of Mississippi. Oxford is also home to the Walkers' son, Jordan, a law school student, and his wife Brittany.

Whether he's tending to a marathon dog, a sassy cat, or a chimp hiding behind a milk crate, Walker is dedicated to giving the best care to every animal he comes across. And even though some of his patients aren't willing to express their thanks, the smiles on the faces of children who see the animals each day at the zoo are thanks enough.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TEMPY SEGREST