Zookeepers take care of animals, feed them, and maintain their enclosures. They require good people skills, physical fitness, and a love for animals. Specialized jobs include working with reptiles, primates, fish, or birds. Other animal-related jobs include curators, breeders, and technicians. Science courses and internships are recommended for those interested in becoming a zookeeper. Trainee programs and volunteer work can also provide valuable experience.
Keepers take care of animals on the zoo premises. Your primary responsibilities include caring for the animals, feeding them the proper diet, and keeping the enclosures. Zookeeper jobs require frequent public and media contact, as well as education. General positions can look after different types of animals in a small facility or specialist jobs that work with certain types of animals such as reptiles or primates. Grooming specialist jobs include aquarists and animal trainers.
Overseeing an animal’s diet is a keeper’s job and may include chopping vegetables and fruits or preparing meat for carnivores. Groomsmen can administer prescription medications and will work closely with the veterinarian to monitor illness and injuries. Fresh water and a clean, safe enclosure are important to animal health, and keepers provide both.
Groomsmen must be physically fit to carry out the required work. They may have to politely discourage visitors from teasing animals or throwing objects at them so that good people skills are an asset. Maturity, ability to follow procedures and adaptability are good qualities for animal caretaker jobs. Above all, keepers must truly love animals and enjoy taking care of them.
Specialized zookeeper jobs usually involve a particular type of animal. There are zookeepers who deal only with reptiles, primates, fish or birds. Some may help researchers studying their charges or conducting their own studies. Often keepers are in charge of a zoo’s nursery and care for orphaned and rejected pups. Some zookeepers are employed as animal trainers and work with animals to perform for zoo patrons.
Other types of jobs available working with animals include curators, who are responsible for the zookeepers and manage the facility’s animal collections. Animal breeders and technicians propagate species to replenish zoos’ stocks and maintain their diverse gene pools. There are animal caretaker positions with kennels, stables, boarding and rescue centers, and zoo-like sanctuaries. For-profit exotic animal show facilities also need people to care for the animals.
Anyone interested in animal caretaker jobs or other work with animals should start by taking several science courses at school to learn observation and recording skills. Nowadays, most zookeepers have degrees in animal husbandry, zoology or biology. Many institutions have internships for students involved in animal care programs. In the US, the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) will have information about educational programs.
Zoo keeper jobs are both in demand and in short supply, but there are many ways to diversify. Trainee programs may be available at some smaller facilities and may allow the candidate to gain experience. Conservation preserves are often looking for volunteers. Working as a farm hand, veterinary assistant or zoo volunteer is valuable experience for an aspiring zookeeper.
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