HOME	Do you want to be a zookeeper?

           

Q: Being a keeper looks like a lot of fun. Is it? A: People often have the image of a keeper only holding and cuddling an adorable baby, such as a koala or cheetah. But there is much more to the job. Animals are not just cute, cuddly things. They get sick, they bite, they die, they hurt each other, and they can hurt you, too. And the work can be hard, dirty, and tedious. You should have a realistic view of the job before making animal keeping your goal.   Q: Is it easy getting a keeper position? A: Like any other popular job, there are more applicants than open positions, especially when it comes to big zoos. Competition is stiff, and one must be persistent and patient before a position may even open up. It's not unusual for zoos to receive dozens of applicants, often from existing Zoo or Park employees, for one animal care job opening. And those applicants still have to compete with applicants who are already keepers at other zoos around the world.

Q: How do I become an animal keeper?

A: There is no single way to become a keeper, but the more education and hands-on experience you have, the better.

While you're in school, learn as much as you can in your science classes. In university, choose a degree program in animal-related fields like biology, zoology, botany, ecology, conservation science, or animal behavior. Take as many different courses in those areas as you can, and graduate with a Bachelor's degree in your chosen field. (Here's a BIG hint: the competition for jobs caring for animals is so strong that you really HAVE to have a university degree these days to be considered.)

Hands-on Experience - Find opportunities to work with animals. Some potential keepers have volunteered at the zoo, helping scientists and technicians. Sometimes work-study opportunities are available for college students.

Q: What are some other ways to gain animal experience? A: Some places to look for volunteer jobs or internships might be:  • Veterinary offices • Animal training classes (does your dog need obedience training?) • Wildlife rehabilitation centers • Animal shelters • Farms (for domestic animals, or even ostrich, llama, or butterfly farms) • Pet breeders (those that breed specific kinds of dogs, cats, or horses) • Horse stables and boarding facilities   Kids - click here to find out how you can practice being a keeper at home!

Q: Does it help to work in another job at a zoo? A: It certainly doesn't hurt. There are many instances of former employees of the zoo gift shops, food service stands, or tour guide operations moving into animal care positions. Just remember, these people also had the proper educational background and may have even obtained some animal care experience through the Zoo's internal job loan program or hands-on experience working with animals. Q: What type of person makes a good keeper? A: Besides education and some experience, attitude and personality play big roles, as well as a good work ethic, a positive attitude about themselves and work, good communication skills with both people and animals, and the ability to be innovative enough to find solutions to keep the animals stimulated. Q: Are there other jobs at a zoo that will allow me to work with animals? A: There sure are! Veterinarians, animal health technicians, laboratory technicians, field researchers, research assistants, animal behaviorists, animal trainers, and zoo educators work directly with animals.

Scientific Research and Conservation Zoos are home to many scientists and their students who are studying animals both in the collection and in the wild.

Education Another team, composed of designers, writers, artists, and teachers, plan exhibits, create educational graphic displays, and provide a variety of education programs for the public and for school groups.

Facilities The Zoo must keep running for animals, and visitors, and staff who work there. This takes electricians, painters, gardeners, cleaners, and more. In many ways, the Zoo is like a small town.

Volunteers Zoos often have people who help out, but don't have paid jobs there. They give up their time and skills, because they love animals, and want to help. They are often involved in helping to raise money for the zoo.

As you can see, the zoo has many people working there, in order for you to be able to visit, and see the animals.

For Kids: Practice Being an Animal Keeper   Some animal keepers help care for baby animals.   You can start getting animal keeper experience right now! How? By being an animal keeper for your family's pets, or a neighbor's pets! This will help you develop the important skills that animal keepers need on their jobs. Here's how:   Record keeping&emdash; This is something keepers do every day. In a notebook, make daily notes of anything you think is important about your pets: their health, weight, behavior, diet, and training. This requires sharp observational skills, paying close attention to what you see, hear, smell, and feel about the animals you care for. Some days you'll only write a little, some days a lot, but your notebook will give you an important record to consult if something seems wrong with your pet in the future.   Some things to look for&emdash; • How do your pets move (are they stiff? slow? limping? quick? alert? energetic?), • How well are they eating (quickly? carefully? favorite foods?) • How do their fur, feathers, skin, or scales look (dull? scruffy? dirty? clean? shiny? smooth?) • Keep an eye on poop and urine! (This may sound gross, but with animals, you can tell a lot about their health by what their poop and urine look like, and how often they produce them.)   Create the right environment for your pets&emdash; Keepers want their animals to be comfortable and relaxed and able to show their natural behaviors. You can provide things for your pets that will make them feel that way, too, like a high shelf for your cat to sit on, a cozy cardboard house for a guinea pig, or interesting branches as a perch for a bird.   Know what they need&emdash; Again, watch the things they do and how they act. Look for things that they seem to like, and find ways to make that a part of their environment. And of course you should do some research. Read books about your type of animal from libraries and pet stores to find out more about how they live and what best suits their behavior.   Make sure they eat the right foods&emdash; It's a keeper's job to feed the animals in their care a fresh, nutritious meal, called a diet, every day. Find out which foods your pets should be eating, and which ones could harm them or make them sick. Always keep food and water bowls clean, and save treats for special occasions. It's part of a keeper's responsibilities to make sure their animals aren't eating too much or too little, so they don't get too fat or too skinny.   Clean up!&emdash; Don't forget that it's part of a keeper's job to keep an animal's area clean, too, so you'll need to learn how to clean up that poop and urine regularly.