19 Zookeeper Facts: Learn About The Cutest And Most Coveted Job

Do you dream of becoming a zookeeper?

A lover of animals plus the requisite educational qualifications will make you one. Here is a complete fact guide to kickstart your zookeeper journey.

A zookeeper. It sounds fascinating, right!? What could be better than dealing with zoo animals all day and getting paid for doing so?

However, aspiring zookeepers must be knowledgeable about animal behavior, wildlife management, and other related topics. Only then will the concerned individuals be able to respond to all of your questions, such as what the birds eat and when the elephants sleep. The zookeeper is responsible for all of the animals in the zoo.

Here you will learn in-depth about the duties and responsibilities of zookeepers and what qualifications they need. Most importantly, you will gain interesting knowledge about being a zookeeper.

For example, among zoo animals, zebras have caused the most injuries to zookeepers. It is mainly because of their unpredictable temperament. While caretakers would consciously be careful around the big cats, they often pay the price of underestimating the zebra.

If you enjoyed reading this article, you must also explore other fun facts articles here at Kidadl such as should animals be kept in zoos and Robert Irwin Australia zoo.

Definition And Nature Of The Work

A zookeeper is generally defined as someone who works in a zoo. Their work can range from monitoring sick animals to cleaning aquariums. Therefore, the scope of work of zookeepers is diverse.

Zookeepers are those humans in the zoo environment who are responsible for taking care of the animals, from the smallest to the largest. Zookeepers can be tasked with managing multiple exhibits to manage single species. This will be dependent on your qualifications.

They are, basically, in charge of the welfare of animals. They are also in charge of feeding them, keeping in mind the species' food preferences and timing. Some animals have to be fed in the morning, others in the evening. Animals eat different kinds of foods.

Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves, while pandas eat bamboo. Apart from feeding, the zookeepers have to bathe and give them water. They also have to play with the animals and keep their enclosures neat and clean.

Zookeepers need to be well-informed about the animals they keep. They are in charge of educating the visitors and guests about each species.

Therefore, a zookeeper needs to have a background in animal welfare or science, particularly a bachelor's degree. They need to keep themselves updated with knowledge. Since this is a competitive field, it is helpful to possess a highly specialized degree as it helps the zookeeper to participate in multiple roles, from caretaking to research and conservation.

Zookeepers are employed in establishments of different sizes. The number of keepers in a zoo will depend on the size of the zoo.

The salary for this role depends on a lot of factors, such as geography, experience, and others. In the United States, a keeper can earn at least $15 an hour, with more experienced roles earning around $33 per hour.

The nature of work a zookeeper is assigned depends on their qualifications. These qualifications can be gained from prominent universities or by joining training programs offered by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, and so on.

It is important to gain practical experience when studying. You can do so by volunteering or interning at zoos.

Education And Training Requirements

To get the job, you need to have certain education and training. It helps that you have a background in science and are good at math. But depending on the role, even without a science background, you can get certified in animal welfare to do this role.

A career as a zookeeper requires an understanding of the animals and their natural world. So, apart from watching natural science shows, you should pay special attention to your science and math in grade school.

Try to build experience by volunteering in animal shelters simultaneously. In high school, pick up a curriculum with physics, biology, chemistry, and math.

In college, take a course such as biology, zoology, botany, or any other animal science program. Many universities offer hands-on training by collaborating with animal shelters and zoos for students to gain practical experience.

You can also opt for postgraduate programs in zoological conservation or biology for better prospects in the field. Gaining transferrable skills through apprenticeships and training programs also helps.

To be a zookeeper in Canada, you would need to be a graduate in life science (generally four years) with one year of an associate degree. Additionally, you need at least one year of practical experience.

As zookeepers, you are likely to earn, on average, $34,133 per annum. A zookeeper's salary in the UK starts anywhere from £12,000–25,000 per annum.

Zookeeper Duties And Responsibilities

General maintenance, diet preparation, behavioral observation, training, and record-keeping are just some of the responsibilities of keepers. In short, a zookeeper is a jack of all trades, someone who can undertake any given task, from simple to complex.

As the name implies, the zookeeper is a keeper of zoos. The jobs that zookeepers undertake can range from feeding to cleaning.

Their operating hours will depend on the assigned task. For instance, if they have to feed a species, then their work schedule would be designed accordingly. However, zookeepers are likely to perform multiple such tasks in a day.

On average, they are likely to spend eight hours at work every day. It is common for zookeepers to work longer hours as caring for the animals in captivity can require more hours.

Keepers are busy doing a variety of tasks in an American zoo. They have to ensure that the animal enclosures are tended to and secure.

Food and medications for the different animal species have to be prepared keeping in mind their diet chart and health chart. Zookeepers have to stay vigilant and keep an eye on the animals.

They also take care of the incoming guests and whether they are following zoo rules and regulations. Keepers can also assist zoo vets with animal care. Designing and repairing the enclosures needs to be done to resemble the natural environments of the animals.

The cages need to be as inviting as possible for the wild animals to live comfortably in captivity. Zookeepers who are monitoring animal behavior can help by sharing their information with animal and exhibit curators (those who manage and create exhibits).

Zookeepers are the first people you see in zoos. These professionals can be found near animal exhibits and have the responsibility of educating the guests about the animals' nature, food, geography, and so on.

Apart from one-on-one interaction, the keepers educate by organizing live shows, demonstrations, talks, and tours. They also provide training to newcomers on dealing with the animals in the exhibits.

Another responsibility of these professionals is to coordinate with other workers in the zoos, like wildlife biologists, vets, and technicians. They do so by monitoring and recording the animal's everyday behavior, births, deaths, and so on. Apart from being the frontline staff in a zoo, they partake in breeding, feeding, raising, and medicating the animals in the zoos.

Zookeeper Skills And Competencies

A zookeeper's job is hands-on work. Since the duties and responsibilities are so diverse, they need to have an equally diverse skill set to be able to perform them diligently. The skills can be classified as physical, technical, communication, and mental.

In zoos, keepers need to be active, moving from one exhibit to another. So, physical fitness and health are crucial for professionals to perform their tasks for the required duration.

You may have to stand all day or have to sit all day. Carrying and distributing feed to the pets requires a certain level of physical strength.

In animal parks, enclosures need to be regularly monitored and maintained, not just for aesthetics but also for the wellbeing of the captive wild animals. This is a 24/7 task, so you should be healthy and fit to perform it in all kinds of weather.

Apart from physical fitness, mental strength and confidence are crucial to working in zoos. You should be confident in working with all kinds of animals, from the cute to the ferocious.

You would need to be strong to take care of sick animals. A zookeeper's job is quite risky, so it is important to be strong both physically and mentally.

Technical skills like a college degree in animal science, biology, or zoology are advantageous. Even if you do not have a science degree, it would be great if you joined apprenticeships or training programs in animal welfare.

In fact, even if people do not have any college degrees, there are many who learn on the job. The skills gained through these programs will assist you in better understanding the animals and contributing to their welfare.

Other technical skills include possessing a driving license. This is important as most zoos are large spaces, and traveling from one enclosure to another would require knowledge of driving.

Then, other skills include knowing how to swim. You may be in charge of aquariums, and swimming would be essential when working with aquatic mammals like dolphins, seals, and whales.

Lastly, zookeepers should have good communication skills. On the job, you will have to communicate daily with the visitors from different age groups and also with other zoo staff. So, a keeper should be able to communicate clearly.

If an animal is sick, the keeper should be able to convey that to the zoo vets. As they impart zoo education, this skill is an absolute must. Being bilingual or multilingual is a huge asset for keepers, as zoos are visited by people from different nationalities.

Comparing Similar Jobs

According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, of the more than 32,000 full-time professionals working in zoos and aquariums, fewer than 5,000 are working as zookeepers. Also, if you are interested in animal welfare, you can pursue other careers like a veterinary, zoologist, wildlife biologist, and wildlife technician.

A veterinarian is responsible for the health of the animals in a zoo. They take care of the sick animals in the veterinary clinic.

Zoologists will undertake scientific research on endangered species to support the conservation projects run by the zoo.

Wildlife biologists are experts in animal science. They research ecosystems and trap, tag, or resettle animals for conservation purposes.

Wildlife or veterinarian technicians assist in taking care of the animals under the supervision of the zoo veterinarians.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for zookeeper facts, then why not take a look at zoologist facts, or who invented the zoo.