An animal-care specialist responsible for the daily feeding, enrichment, and habitat upkeep of zoo animals.
What zookeepers do
Zookeepers feed, clean, observe, and provide enrichment for animals in their assigned section, from primates to reptiles to marine mammals. They keep detailed daily logs, coordinate with veterinarians, and often present talks to zoo visitors.
Training path
A bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, animal science, or wildlife management is now the norm. Most zoos require several months of internship experience and prefer applicants who have worked with target taxa such as elephants or great apes.
Work setting
Accredited zoos and aquariums in the US employ most full-time zookeepers, typically along the AZA standard of seven-day-a-week coverage. Outdoor work happens in all weather, and physical demands include lifting feed and cleaning enclosures.
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Zookeeper starts with Z and ends with R. Browse other professions along the same letter.
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