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The Career of a Zookeeper!



ABOUT: Many people like animals, but taking care of them is hard work. Zookeepers take care of wild animals in zoos and animal parks. They feed the animals, clean their living spaces, and work to keep them healthy. Zookeepers watch the animals to see if they are sick or hurt. Keepers need to watch and listen carefully to notice any changes in behavior. Keepers write detailed notes about each animal and tell a veterinarian if there is a problem. Some keepers give the animals objects to play with and explore. Many animals like playing with logs, sandboxes, and even water sprinklers. Keepers often hide food for the animals to find. Playing with food and toys helps animals stay active. Sometimes, keepers train the animals to make caring for them easier. For example, keepers train elephants to lift their feet so that veterinarians can check them.



SALARY: In May 2008, animal caretakers had average yearly wages of $21,550.

SCHOOLING REQUIRED: Many keepers go to college for 2 or 4 years. They often study biology, animal science, or some other science. Keepers also need to understand math so that they can measure food properly. Keepers need good writing and speaking skills so that they can take notes and talk to the public. There are few colleges that offer degrees in zookeeping, and in the US, there are only four. College study to become a zookeeper should focus on animal science, zoology, marine biology, if you are interested in aquatic parks, and animal behavior and psychology. You might even want to ask a nearby zoo what qualities they look for in employees, and what type of employees they hire. This can help you direct your choice of college toward the schools best geared toward helping you fulfill your dream of becoming a zookeeper.

While in college, don’t forget to keep volunteering at zoos or shelters. In fact, you may want to choose a college close to a major zoo, so you can get impressive volunteer credentials and superior training. In addition to lots of experience and a good education, a zookeeper must be physically fit. Your job will not involve a lot of sitting, so keep yourself in good shape, and practice some weight lifting. When feeding animals or cleaning cages, you may be required to lift as much as 50 pounds (22.67 kg) on a regular basis.

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<span style="background-color: #ff2f00; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: line-through;">JOBS AVAILABLE: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Employment of animal care and service workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. But jobs as zookeepers are expected to grow more slowly than other animal care jobs. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Jobs for zookeepers are harder to find than other kinds of animal jobs because there are relatively few zoos. Plus, many people want zoo jobs so there is very strong competition for the work. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">