What Does Being A Zoo Keeper Involve?

If you are a zoo keeper you can get up close to big zoo animals like lions and tigers as a big cat keeper, or meet and feed herbivores such as White Rhinos, Giraffes and Lowland Tapirs. To do the job you will be comfortable with all types of animals including large animals like zebras and small animals like meerkats and snakes. Ideally you will have had some experience of working with animals in a practical environment, such as at a vet or a farm.

Being a zoo keeper for a day is an incredibly rewarding experience which involves tasks such as: -Helping with cleaning out and daily maintenance of the enclosure. -Preparing meals and feeding the animals. -Enrichment activities for the animals such as scent trails for the big cats. -Environmental enrichment. Zoo keepers require a number of skills to be successful. For instance they must work well both on their own and as part of a team. Having good communication skills with the animals and with your fellow zoo staff. In terms of qualifications you will need good maths and English GCSEs, with science preferred and preferably a national vocational qualification in animal care and husbandry. There is a lot of training you need to go through to conform to Health and Safety regulations, and to act safely and responsibly, both for you and the animals. It is also necessary to be able to think laterally and solve problems. For instance if the animals are not behaving in a way which is good for them or other animals, you may need to come up with creative ways to get them to change their behaviour. This is one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of being a zoo keeper, as well as the most challenging. If you think that this might be for you then there are a number of zoos which run one off day experiences where you can try what it is really like to do the job. Consider doing one of these experiences and then you will have a better idea of whether the role is for you. Noah's Ark Zoo Farm offers unique Experiences for animal lovers of all ages. As a finalist for 'Activity of the Year' in the Bristol Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2011, Noah's Ark provides a truly memorable experience. Each experience is one to one and designed specifically to give the participant the rare opportunity to get up close and hands-on with some amazing animals and gain a better understanding the zoo keeper experience.