Agriculture - Zookeeper
Agriculture - Zookeeper
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Zookeepers look after animals in zoos, safari parks and aquariums.
- Prepare food and feed animals
- Clean out enclosures and change bedding
- Check for signs of distress or disease
- Work with a vet to care for sick animals
- Check enclosures for signs of wear or damage
- Monitor conditions like temperature and humidity
- Keep daily animal welfare records
- Supervise trainee keepers and animal care workers
- Run education workshops and give talks to visitors
As a Zookeeper, you could work at a zoo or at a wildlife park. Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically demanding and you may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
Zookeepers tend to work between 37 to 40 hours a week. You could work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on shifts.
Starting: £14,000
Experienced: £25,000
Zoos vary in what qualifications they ask for and it can depend on what their zookeepers are going to do.
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- animal or zoo management
- animal behaviour and welfare
- zoology or marine zoology
- animal conservation and biodiversity
- veterinary science
- biology
You could do a course before applying to a zoo for a trainee zookeeper's job. Relevant courses include:
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management
Level 3 Diploma in Animal Care or Animal Science
Biology A level
T Level in Animal Care and Management
You could start by doing an intermediate apprenticeship in animal care and welfare. This may help you to get a job as a trainee keeper with a zoo.
You could also do a keeper or aquarist advanced apprenticeship, depending on where you work.
You can volunteer in a zoo or wildlife centre to get experience. This will be important, as there's a lot of competition for trainee jobs.