I'm planning out my life early. What is it called when you care for big cats in a zoo?

Question

My sister and I adore animals. We are planning our futures out ahead of time so we have some options for jobs. We are twins, 14 years old, and adventurous. We considered being zoo curators [where you help in a breeding program for endangered animals]. We are extremely interested in the jobs that are on Animal Planet. [Like on "Growing up.." when they raise and care for the young animals until they grow up] but we were just curious, what is it called when you care for the big cats in the zoo? Like when you feed them, deeply interact with them, and care for the cubs..

Please help.

Also is there a certain name for when you work with dolphins?

[Feed them, interact, and care for the young]

<3

Kay? thanks.

bai. xoxo :D

Answer 1

It is called a zookeeper.  I have a feeling after a few days of cleaning up and feeding any zoo animal you two will be dismayed and on your way out the doors.

Zoos offer young people a chance to get to know what&#039;s really going on by offering volunteer jobs.  I suggest you take one.

Answer 2

A person who looks afer animals at a zoo is simply called a zoo keeper. If you specifically looked after big cats, you might be referred to as a cat keeper within the zoo, but your job title would still be zoo keeper. I should point out that you often do not have a choice as to which animals you work with when you become a zoo keeper. Most zoos will simply take you on as a keeper and place you where you are needed, though you can request to work with certain animals if and when a position with them becomes available.

I should also say that a zookeeper&#039;s pay is generally quite poor - I earned minimum wage. Many people want to work with animals, so they don&#039;t need to tempt workers with high pay. The hours are long and you may not be paid for any overtime worked - in the zoo I worked at, you were paid only between 8am and 5pm, even if you arrived at 6.30am and didn&#039;t leave til 7pm. You are also required to work weekends and public holidays without additional pay.

The work is physically very hard, and you will be dealing with people, in the shape of the public, as much as with animals. Indeed, there is often little interaction with the animals you care for - the majority of the job is cleaning (picking up faeces, sweeping up straw, window cleaning, etc.). The only time someone has to care for an animal&#039;s young is if the mother rejects it, or it is very ill - this is something that happens only rarely. TV shows paint a very unrealistic picture of what goes on in zoos, making it appear that you get to raise baby animals and suchlike all the time, which is not the case.

Most zoos are more interested in experience with animals and the ability to work hard than in qualifications - I got the job without any qualifications other than GCSEs. Having higher qualifications is no guarantee of getting the job (my boss told me he&#039;s had people come in with degrees who didn&#039;t know which end an elephant craps out of!), and not having them is no guarantee you won&#039;t get the job. Volunteering at a zoo or animal sanctuary is a good way of gaining experience.

Answer 3

im getting a double major in zoology and photojournalisim and let me tell you NO job involving animals is easy you have to love the job and respect the power the animals have.

for instance a single elephants kills/mauls at LEAST one handler every three years. genrally the animal is simply moved to another zoo.

if you are interested in being a zookeeper i recomend contacting your zoo and asking them if they have a career camp i know mine does.

personally i think to many ppl over look the good qualities of field research and being zoo curators *sigh* they all want to be the p**p cleaners

Answer 4

Don&#039;t harbor any illusions about big cats.  You are always a potential meal for them.

Dolphins are much more friendly and playful.

Answer 5

All of these are the jobs of zookeepers.  Be warned however, that no matter how much you love those animals, they&#039;ll hate you.  The see you as the animal between them and their freedom.  As any zookeeper, they&#039;ll tell you.

Answer 6

Zookeepers.  However you are not going to be able to just walk into a zoo and become a big cat keeper.  First you need some education as most zoos PREFER their keepers to have a degree, but most will except experience with some sort of educational background in zoology, animal science, etc.  Some zoos have volunteer programs to work you way up to a paid keeper position.  Also, most zoos are going to place you where you  are needed..not necessarily where you want to be.  LOTS of people want to work with big cats...get in line!  Also, zoos do not encourage deep interaction...these are still wild animals, and the less acclaimated to humans, the safer for all involved.  Wild animals are not cuddly, snuggly toys to play with.  Also, you do not just walk into a zoo curator job either..many start out as zookeepers  or have advanced degrees and after YEARS of experience become curators.  I suggest you check out your local zoo to see what type of volunteer programs they have available.  Look here for actual zoo jobs to see what type of requirements they are asking for so that you can get an idea of what type of an education and experience you will need in the future.

http://www.aza.org/JobListings/

Answer 7

you will get more enjoyment and quality time with the animals if you get a job at a place like big cat rescue. you are simply called a trainer when you work with dolphins. in a zoo your a zoo keeper no matter what you do. working with big cats is a tricky thing to do because no matter how &#039;tame&#039; they are they are always wild animals. and strong ones at that. an angry lion can kill you with out meaning to. one good smack and pow no more you. dolphins are a little easier in that department simply because they have that sweet curious nature already. they aren&#039;t easy just more adaptable to humans. personally it sounds like what you want you wont find at a zoo. any animal rescue program, marine research company, or a rehabilitation program would probably suit you better. do a little research and see what you think.

Answer 8

Zookeeper- care for big cats in a zoo

Dolphin Trainer/ Marine Mammal Trainer -work with dolphins

I hope these Y!A will help you plan your life. Good Luck.

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