What Career is for me if i like working with exotic animals?

Question

I am 16 years old and have always been interested in the animal medicine career, but i think it would be much more interesting to be working with exotic animals,(primates interest me the most) not just people's pets.

I'm a bit unsure in the field, as in i dont know how to pinpoint an exact career.

I'm not that worried about qualifying for any veterinary schools as my grades are far above average (4.0 cumulative in honors classes) I just need to know what subject to go into and how to get started over summer, possibly voulunteering to get an edge up.

If anybody has experience in the field, i would appreciate any additional information that would be important to the subject, thanks.

Answer 1

You could be a Zoo Veterinarian. You would treat many species

you would not see in a regular Veterinarian Clinic. You could work with primates in primate refuges. Good Luck.

Answer 2

If you wanted to work with exotic animals, you could be a zoo veterinarian, zookeeper or you could be an exotic animal trainer/handler.  That would be useful for movie animals, or show animals.  I think as a zoo veterinarian or zookeeper you would get to interact with more different kinds of animals.

Answer 3

what about a marine biologist? you could work with dolphins and strange fish... ???

Answer 4

you should be a vet at a zoo. that was you can help monkeys and tigers and lions and bears... oh my!

Answer 5

I would say a Zoo Keeper, Zoo/Exotic Animal Vet, or Animal Trainer.

....and yes, volunteer. Get as much hands-on experience as you can. Vet clinic, wildlife rehab, jr zookeeper, etc.

You said that primates interest you the most, so you might want to look into the field of primatology.

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/edu/careers/...

Careers Within Primatology

    * Animal Care by Linda Brent

    * Anthropology by Linda L. Taylor

    * Biomedical Research by Reinhold J. Hutz

    * Education by Claud A. Bramblett

    * Field Research by Kevin Hunt

    * Paleontology & Comparative Morphology by Eric Delson

    * Psychology by John Capitanio

    * Psychology in the UK by Richard W. Byrne

    * Sanctuaries by Alan Mootnick

    * Veterinary Medicine by Jan C. Ramer

    * Zoological Gardens by Helena Fitch-Snyder

    * Zoology by Joanna E. Lambert

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/edu/careers/...

Education Programs

Many colleges and universities in the United States offer courses in primatology. While some institutions specialize in this area, few have specific programs which lead to degrees in "primatology." Instead, students often take degrees in related fields, such as anthropology, psychology, zoology, or veterinary medicine. People planning careers in basic or biomedical research frequently study neurobiology, reproductive physiology, or other medical disciplines.