What are the disadvantages and advantages for being a zoo keeper?

Question

What are the disadvantages and advantages for being a zoo keeper?

Answer 1

I used to be a zookeeper, and I must point out that TV. shows about zoos paint a very unrealistic picture of what the job entails, making it appear that things like hand-rearing baby animals and knocking animals out for medical procedures happen every day. In reality, these things happen only rarely. The work is physically very hard, and you must work outdoors in all seasons and weathers. Also, you deal 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.). You also often do not have a choice as to which animals you work with - 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.

A zookeeper's pay is generally quite poor - I earned minimum wage. Many people want to work with animals, so they don'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't leave til 7pm. You are also required to work weekends and public holidays without additional pay. It is definitely not a job you do for the money.

However, if you are prepared to work hard, get your hands dirty (and I mean REALLY dirty!), be asked the same question fifteen hundred times a day and so on, it can be very rewarding and enjoyable.

It can be quite difficult to get a job as a zookeeper as many people will apply for each position. Bear in mind that 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's had people come in with degrees who didn't know which end an elephant craps out of!), and not having them is no guarantee you won't get the job. Volunteering at a zoo or animal sanctuary is a good way of gaining experience

Answer 2

adv...relaxing environment get to be around the animals

dis...have to clean up after the animals

i worked 4 zoo atlanta 4 a number of yrs. not as a keeper but got to know them.  you might want to go to your local zoo and talk with some of them to get their perspective.  ask if they have an education dept they can help you as well

also, most zoos use volunteers, u should check into that

Answer 3

i am currently a zoo keeper

aazk.org is a good site to see keepers talk and theres a career section as well

the pay sucks

you work outside no matter what weather

your basically on call all the time because of emergencies

you have to deal with the public

many deaths occur to animals you grow attatched to

the job is nothing but cleaning, repairing, cutting,washing etc

you rarely have time to enjoy the animals you take care of

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its sometimes fun

you get to work with cool animals

you feel good about yourself

you learn a lot

the day is never the same

its not a desk job

the animals get to know you

all in all i would say volunteer where you can, this can be at a vets office, a shelter, anything because all the crappy work they will make you do is all the crappy work you do EVERYDAY as a keeper