What should i major in at college if i want to....

Question

I would like to work hands on with big cats (tigers,lions ect.) Im not sure what i should major in at college to achieve this? If anyone could help me out with this problem i would greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

College is a good idea, but you also need outside experience (and classes) for that too. I think you start at a zoo and you work up from there.

So first get employed at a place like a zoo and start asking questions.

Answer 2

biological/animal sciences?

Answer 3

There are programs in Wildlife Care (for example: http://www.unity.edu/Academic/Majors/Wil...  Often these programs prepare you for work in both zoos or rehabilitation centers because in both situations you have to be able to care for, feed, medicate, and train animals.  Also, there is very little money in this field, so even though you may want to work only with animals and not deal with people, if you want donations to keep the facility operating, you'll have to learn how to educate the public even in a rehab situation.

Answer 4

You should contact a sanctuary to find out what they require to work there. There are some that offer camps, internships, and/or volunteer opportunities. This is a great way to gain experience before, during, and/or after college. It may also help you get a job working there.

What classes will depend on how you want to work with tigers and what the requirements are of the job. Also though you don't want to work at a zoo, a zoo degree and/or experience working at a zoo might help you get a job at a sanctuary.

Some degrees might be:

Zoology

Animal/Exotic/Wildlife Management

Animal Science

Zoo Science

Ethology/Animal Behavior

Wildlife Biology

Wildlife/Exotic/Zoo Veterinarian

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources...

CATCH 22?

1. To get a job working with animals, you need experience with animals. This bit of truth seems to create a frustrating circle. You need experience to get a job, but you can't get experience unless you have a job, right? Well, yes and no.

VOLUNTEER

1. To begin a career caring for animals, you should be prepared to start with a volunteer or entry-level position. Call your nearest zoo or aquatic park and ask for details on becoming a volunteer (also called a docent or intern). Humane societies, animal rehabilitation clinics, and some veterinary clinics also welcome volunteers. Although your duties with a humane society or veterinary clinic will most likely involve working indirectly with animals (cleaning cages and preparing food), volunteer duties at a zoo or aquatic park range from filing or answering phones to being trained to make educational presentations or feed newly hatched birds.

Volunteering your time shows that you're serious about your commitment to animals. Develop a reputation for being an eager, cooperative, hard-working person, and your volunteer effort may help you get a job in the future. Supervisors are often asked to give character references for volunteers who've worked for them.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/jobs/keeper_f...

What are some other ways to gain animal experience?

Some places to look for volunteer jobs or internships might be:

• Veterinary offices

• Animal training classes (does your dog need obedience training?)

• Local Humane Society

• Local Park Service

• Wildlife rehabilitation centers (like for wolves, bears, big cats, birds of prey, and even bats)

• Animal shelters

• Farms (for domestic animals, or even ostrich, llama, or butterfly farms)

• Pet breeders (those that breed specific kinds of dogs, cats, or horses)

• Horse stables and boarding facilities

• 4-H Clubs

See the links below for some ideas for schools and places to work/intern/volunteer/get experience.

Answer 5

i hope you understand that as far as money goes you wont make any from that, you will need a back up job, rescues and sanctuaries depend on donations and grants. but they do like people to have hands on experience with animals, honestly volunteering at a zoo would get the experience plus some knowledge, as far as classes goes i am doing the same thing, im going to take biology, psychology, sociology, animal sciences and behavior, there is a good program at santa fe om college for zoology look at the courses they have and see what you can do like that at your college, goodluck

http://inst.sfcc.edu/~zoo/PROGINFO.HTM

Answer 6

I am not sure, but I would reccomend going to your local library or a Barnes and Nobles or something. There are so many books out there that list majors compatible with your career focus.

Answer 7

If you want to do something like that in a foreign country, just grab a gun and go shoot some.  If you want to just get a major first and then decide what to do, go into veterinary sciences.  Make your field: big animals.