Zoo keeping?

Question

ok so i wanna become a zoo keeper.. im 15 turning 16 grade 11. .i live in australia queensland an di haf no idea how to get there... any help?

Answer 1

I don't know how you are set up in Austrailia.  

In Canada, it is easy to become a zoo keeper.  Just get a city job and transfer in.  It's union.  I spoke to an angry bitter fellow with a zoology degree.  That is the only way he could get his job.  His degree meant nothing.

Go to a zoo and ask, they should be able to give you some idea.  In southern California in the US, I think they have a zoology school.

In the meantime concentrate on Biology and the other sciences.

Good luck.  That sounds like such a neat career choice.

Answer 2

I would suggest learning as much as you can about zoology - as a zookeeper, you will need to have foundational knowledge about many, many different types of animals.  You'll need to know about their habitats, anatomy and physiology, behaviors, food needs, etc.

You should have a strong background in biology with an emphasis on zoology.  I would also suggest volunteering and working with a zoo or wildlife refuge in your area to get as much experience as possible.  At first, your volunteering or working will be menial work, but as you get experience, you'll be able to do more and more.  If you're able to do this, use every second of it to learn.  There are a lot of people at the zoo who will be more than willing to teach you, if you're willing to learn from them.  I don't know if you're near the zoo or preserve that the Irwins run, but there would probably be people there that, even if you're just visiting, could give you some great ideas.

I would also start looking around at uni's in your area for zoology programs.  The admission counselors there will give you specifics about what you need to do in order to get into the zoology programs.

Hope that helps!