Zookeepers care for animals living in captivity and on display to the public for the purposes of conservation and education. They carry out the jobs associated with the animals’ daily care, including feeding, training, and cleaning. They’re also responsible for keeping animals stimulated, supporting breeding programs, providing information to visitors, and assisting with any necessary vet work.
If you’d like to be a zookeeper, just loving animals isn’t really enough – you’ll need to be dedicated to caring for their every need and prepared to be very hands-on. If you’re practical, adaptable, and able to maintain high standards of safety and care, then a career as a zookeeper could be worth exploring.
What skills do I need as a zookeeper?
- Caring & dedicated
- Great team player
- Excellent communicator
- Hard worker
- Physically fit
- Adaptable & resilient
- Excellent problem-solver
- Level-headed & decisive
What tasks can I expect to do?
- Routinely check on animals & observe them
- Prepare diets to strict guidelines
- Clean & disinfect indoor & outdoor enclosures
- Ensure water & other essentials are supplied
- Provide training, enrichment & exercise
- Chat to zoo visitors & perform public talks
- Ensure animals are secure at all times
- Respond to & help with emergency situations
What industries do zookeepers typically work in?
- Arts and Recreation Services
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
- Other Services
What Career Cluster do zookeepers belong to?
Because their job involves lots of hands-on work and they need to be adaptable and reliable, most Zookeepers fit in the Maker Cluster.
What kind of lifestyle can I expect?
As a zookeeper you’ll need to work outside typical business hours, including on weekends and holidays, as the animals need to be cared for every single day. It can be physically demanding work, which must be done on site and in all weather conditions.
Most zookeepers earn an average salary throughout their career.
Zookeepers are limited as to where they can work – you need to live near to a zoo and be prepared to compete for a job, as they are very highly sought after. Because of the hands-on nature of the job, remote work and working from home isn’t possible.
How to become a zookeeper
To become a zookeeper, you need to complete a relevant vocational training program – this can usually be done as part of an apprenticeship. Your training will involve learning about animal behaviour, nutrition, health, and welfare, as well as practical skills such as handling, grooming, and training.
Ongoing professional development and education throughout your career is also necessary to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and best practices in animal care and training.
If you’re in high school now and are thinking of a career as a zookeeper in the future, here are some steps you could take:
- Find work experience or volunteer at a vet clinic, wildlife park, animal welfare organisation, wildlife rescue agency, pet shop, or animal grooming business.
- Practise your public speaking – most zookeepers are expected to interact with visitors and do presentations and performances.
- Get fit! You’ll need to be physically capable of doing the work and it is very hands-on.
Find out more here:
- World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- Australasian Society of Zookeeping
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia
- Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers
- American Association of Zoo Keepers
Similar careers to zookeeper
- Veterinarian
- Conservationist
- Wildlife Photographer
- Dog Groomer
- Animal Trainer
- Marine Biologist
- Park Ranger
- Field Researcher
Find out more about alternative careers.