Occupation
Zookeeper
Zookeepers care for animals in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife parks, managing diets, enclosures, enrichment, and training programmes for species with very different needs. Alongside husbandry, keepers record behaviour, support veterinary procedures, and talk to the public about conservation. Entry is competitive and often begins with volunteer or seasonal work.
Also known as: Animal keeper · Aquarist · Wildlife park keeper · Zoological keeper
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Occupation content
Part of Agriculture, animals and environment
A visual day in the work
What the work involves
Prepare species-specific diets and deliver feeds on the daily schedule.
Clean and maintain enclosures, pools, and off-exhibit holding areas and check barriers and locks.
Design and rotate enrichment and run positive-reinforcement training for husbandry behaviours.
Observe and record behaviour, feeding, breeding, and health indicators in the animal records system.
Assist keepers and veterinary staff with examinations, treatments, and transfers.
Deliver keeper talks and answer visitor questions about the animals and conservation work.
Entry-route stepper
How people commonly enter
A college diploma or bachelor's degree in animal management, zoology, biology, or animal science.
Volunteer, placement, or seasonal keeper-assistant work leading into a permanent keeper post.
A short course or certificate in animal management combined with hands-on husbandry experience.
Transfer from another animal-care role such as shelter, farm, or veterinary work.
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Work-context map
Typical work context
- Outdoors
- Physically active
- Public facing
- Shift work
- Team based
Outdoors · Physically active · Public facing · Shift work · Team based
Related interests
- Realistic (hands-on)
- Social (helping)
- Investigative (analytical)
Realistic (hands-on) · Social (helping) · Investigative (analytical)
Related aptitude preparation
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Skills to practise
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Related learning
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
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Agriculture, animals and environment: education pathways
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Agriculture, animals and environment: licensing
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