Day in the Life of a Zookeeper
One of the most important tasks performed by zookeepers is to ensure that all animals that live at a zoo are safe and well cared for. This is not the only task of a zookeeper, however. The typical day of a zookeeper involves testing, cleaning and feeding the animals as well as educating visitors to the zoo. Although being a zookeeper can be rewarding through wildlife interaction and animal care, doing so requires a great deal of hard work and dedication
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Morning
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The first shift of the day replaces the zookeepers who have been monitoring the animals throughout the night. At most zoos, this shift begins anywhere from 6 to 7 a.m. One of the first tasks the morning crew performs is collecting urine and feces samples from the animals, as these samples are valuable to the scientists who collect data in order to determine hormone levels and catch any potential sickness or disease early. This is also the time when animals might be weighed once a month.
Feeding
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At around 8 a.m., the first food of the day is distributed to the animals of the zoo. Food is weighed and cataloged by zookeepers to ensure that each animal gets an adequate amount and its weight is maintained at a healthy level. Each feeding must be recorded in a record book located in both the records office and the animal enclosure itself. If an animal is scheduled to be watched throughout the day (to monitor their habits) zookeepers may be responsible for taking detailed notes about everything the animal does.
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Zoo Opening
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Most zoos open at around 9 a.m. Zookeepers must be ready to either greet the first visitors or be stationed at their animal's enclosure to begin telling visitors about a specific animal. They may be required to answer questions from the audience or describe their experiences with a particular animal. For most zookeepers, this is a welcome break in their long day of hard work.
Cleaning
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Upkeep in animal enclosures is performed throughout the day. After the last visitor has left the zoo is when the enclosures must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Animals are led to a separate pen while zookeepers remove all animal feces and other materials that could be unsafe if left unattended for a long period of time. As zookeepers usually wait until after visitors have left to do the major cleaning tasks, this process usually begins around 5 p.m.
Evening
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Although the visitors have gone, the animals are usually not free of careful observation quite yet. Zookeepers typically perform the last feeding of the night after each enclosure has been cleaned. Zookeepers work together to ensure that each animal is fed around the same time and is prepared for sleep. The night zookeepers are responsible for security and handling any problems that could occur with both the animals and enclosures.
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