Zoo Keeper Duties
If you're an animal lover and looking for a chance to share your day with members of the wild kingdom, you may want to look into the job of zoo keeper. Depending on your education, experience with animals and eventual experience with the position, the responsibilities of this position cover a wide spectrum, ranging from daily caregiver to zoo liaison to the public.
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Maintain Clean Space for Animals
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The zoo keeper is responsible for ensuring that the animals in his care have a clean space in which to live for their own safety and happiness. He will check the animals' cages or sanctuaries at various times during his shift and use a broom, shovel, bucket and other materials to clean the space, according to Tips4Jobs. In the case of dangerous animals, the zoo director will need to ensure a safe place for him to perform his cleaning duties.
Keep a Log of Information About the Animals
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Since the zoo keeper spends a great deal of time caring for the animals and observing their behavior, she should keep a log of animals' moods and general health, according to Prospects, a graduate career web site. This log will serve as a tool for fellow zoo keepers to see any problems or fluctuations, and thus is invaluable in maintaining the health and well-being of the animals. If the zoo keeper notes anomalous eating or behavioral patterns, for example, and such patterns continue to repeat themselves, the log may prove critical in preventing an abnormal condition or situation from worsening.
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Prepare Menus and Feed the Animals
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The zoo keeper is responsible for preparing the menus for the animals in his care. He must know the specific diet required for each animal, ensure that the foods are properly prepared, and he must feed the animals.
Act as Public Relations Representatives
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A zookeeper may start his career cleaning cages, but that does not mean he cannot advance himself in the zoo hierarchy. A good example of such upward mobility would be Jack Hanna, a zoo keeper in Columbus, Ohio, who later became a public relations representative for the institution.
Though not all zoo keepers will attain such a high-profile position, all are considered representatives of the zoo and need to keep this in mind whenever they are performing their official duties. The ideal zoo keeper will be knowledgeable, friendly and accessible to the public.
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References
- Photo Credit Küken â€" Tierpflege image by Marem from Fotolia.com
