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A male zookeeper watches an elephant splash in a pool on a hot day

Zookeeper

Zookeepers feed, provide water for and monitor the health of animals in zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks, clean, fix and maintain animal cages, and inform visitors about animals.

Overview

Zookeepers feed, provide water for and monitor the health of animals in zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks, clean, fix and maintain animal cages, and inform visitors about animals.

Day-to-day

  • prepares, cleans, disinfects and maintains comfortable cages and enclosures
  • transports food, fills water troughs and feeds animals according to their individual needs
  • maintains animal health records, treats minor injuries and reports serious conditions to veterinarians
  • exercises and plays with animals, answers visitor questions and transfers animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them
  • dusts and sprays insecticides on animals and immerses them in insecticide baths to control insect pests.

Considerations

  • stressful
  • working outdoors.

Occupation snapshot
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To become a Zookeeper

  • You usually need a university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in animal science, captive animals or another related field to work as a Zookeeper.

    Take a Certificate IV in Captive Animals

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