Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Officer is a frontline animal care professional responsible for daily husbandry, welfare monitoring, public safety, enclosure maintenance and operational support at zoological parks and wildlife facilities. This role balances direct animal handling and behavioral enrichment with visitor-facing duties, emergency response, regulatory compliance and collaboration with veterinary and conservation teams. Ideal candidates demonstrate strong species-specific care knowledge, high situational awareness, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to conservation and ethical animal management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal Attendant / Animal Keeper (entry-level)
Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant
Volunteer or Internship in Zoological or Wildlife Settings

Advancement To:

Senior Zoo Officer / Lead Keeper
Supervisor / Team Leader, Animal Care
Curator or Assistant Curator (Collections Management)
Head of Animal Care / Facilities Manager
Conservation Program Manager or Education Manager

Lateral Moves:

Veterinary Technician / Vet Nurse (with additional certification)
Animal Welfare Inspector / Compliance Officer
Education & Outreach Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct daily feeding, cleaning, and husbandry routines for assigned species and enclosures, ensuring diets, portioning and food preparation meet approved nutritional and safety standards.
Monitor animal health and behavior continuously, recording observations in detail, recognizing early signs of illness or distress, and escalating concerns promptly to veterinary staff.
Prepare, administer and document medications, treatments and therapeutic feeding plans under veterinary direction, including oral, topical and injectable routes where certified.
Implement and maintain enrichment programs that stimulate species-appropriate cognitive and physical behaviors; design, test and refine enrichment devices and protocols to reduce stereotypies and improve welfare.
Perform safe and humane restraint, capture, and transport of animals within the facility using approved tools and techniques; coordinate off‑site transfers and quarantine movements following biosecurity protocols.
Maintain enclosure infrastructure and habitat features, conducting routine inspections and reporting or undertaking repairs to fencing, substrates, shelters, climbing structures and water systems to prevent escapes and hazards.
Oversee sanitation, waste management and biosecurity procedures for assigned areas, including disinfection protocols, pest control measures and contamination containment to minimize disease transmission.
Deliver public-facing interpretation and safety messaging, engaging visitors at close‑up exhibits, during talks or guided tours to promote conservation education and ensure compliance with visitor rules.
Conduct and document behavioral training sessions using positive reinforcement or approved training methods to facilitate husbandry, reduce stress during veterinary procedures and support enrichment goals.
Assist veterinary staff during clinical procedures, anesthesia events and post-operative care by preparing restraint equipment, monitoring vitals and maintaining sterile technique as required.
Operate and maintain specialized equipment such as restraint crates, nets, winches, habitat cleaning machinery and small vehicles, ensuring competent, safety-first usage.
Maintain accurate and timely records of diets, treatments, enrichment logs, incident reports and daily husbandry checklists in digital systems (e.g., ZIMS, eMAR) and paper logs as necessary for audits and accreditation.
Participate in emergency response and animal incident preparedness, executing capture/containment plans, evacuation procedures and public safety coordination during escapes, severe weather and medical crises.
Support breeding and propagation programs through monitoring reproductive behaviors, nest/den management, egg handling, neonatal care and documentation of lineage for studbook and conservation purposes.
Enforce animal welfare, safety and regulatory standards by conducting routine compliance checks, participating in internal audits and supporting external accreditation visits (e.g., AZA, EAZA, BIAZA).
Coordinate with departments including veterinary, education, facilities and security to schedule enrichment, training, exhibit maintenance and outreach programming without disrupting animal welfare.
Participate in species-specific research and data collection activities by conducting behavioral observations, sample collection (non-invasive), and accurate data entry to contribute to evidence-based care improvements.
Provide on-the-job training and mentoring to junior keepers, volunteers and seasonal staff on safe animal handling, enrichment creation, record keeping and visitor interactions.
Manage supplies and inventories for diets, enrichment materials, PPE and medications; place orders, track usage and support budget-conscious procurement processes.
Conduct pre-opening and post-closing checks of public areas and back-of-house zones to verify that exhibits, barriers and visitor facilities are secure and animal containment is uncompromised.
Respond to and investigate animal-related incidents and visitor reports, prepare detailed incident and accident reports, and recommend process improvements to reduce recurrence.
Support outreach and community engagement efforts by collaborating on school programs, volunteer days and media opportunities to promote institutional mission, animal welfare initiatives and conservation messaging.
Uphold high standards of personal safety and physical conditioning; perform heavy lifting, climbing, and working outdoors across all weather conditions as part of routine duties.

Secondary Functions

Assist the education team with developing species fact sheets, exhibit signage and demonstration scripts that align with welfare and conservation messaging.
Support grant-funded research by collecting observational or behavioral data, maintaining data quality and contributing to written reports or presentations.
Help coordinate and host visiting researchers, students and volunteers; provide orientation and ensure adherence to facility safety and animal care protocols.
Participate in cross-departmental planning meetings to align animal care schedules with construction, animal transfers and special events to minimize stress.
Contribute to social media and public communications by providing accurate animal updates and photos for marketing and fundraising campaigns when required.
Maintain licensing and permit documentation for regulated species; assist with preparation of paperwork for transport and export/import where applicable.
Perform seasonal duties such as winterizing enclosures, adjusting heating systems, and developing contingency plans for extreme weather events.
Support biodiversity conservation partnerships by providing field knowledge, logistical support for translocation projects and data for population monitoring.
Coordinate with veterinary teams on preventive medicine programs, vaccination schedules and parasite control to ensure proactive herd and collection health.
Help maintain a culture of continuous improvement by recommending workflow, safety or enrichment innovations based on hands-on observations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal handling and restraint techniques for a range of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) with demonstrated ability to use species-specific equipment safely.
Species-specific husbandry knowledge including diet formulation, life-stage care, breeding and neonatal protocols for captive animals.
Proficiency with behavioral monitoring and enrichment program design; ability to create, implement and evaluate enrichment tailored to natural history and individual animals.
Basic clinical skills: medication administration, wound care, post-operative monitoring and sample collection under veterinary guidance.
Knowledge of biosecurity, infection control and quarantine procedures to prevent disease introduction and spread within collections.
Experience with digital record-keeping systems (e.g., ZIMS, Ark, eMAR) and competency in accurate data entry and reporting.
Ability to operate and maintain facility equipment: pressure washers, lifters, transport crates, water filtration and exhibit life-support systems.
Understanding of regulatory frameworks, animal welfare legislation and accreditation standards relevant to zoological institutions.
Safe use of tools, ladders and light machinery; competence in basic carpentry, plumbing or electrics to implement habitat repairs when required.
Emergency response capabilities including capture/containment protocols, first aid for animals and coordination with emergency services.
Experience in public engagement, interpretive talks and visitor safety enforcement while balancing animal welfare considerations.
Competence in inventory management, procurement of husbandry supplies and maintaining controlled substance logs where applicable.

Soft Skills

Strong observational skills with meticulous attention to detail for spotting subtle changes in animal behavior and health.
Clear, confident communication and the ability to explain animal behavior and safety guidance to diverse audiences including the public, volunteers and staff.
Collaborative team player who works effectively across departments, shares knowledge and mentors junior staff.
High emotional intelligence and empathy towards animals and colleagues, with the ability to manage stressful or emotional situations professionally.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capacity under time pressure, especially during medical or security incidents.
Physical stamina, resilience and a practical, hands-on work ethic for manual tasks and outdoor duties.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance routine husbandry, emergency response and project work.
Adaptability and flexibility to work variable hours including weekends, holidays and on-call rotations for animal emergencies.
Conflict resolution and public-facing diplomacy when enforcing rules or managing visitor incidents.
Continuous learning mindset with openness to training, new husbandry methods and evolving welfare best practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent plus vocational certificate or diploma in animal care, animal science, zoo keeping, captive wildlife management, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Biology, or Veterinary Technology preferred for mid-level and senior roles.
Additional certifications (e.g., animal first aid, wildlife handling, chemical immobilization, ZIMS training) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology
Animal Science
Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Nursing
Wildlife Biology
Conservation Biology
Ecology
Animal Behaviour

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of direct animal care experience in zoos, wildlife parks, rehabilitation centers or similar captive animal environments for entry-to-mid-level roles.

Preferred:

3–7 years of progressive animal care experience with documented experience in husbandry, enrichment design, emergency response and public engagement.
Prior experience handling a diverse collection including mammals, birds and reptiles; demonstrated work with large or hazardous species is a plus.
Experience using animal management databases (ZIMS), participating in accreditation processes and working to regulatory compliance standards.