Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Veterinarian

🎯 Role Definition

A Zoo Veterinarian provides preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic medical care for a diverse collection of captive wildlife and exotic animals. This role combines hands-on clinical work (physical exams, surgery, anesthesia, diagnostics), herd and population health management, medical recordkeeping, regulatory compliance, staff training, and collaboration with animal care teams, curators, researchers, and external specialists to support animal welfare, conservation, and accredited institutional standards.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Veterinary Technician (exotic/wildlife specialty) transitioning into DVM-led clinical roles
Small Animal or Mixed Animal Veterinarian with additional exotic medicine training
Wildlife Biologist or Field Veterinarian with clinical experience

Advancement To:

Senior/Lead Zoo Veterinarian
Chief/Director of Animal Health and Welfare
Head Veterinarian / Veterinary Services Manager
Clinical Director for a zoological or wildlife rehabilitation network

Lateral Moves:

Curator of Mammals/Avian/Reptile Departments
Wildlife Rehabilitator or Conservation Program Manager
Research Scientist in zoological or comparative medicine

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive physical examinations, triage and emergency care for diverse zoo species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates), using species-appropriate handling and restraint techniques aligned with animal welfare and safety protocols.
Develop, oversee and implement preventive medicine programs including vaccination schedules, parasite control, dental care, reproductive health monitoring, nutritional assessments, and routine screening appropriate to each taxon.
Perform elective and emergency surgeries (soft tissue, orthopedic, reproductive procedures) and provide perioperative care, including pre-anesthetic assessment, anesthesia planning and monitoring tailored to exotic species physiology and risk factors.
Lead anesthetic planning and delivery for a wide range of species, including drug selection, dose calculation, airway management, monitoring modalities (ECG, capnography, blood pressure) and post-anesthetic recovery plans to minimize morbidity.
Interpret diagnostic imaging (digital radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, CT/MRI when available) and laboratory results (hematology, biochemistry, cytology, microbiology, pathology) to produce accurate diagnoses and evidence-based treatment plans.
Manage and respond to disease outbreaks and transmittable conditions, coordinating quarantine procedures, biosecurity measures, contact tracing, risk assessment and communication with public health or regulatory agencies when required.
Design and maintain species-specific medical records and electronic medical record (EMR) systems, ensuring accurate, timely documentation of treatments, surgical reports, anesthesia logs, and diagnostic findings compliant with institutional and legal requirements.
Provide pharmaceuticals management including procurement, inventory control, controlled substances handling, recordkeeping and adherence to DEA/state regulations and facility policies.
Advise on animal acquisition and disposition from a health standpoint, conducting pre-purchase exams, health certifications, quarantines and release-to-collection decisions in coordination with curatorial staff.
Collaborate with nutritionists and animal care staff to evaluate and modify diets based on medical conditions, life stage, or research needs and to implement therapeutic feeding plans.
Direct and train animal care staff, veterinary technicians, interns and volunteers in clinical protocols, restraint and handling, sample collection, medication administration, anesthesia monitoring and emergency response drills to elevate clinical capacity across teams.
Oversee and conduct post-mortem examinations and necropsies, generating detailed pathology reports, determining cause of death, and recommending husbandry or medical changes to mitigate future risks.
Create and execute population health strategies including medical surveillance, reproductive health programs (breeding soundness exams, managed breeding support), genetic health considerations and long-term health tracking for collection planning.
Serve as a point of contact for regulatory compliance (AZA accreditation standards, state wildlife permits, USDA/APHIS requirements, CITES documentation), preparing reports, participating in inspections and ensuring facility protocols meet external standards.
Lead or co-lead clinical research projects, case reports, and collaborative studies with academic or conservation partners to contribute to the field of zoological medicine and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals when appropriate.
Participate in field conservation and reintroduction health programs, providing capture medicine expertise, remote immobilization, translocation health protocols and post-release monitoring when applicable.
Manage budgets for veterinary services, prioritize expenditures for equipment, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and seek cost-effective solutions without compromising animal care and safety.
Coordinate and consult with external specialists (radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, zoo medicine diplomates) and referral hospitals for advanced diagnostics, second opinions, or complex surgeries.
Provide veterinary oversight for enrichment, behavioral health programs, and environmental modifications to support welfare-based medical outcomes and reduce stress-related morbidity.
Develop and deliver veterinary-led educational programs for staff, interns, volunteers, donors and the public that explain medical care, conservation initiatives, zoonotic risk mitigation and the role of veterinary medicine in modern zoos.
Maintain an on-call schedule for after-hours emergencies and provide timely medical crisis management, ensuring 24/7 readiness through clear protocols and backup staffing arrangements.
Implement and monitor occupational health and safety programs related to zoonoses, sharps handling, chemical safety, animal-related injuries and staff vaccination requirements (e.g., rabies), and maintain appropriate PPE and training.
Advocate for continuous professional development, staying current with advances in exotic animal medicine, attending conferences, and supporting credentialing (e.g., ACZM, ECZM) within the veterinary team.

Secondary Functions

Support institutional grant applications and funding proposals that include veterinary components or medical research aims to expand conservation and clinical capacity.
Contribute to collection planning meetings and long-term strategic initiatives, offering medical perspectives on animal welfare, breeding recommendations and retirement/transfer decisions.
Assist in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for veterinary care, anesthesia, quarantine, and emergency response, aligning protocols with current evidence-based practice.
Participate in community outreach and media interviews to promote the zoo’s conservation messaging and to increase public understanding of wildlife health and veterinary roles.
Mentor veterinary students, interns and residents, providing structured clinical rotations, case-based teaching and assessments aligned with training objectives.
Coordinate with facilities and maintenance teams to plan renovations or design animal housing that meets clinical and biosecurity needs (isolation suites, surgical suites, cold storage for biologicals).
Track veterinary KPIs and contribute to quarterly reporting on medical outcomes, morbidity/mortality trends and resource utilization to support leadership decisions.
Support accreditation renewal processes, compile medical records and contribute to accreditation self-studies and site visit responses.
Collaborate on cross-department projects (education, research, conservation) to integrate veterinary expertise into interdisciplinary programming.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of exotic and wildlife species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish).
Proficiency in anesthesia and analgesia protocols for a broad taxonomic range, including advanced monitoring and emergency airway management.
Surgical skills in soft tissue, orthopedics and endoscopic procedures adapted for non-domestic species.
Diagnostic imaging interpretation (digital radiography, ultrasound) and familiarity with CT/MRI workflows for veterinary use.
Laboratory diagnostics: bloodwork interpretation, cytology, microbiology, parasitology, and sample submission for histopathology.
Necropsy and gross post-mortem examination with pathology correlation and reporting.
Veterinary pharmaceuticals management, controlled substance compliance, and pharmacology for exotic species.
Population health management: surveillance program design, outbreak investigation, and quarantine protocols.
Medical recordkeeping and EMR proficiency (e.g., MedARKS, ZooLex, Avimark or comparable systems) with accurate documentation practices.
Permit and regulatory knowledge: AZA accreditation standards, USDA/APHIS, state wildlife permits, and CITES import/export requirements.
Clinical research skills: study design, IRB/IACUC coordination, data collection, and scientific writing for publication.
Basic facility and equipment maintenance knowledge for surgical suites, anesthesia equipment, and sterilization procedures.
Telemedicine and remote consultation skills for collaborating with external specialists and partner institutions.

Soft Skills

Excellent communication: translate complex medical information into clear guidance for animal care staff, leadership and the public.
Leadership and team development: mentor technicians and interns, delegate clinical tasks and build a cohesive veterinary team.
Problem solving and critical thinking under pressure during clinical emergencies and outbreak scenarios.
Collaboration and diplomacy: work effectively with curators, keepers, researchers, and external partners across disciplinary boundaries.
Attention to detail and organizational skills for rigorous recordkeeping, inventory control, and protocol adherence.
Emotional resilience and compassion when handling morbidity, euthanasia decisions and sensitive stakeholder interactions.
Time management and prioritization to balance emergency cases, preventive programs, administrative duties and outreach.
Ethical reasoning and commitment to animal welfare, conservation goals and evidence-based veterinary practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent degree from an accredited veterinary school and current veterinary licensure in the practicing state/country.

Preferred Education:

Residency training or board certification in zoological/exotic medicine (American College of Zoological Medicine - ACZM, European College of Zoological Medicine - ECZM, or comparable).
Advanced degrees (MS/PhD) in conservation medicine, wildlife health, or related fields are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD)
Zoology / Wildlife Biology / Conservation Medicine
Comparative Medicine / Animal Science
Public Health / Epidemiology (beneficial for population health roles)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years clinical experience post-graduation working with exotic animals, captive wildlife, or in zoo medicine settings. Entry-level positions may accept recent graduates with internships or residency training focused on exotics.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive experience in a zoological or wildlife medicine environment, including demonstrated surgical and anesthesia experience across taxa.
Experience with electronic medical records, regulatory permitting, quarantine management, and staff supervision.
Prior experience at an AZA-accredited or similarly accredited institution, or equivalent demonstrated competency in zoo medicine best practices.
Publications, case reports, or contributions to clinical research, and experience working in conservation or field health programs are a plus.