Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Worker

🎯 Role Definition

A Zoo Worker is an animal care professional who delivers daily husbandry, feeding, enrichment, habitat maintenance, and public education for a diverse collection of species. This role supports veterinary procedures, participates in breeding and conservation initiatives, maintains accurate animal records, and ensures visitor and staff safety through rigorous cleaning, monitoring, and emergency response. The ideal candidate combines hands-on animal handling experience, strong observation and record-keeping skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with guests and colleagues.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Volunteer Keeper or Intern (zoo volunteer programs)
Animal Care Assistant / Kennel Technician
Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Keeper / Lead Zookeeper
Curator of Animals / Collection Manager
Animal Behaviorist / Training Specialist
Conservation Program Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Education Officer / Public Programs Specialist
Veterinary Technician (with additional certification)
Facilities or Grounds Supervisor (with maintenance experience)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide daily feeding and precise dietary preparation for assigned species, following nutrition plans, measuring rations, recording consumption, and adjusting diets under veterinary guidance to support individual animal health and conservation goals.
Perform comprehensive cleaning and sanitation of enclosures, holding areas, and food preparation spaces, using approved disinfectants and protocols to prevent disease transmission and maintain high biosecurity standards.
Deliver species-appropriate behavioral enrichment by designing, preparing, and administering enrichment items and activities to stimulate natural behaviors, reduce stress, and improve welfare outcomes for a wide range of taxa.
Conduct regular behavioral observations and health monitoring, document behavioral changes, appetite, fecal output, mobility, and other clinical signs in the animal records database to support preventative care and veterinary diagnostics.
Safely restrain and handle animals during routine husbandry, training sessions, and veterinary procedures, employing positive reinforcement techniques and species-specific handling protocols to minimize stress and risk.
Assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians with examinations, sample collection (blood, fecal, swabs), anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative care while maintaining sterile technique and accurate medical records.
Participate in enrichment and training programs to encourage voluntary cooperation with husbandry and veterinary procedures, using positive reinforcement to shape behaviors that facilitate welfare and management.
Maintain and repair exhibit and holding structures, fences, locks, and barriers; report and coordinate with facilities maintenance to address structural, plumbing, or electrical issues that affect animal safety and exhibit integrity.
Implement and enforce safety protocols for staff and visitors including lock-out/tag-out procedures, containment drills, and emergency response actions for escaped animals, injuries, or hazardous spills.
Supervise interns, volunteers, and seasonal staff during daily rounds, feeding, and public encounters, providing training on safety, husbandry procedures, and record-keeping best practices.
Prepare and maintain detailed daily logs, medical records, feeding charts, and behavior notes using electronic record systems and ensure data is accurate for animal care continuity and regulatory compliance.
Support breeding and species propagation efforts by monitoring reproductive cycles, advising on pairing decisions, collecting and preserving samples, and assisting with assisted reproduction or transfer logistics where applicable.
Deliver informative, engaging public presentations, keeper talks, and behind-the-scenes tours that educate visitors on species biology, conservation messaging, and responsible human-wildlife relationships while prioritizing animal welfare.
Participate in conservation, research, and fieldwork projects by contributing observational data, assisting with capture and translocation operations when needed, and liaising with partners and researchers to share findings.
Operate and maintain small equipment and vehicles (utility carts, tractors, pressure washers) safely to transport feed, supplies, and animal waste while adhering to facility protocols and licensing requirements.
Implement pest control, groundskeeping, and vegetation management around exhibits to ensure safe and species-appropriate habitats that support naturalistic behaviors and minimize hazards.
Monitor environmental systems (heating, cooling, humidity, water quality for aquatic exhibits) and collaborate with technical staff to maintain optimal habitat parameters for species-specific needs.
Participate in regular staff meetings, animal welfare reviews, and annual performance evaluations to contribute to continuous improvement of husbandry protocols and operational efficiency.
Respond promptly to animal health emergencies and unusual behavioral incidents by following established emergency action plans, administering first aid as trained, and coordinating care with veterinary staff and supervisors.
Prepare and transport animals for approved off-site events, medical treatments, or transfers to other institutions, ensuring proper containment, documentation, permitting, and animal comfort during transit.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations including USDA, AZA (if applicable), CITES, and other permitting requirements by maintaining accurate records, participating in inspections, and implementing regulatory updates.
Maintain inventory of feed, enrichment materials, medical supplies, and PPE; place orders and coordinate deliveries to ensure uninterrupted animal care operations.

Secondary Functions

Assist with development and delivery of curriculum-aligned school programs and outreach initiatives to build community engagement and support for conservation.
Support fundraising and membership events by providing expertise during behind-the-scenes experiences, ensuring high-quality guest interactions and adherence to welfare standards.
Contribute to written content for social media, newsletters, and website updates highlighting animal stories, conservation projects, and educational messaging to improve public awareness and SEO visibility.
Participate in cross-departmental projects such as exhibit redesigns, interpretive signage creation, and sustainability initiatives that improve animal habitats and visitor experience.
Undertake light administrative duties including scheduling, timesheet verification, incident reporting, and maintaining training records for compliance and operational continuity.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal husbandry: proven experience in feeding, cleaning, and daily care routines for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish, with strong knowledge of species-specific needs.
Behavioral observation & documentation: ability to record, analyze, and report behavioral and health indicators using keeper logs and electronic animal management systems.
Restraint & handling techniques: trained in safe, species-appropriate capture, restraint, and transport protocols, including use of nets, carriers, and sedation assistance.
Veterinary support skills: basic medical skills such as sample collection, administering oral/topical medications, wound care, and monitoring post-procedural recovery under supervision.
Enrichment design & implementation: experience creating cognitive and physical enrichment that addresses species-specific natural behaviors and welfare metrics.
Habitat maintenance & husbandry equipment operation: competence operating tractors, utility vehicles, pressure washers, and small mechanical equipment used in exhibit upkeep.
Water quality & life support monitoring (for aquatic exhibits): familiarity with testing and maintaining filtration, salinity, pH, and temperature parameters.
Regulatory compliance: working knowledge of permits, record-keeping requirements, and inspection standards (e.g., USDA, AZA, CITES) relevant to zoo operations.
Emergency response & first aid: certified in animal first aid/CPR or trained in emergency protocols for animal escape, injury, or environmental hazards.
Data entry & inventory management: accurate and timely use of digital record systems for medical records, feeding logs, enrichment logs, and supply inventories.

Soft Skills

Strong observational skills and attention to detail to detect subtle changes in health and behavior.
Excellent communication and public speaking skills for interactions with visitors, school groups, and media.
Teamwork and collaboration across animal care, veterinary, education, and facilities teams.
Problem-solving and adaptability in dynamic, occasionally high-stress environments.
Empathy and ethics-driven decision-making with a commitment to animal welfare and conservation.
Physical stamina and manual dexterity for lifting, bending, and performing sustained outdoor tasks in all weather conditions.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize caretaking tasks and administrative duties.
Teaching and mentoring ability to train interns, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
Cultural competence and professionalism when representing the institution to diverse audiences.
Initiative and continuous learning mindset to adopt best practices in animal care and conservation science.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; completion of accredited animal care or wildlife technician programs valued.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Biology, Wildlife Management, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Science
Wildlife Biology / Conservation Biology
Veterinary Technology / Animal Husbandry
Ecology / Environmental Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

Entry level: 0–2 years of hands-on experience working with animals (volunteer, internship, or paid roles).
Mid-level: 2–5 years of direct animal care experience in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation, or related facility.

Preferred:

1–3 years of professional zookeeper/animal care technician experience with documented experience in enrichment programs, veterinary support, and public education. Prior experience with the specific taxa in the institution's collection (e.g., primates, carnivores, birds, reptiles) is highly desirable.
Certifications such as animal first aid, CPR, pesticide application (if required), or relevant vocational credentials are a plus.