Who takes care of animals at the zoo?

In zoos, caretakers are called keepers or zookeepers. They prepare diets, clean enclosures, and monitor animals' behavior. They may help in research studies and answer questions from visitors. Keepers may work with a broad group of animals, such as mammals or birds.



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A Zookeeper in your area makes on average $19 per hour, or $0.71 (39.179%) more than the national average hourly salary of $18.01. California ranks number 19 out of 50 states nationwide for Zookeeper salaries.

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Most entry-level positions require at least an associate's degree. Many zookeepers earn a four-year college degree. Animal management has become a highly technical and specialized field. Zookeepers do much more than care for animals' bodily comforts: Many of today's zookeepers are trained zoologists.

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As part of the zoo's safety policy, zookeepers are never in the same enclosure with a carnivore unless the animal is sedated and that can make check-ups a little difficult.

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Do zoos help or harm animals? While some suggest that zoos exploit captive animals and that wild animals should be wild, these facilities also present wildlife conservation attempts and learning opportunities as well. Zoos may introduce trauma to animals, but they are also taken care of in zoos.

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