How to become a Zoo Keeper

C

CZJimmy

Well-Known Member
Hello there.

I am currently studying my A-Levels with the aim of becoming a zoo keeper in the future. One of my A-Levels is Biology so I think I'm going in the right direction that way.

What I want to know is what is the exact degree needed for zoo keeping in the UK and what're some good universities where I can study this degree?

Hopefully I can get some feedback off current zoo keepers...

Thanks in advance, Jimmy
 
Im not quite sure how to become a zoo keeper but there is a few colleges around the country that offer animal management courses. Reaseheath in cheshire (which im currently studying at), and i think sparsholt? But these days i think zoos require some form of higher education.
 
Upali, how is Reasheath these days? I did a course there over the last 2 years

Have there been any new arrivals/enclosures?

I finished shortly after the Tapir arrived
 
Yes they do do a degree course there.

Some of the newest arrivals are probably the male serval, 2 Bat eared foxes, and a pair of otters (im not sure which species). They also have alot of new reptiles in the new reptile room in a new dog grooming block.

The whole animal centre is being rebuilt over the next few years and there is alot of building work! Ernie the tapir still lives with mara and capybara in a mixed paddock, however it is currently empty as its been churned up so much. Also the bat eared foxes are moving in with the meerkats once a new enclosure is built...im told.
 
Ah yes, I remember the talk about the Serval arriving and our group tutor was in charge for designing the Otter enclosure.

So have the mammal barn and tropical barn been demolished yet? The new designs seemed really good.
 
Nope those 2 barns are still there...even if they do look ancient and the otters are in a temporary enclosure at the moment!! Yeah the new designs do look good, they are spending a fair few million on it apparently.

Oh also the ring tailed lemurs moved into a new open topped enclosure with cameroon sheep during the summer and new capybara joined the group so they have a resonablely large group now.
 
Yeah, I remember the lemurs moving, we got to create some new enrichment for them when they went in. It's interesting about the cameroon sheep as there was talk about muntjac or another small deer species going in there.

I think it's £3.5 million going into the place, including the dog centre.
 
Yeah the dog centre has classrooms and also has a reptile room, which apparently has crocodiles that arrived recently, but i dont know anything about them and havent seem them.

Oh actually the cameroon sheep have moved out temporarily but i dont know where they are on the centre. Probably some of the latest enclosures are for the birds there. I want to see the meerkats and bat eared foxed sharing a enclosure as the outdoor meerkat group are having their enclosure extended to accomodate them.
 
I would guess the sheep would be in the old goat pen in between the two barns or they'll be in the stable block...
 
At the moment Ernie the tapir lives in the stable block with capybara, guanaco and goats, and their is no enclosure between the barns, just a storage area a think and back access to the deer pen. I think they may be in a back paddock with the ponies.

Does anyone happen to know anything about the male serval that recently arrived here by the way? I know nothing about him, however he does have a nice new enclosure accross from the lemurs.
 
They also have much, much more. Skunks, meerkats, birds of prey, reptiles, tarantulas, scorpions, snapping turtles, zebu, capybara, rhea etc

It was an amazing place and I loved every minute of being there.
 
It sure is an amazing place!! I love being there and ontop of the great animals they have, just the whole atmosphere of being there is amazing...its pretty hard work though:rolleyes:
 
In order to become a zoo keeper, you need some sort of quilification, in animal management. For example, Bicton College do a Foundation Degree in Animal Science (management and Welfare) with the option of doing a third top up year at Plymouth University for a full degree. Once you have this then you stand a good chance of getting a job as a trainee keeper in an animal establishment. However alot of zoo's are looking for experience, so getting a voulanteer job in a zoo helps. hope this helps your quest to become a zoo keeper
 
i only had a national diploma in animal management and it wasnt even at a decent college i just applied to lots of zoo's and got the job i have. in my experiance now for trainie jobs passion is one of the main things as well as a willingness to work towards the city and guilds in zoo animal management
 
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