Question about working with zoo animals as a vet

[JM01]

I was just wondering, do zoos in Australia employ their own vets or do they source vets from clinics? I'm thinking of going to vet school but my passion for zoos still remains strong so my ultimate dream would to be a vet who works with zoo creatures (or maybe every once in a while). I've been looking it up and most of the answers are from the US. And even then there's different answers every time.

 

[JM01]

Oh and this is unrelated but for keepers who want to work with carnivores, primates or large herbivores do you need to have had hands on experience with them? Or is it fine if your volunteer experience with them is more hands off and focused on food preparation or creating enrichment?

 

[Zoofan15]

I was just wondering, do zoos in Australia employ their own vets or do they source vets from clinics? I'm thinking of going to vet school but my passion for zoos still remains strong so my ultimate dream would to be a vet who works with zoo creatures (or maybe every once in a while). I've been looking it up and most of the answers are from the US. And even then there's different answers every time.

The larger zoos have their own veterinary teams. I’ve heard of some smaller facilities having a vet on site one or two days a week; with the availability of an on-call vet for emergencies. Orana Wildlife Park in New Zealand has a good working relationship with their local vets, who have assisted in the hand-raising of cheetah cubs and even a giraffe calf, both of which required round the clock care.

Oh and this is unrelated but for keepers who want to work with carnivores, primates or large herbivores do you need to have had hands on experience with them? Or is it fine if your volunteer experience with them is more hands off and focused on food preparation or creating enrichment?

Short answer yes. It’s a highly competitive industry and experience is what employers value most. Many zoo based qualifications involve a practical component to give students that experience while they study; as those working in a voluntary capacity typically don’t work directly with animals due to health and safety.

I’ve known people who have started off working with birds or reptiles and then progressed to primates and carnivores, which are reportedly more sought after positions; but require more experience due to great apes, big cats etc. being classified as dangerous animals.

 

[JM01]

The larger zoos have their own veterinary teams. I’ve heard of some smaller facilities having a vet on site one or two days a week; with the availability of an on-call vet for emergencies. Orana Wildlife Park in New Zealand has a good working relationship with their local vets, who have assisted in the hand-raising of cheetah cubs and even a giraffe calf, both of which required round the clock care.


Short answer yes. It’s a highly competitive industry and experience is what employers value most. Many zoo based qualifications involve a practical component to give students that experience while they study; as those working in a voluntary capacity typically don’t work directly with animals due to health and safety.

I’ve known people who have started off working with birds or reptiles and then progressed to primates and carnivores, which are reportedly more sought after positions; but require more experience due to great apes, big cats etc. being classified as dangerous animals.

Thanks for the info. How would one go about becoming a vet that works with zoo animals?

 

[Batto]

How would one go about becoming a vet that works with zoo animals?

By studying veterinary medicine.

During your studies, try to get in as much practical experience in zoos as possible (externships or even better jobs) and build up your professional network. Try to get a mentor. Knowing the right people is key to get a foot into the very competitive (one could even say inbred) zoo staff world. Acquire skills that are in demand in a zoo; reptile & fish medicine << charismatic big mammal medicine. Choose your doctoral thesis topic accordingly. Good luck - you will need it.

You can also found your own zoo and be your own zoo vet.

 

[JM01]

By studying veterinary medicine.

During your studies, try to get in as much practical experience in zoos as possible (externships or even better jobs) and build up your professional network. Try to get a mentor. Knowing the right people is key to get a foot into the very competitive (one could even say inbred) zoo staff world. Acquire skills that are in demand in a zoo; reptile & fish medicine << charismatic big mammal medicine. Choose your doctoral thesis topic accordingly. Good luck - you will need it.

You can also found your own zoo and be your own zoo vet.

Ye I plan on doing this but I imagine the path to becoming a zoo/wildlife vet would be quite different from being a clinical vet.

 

[Batto]

Ye I plan on doing this but I imagine the path to becoming a zoo/wildlife vet would be quite different from being a clinical vet.

Not really. It depends on the situation. Some zoos have their own zoo vets, some even whole vet teams with ACZM / ECZM graduates. Some zoos have an external vet or a veterinary clinic under contract, who aren't necessarily specifically trained in zoo medicine and acquire the required skills by "learning by doing" or postgraduate training.

 

[JM01]

Not really. It depends on the situation. Some zoos have their own zoo vets, some even whole vet teams with ACZM / ECZM graduates. Some zoos have an external vet or a veterinary clinic under contract, who aren't necessarily specifically trained in zoo medicine and acquire the required skills by "learning by doing" or postgraduate training.

Ah, got it. Thanks!

 

[MRJ]

I was just wondering, do zoos in Australia employ their own vets or do they source vets from clinics? I'm thinking of going to vet school but my passion for zoos still remains strong so my ultimate dream would to be a vet who works with zoo creatures (or maybe every once in a while). I've been looking it up and most of the answers are from the US. And even then there's different answers every time.

As has been mentioned the larger the zoo, the more likely they are to employ vets, and some of the larger Australian zoos have quite substantial veterinary departments. @Batto has given some good advice as to how to get into them. Another way once you have your degree would be to seek further training or work in specialties such as birds, herps, and wildlife.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Another point to consider, eventually, is specialisation.

A smaller zoo such as ours cannot afford to equip a vet clinic of sufficient size and of a sufficient standard to service all of our species. Nor can we afford to employ a full time veterinarian. Vets are well paid in Australia, unlike in some European countries where they are renumerated at keeper's rates.

Thus we contract a good all round mobile veterinarian for day to day work and engage avian specialists, reptile specialists, eye specialists, dental specialists etc as required.

Maybe something to aspire to?

 

[Batto]

Based on personal experience, I would be careful with choosing the "right" specialisation. As previously mentioned, reptile or fish medicine is of less importance for many zoos than knowing your way around mammals (and to a lesser degree, birds). The daily demand for a reptile and fish vet is more manageable than anxious pet owners usually tell you in their case of need.

 

[ZooNews2024]

As in Australia - in the UK, vets are certainly not paid keeper 'rates'. Veterinary services are hugely expensive and finding specialists is increasingly difficult. Basic work can be many, many times the replacement value of an individual animal. Most veterinary practices have been taken over by large chains, with formulaic charges, services and limited opening hours. Even finding a laboratory capable of determining what an animal actually died of, is becoming similarly difficult.

 

[MRJ]

I was just wondering, do zoos in Australia employ their own vets or do they source vets from clinics? I'm thinking of going to vet school but my passion for zoos still remains strong so my ultimate dream would to be a vet who works with zoo creatures (or maybe every once in a while). I've been looking it up and most of the answers are from the US. And even then there's different answers every time.

The other thing I should say, as you are in Australia, all the government zoos have teams of vets, there would be less opportunity in private zoos, although some do.

 

[JM01]

Thank you all for this info guys. I'd love to be a zoo vet but any type of vet would be fine for me tbh. Can always volunteer with wildlife on the side.

 

[Tiger91]

Ye I plan on doing this but I imagine the path to becoming a zoo/wildlife vet would be quite different from being a clinical vet.

When you graduate, you'll need to place/work as a vet and get your basic intern stuff out of the way. Then you will need to specialise in wildlife vet work. Volunteering at zoos and being around that space will help with experience from that side and building connections, people will be able to guide you on what you need. Most zoo vets specialise in wildlife vet med, especially native animals. < was the advice from one of taronga's head vets, was family friends with a sister of them and would see and chat to them ocasionally.