Who Wants To Work With Animals?

Valentinoamor

Valentinoamor

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I'm curious about how many ZooChatters actually work with animals or plan on working with animals. If you do, please tell me what you do and what kinds of animals you work with, or would like to work with.

I, personally, don't have a career working with animals yet. There are two potential careers that I'd like to do involving animals. The first, which is the most realistic, would be owning my own educational outreach organization. I've been working on getting all the paperwork and licenses figured out, which would allow me to actually profit from doing programs. The second option would be to work as a bonobo keeper at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This is unlikely, due to the fact that: A. Zookeeping is a competitive field. B. Zookeeping doesn't pay well, so I feel like it would be hard to live on a keeper's salary. C. Wanting to be a keeper in such a specific area at one facility would make it even harder. (Even though I wouldn't find working as a primate keeper anywhere in that building, or working in their small mammal building.)
 
I would love to work with animals. I think I would like working in an education department or with small-ish animals like small primates or small carnivores.
 
After college, I’d like to work as an Ethologist with wild large carnivores (Bears, Wolves, Pinnipeds...) or seabirds (Rhinoceros Auklets, Eiders, etc...)in Alaska. Though it’s not as hands on with animals as a zoo would be, I figure it’s close enough, and it probably allows for some pretty good stories to tell around the camp fire ;).
 
I have actual experience as a keeper; I worked at a zoo in NY over the summer twice, once as an intern, and the other as a seasonal keeper for their hoofstock department (for privacy sake I’m keeping the zoo anonymous). Between both of those positions, I’ve worked with nearly every animal species in that zoo with a handful of exceptions. Besides that I’m currently employed at a children’s museum which contains an animal sanctuary specializing in exotics, primarily reptiles, and have also volunteered there for the last decade. When this pandemic is over I hope to return to the zoo as I wish to get a position there, however I do realize the competitive nature of the industry, and the initial reluctance to accept new recruits following the pandemic may hinder my chances. I have no problems with what animals I work with and am open to try anything, except penguins.
 
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Fignewton said:
I would love to work with animals. I think I would like working in an education department or with small-ish animals like small primates or small carnivores.
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Education is a really fun field. I've done a handful of volunteer programs with some of my personal animals, which really allowed me to grasp how much I introducing people to species they've never heard of, while also allowing them to get hands-on and learn to love the individual animal as well.

ThatOneZooGuy said:
After college, I’d like to work as an Ethologist with wild large carnivores (Bears, Wolves, Pinnipeds...) or seabirds (Rhinoceros Auklets, Eiders, etc...)in Alaska. Though it’s not as hands on with animals as a zoo would be, I figure it’s close enough, and it probably allows for some pretty good stories to tell around the camp fire ;).
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That would be awesome! I recently purchased a book about wolf behavior, so I understand why you'd wanna do that as a career.

Loxodonta Cobra said:
I have actual experience as a keeper; I worked at a zoo in NY over the summer twice, once as an intern, and the other as a seasonal keeper for their hoofstock department (for privacy sake I’m keeping the zoo anonymous). Between both of those positions, I’ve worked with nearly every animal species in that zoo with a handful of exceptions. Besides that I’m currently employed at a children’s museum which contains an animal sanctuary specializing in exotics, primarily reptiles. When this pandemic is over I hope to return to the zoo as I wish to get a position there, however I do realize the competitive nature of the industry, and the initial reluctance to accept new recruits following the pandemic may hinder my chances. I have no problems with what animals I work with and am open to try anything, except penguins.
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How was the pay? Do you think you could live on a keeper's budget? What species would you wanna be a keeper for? I wouldn't mind working with any animals, as I love them all, but primates - especially bonobos - would be my choice.
 
EsserWarrior said:
How was the pay? Do you think you could live on a keeper's budget? What species would you wanna be a keeper for? I wouldn't mind working with any animals, as I love them all, but primates - especially bonobos - would be my choice.
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Pay was alright, my position was a part-time so I can’t tell you what full-time would be but I imagine that it’s higher. I personally don’t believe I could live on a keepers salary forever and may have to get a side-job to get further money. I either want to be a pachyderm(elephant, rhino, and hippo) and/or reptile keeper as those are the two that are the most difficult to find people to work for to my knowledge, and the two groups of animals I know the most about thanks to my experience.
 
Loxodonta Cobra said:
Pay was alright, my position was a part-time so I can’t tell you what full-time would be but I imagine that it’s higher. I personally don’t believe I could live on a keepers salary forever and may have to get a side-job to get further money. I either want to be a pachyderm(elephant, rhino, and hippo) and/or reptile keeper as those are the two that are the most difficult to find people to work for to my knowledge, and the two groups of animals I know the most about thanks to my experience.
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I would be surprised if people didn't want to work with pachyderms, especially elephants. I can see the reptile keeper, though. A lot of people don't find them as interesting as other kinds of animals. (I adore reptiles, I've got several species at home and I've worked with tons over the last few years at my local reptile store.)

I'd assume that elephant, cat, canid, and bear keepers are the most sought after positions.
 
EsserWarrior said:
(I adore reptiles, I've got several species at home and I've worked with tons over the last few years at my local reptile store.)
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Reptiles would be another thing I might like doing. I currently only have one (a Reeves'/Chinese Pond Turtle), but when I get my own place I will definitely be getting more.
 
I am currently attending school to be a keeper. I would love to one day be a hoof stock, big cats, elephant or rhino keeper one day. It does seem pretty competitive however I'm sure that just like with any job, if you get in early enough and build professional relationships it'll be easier for you. I currently volunteer in my spare time and as long as your spouse also has a job you're salary wont be an issue. Ive also heard that if you move up from being a keeper to something like a curator, director, elephant manager, etc then you have the possibility to make more. You also have the opportunity to make more if you excel in specifics. Example being, if you come up with a phenomenal training program or enrichment programs for your department then other facilities potentially will pay you to come show your techniques to their staff. Its definitely a rewarding career in both terms of your daily duties and pay if you want it to be.
 
NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
I am currently attending school to be a keeper. I would love to one day be a hoof stock, big cats, elephant or rhino keeper one day. It does seem pretty competitive however I'm sure that just like with any job, if you get in early enough and build professional relationships it'll be easier for you. I currently volunteer in my spare time and as long as your spouse also has a job you're salary wont be an issue. Ive also heard that if you move up from being a keeper to something like a curator, director, elephant manager, etc then you have the possibility to make more. You also have the opportunity to make more if you excel in specifics. Example being, if you come up with a phenomenal training program or enrichment programs for your department then other facilities potentially will pay you to come show your techniques to their staff. Its definitely a rewarding career in both terms of your daily duties and pay if you want it to be.
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I wish you luck! Working with any of those animals would be an amazing experience.

I'm extremely torn over what I want to do with my own career. Either my own educational programs or trying to work with primates - hopefully bonobos - at Milwaukee. Someone needs to help me make up my mind.
 
I work with animals on a daily, professional basis, both in and outside of WdG. While I wouldn't want it any other way, at times I do wonder what it's like to have a house without a single animal hair/skin shed etc. or dirty khaki working clothes waiting to be washed, too much money and spare time to waste on selfish gadgets and activities, travelling without having to arrange capable animal sitters beforehand, not having to wake up early but instead sleeping in... Then I remember that I also have two lively kids and would probably still have almost the same issues... ;)
 
I work as a part-time keeper in the weekends, while I'm studying in the weekdays. I probably will do so another year, until I begin at the university. I began volunteering there approximately two years ago, and became a keeper a year ago. If I had done it for the income, I would definitely find something else to do. I'm enjoying doing it, and think the experience I get i valuable. I probably woun't work as a zookeeper after university, but I still want to work with animals. I would probably like to work as a biologist.
 
Up until this past December, all of my employment has been working with animals in some capacity. Professionally I've worked with over 200 species of birds (some highlights are large Asian hornbills, 3 different species of birds of paradise, and African penguins), small primates, sloths, and a large variety of fish and reptiles. Less extensively, also sea lions, big cats, North American carnivores, and elephants.

I took my first non animal job this December (at a restaurant over the winter off season). Unfortunately due to covid my position at the zoo was cancelled for the year, so it's been the restaurant only for the past several months. Work is meh, but I have some of the best co-workers there I could possibly ask for!

Personally, I am still working with animals, I maintain a private collection of around 70 birds of 21 different species, several reptiles, and Hedgehogs and a sugar glider as well.
 
Batto said:
I work with animals on a daily, professional basis, both in and outside of WdG. While I wouldn't want it any other way, at times I do wonder what it's like to have a house without a single animal hair/skin shed etc. or dirty khaki working clothes waiting to be washed, too much money and spare time to waste on selfish gadgets and activities, travelling without having to arrange capable animal sitters beforehand, not having to wake up early but instead sleeping in... Then I remember that I also have two lively kids and would probably still have almost the same issues... ;)
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Tell me about it. One of my favorite activities is trying to find out if it's cat hair or rabbit hair stuck to my clothing. I'm not someone that cares about having a ton of money, as long I'm in not scrambling to make ends meet every month. I'll most likely do educational programs as a career, as I find more benefits in it than being a keeper. If you have any advice on owning your own animal business, please PM me.


Hyak_II said:
Personally, I am still working with animals, I maintain a private collection of around 70 birds of 21 different species, several reptiles, and Hedgehogs and a sugar glider as well.
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That's a lot of birds.
 
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