- You can’t handle the unexpected happening everyday.
I start off with this one because in my three years of zookeeping, it’s true. Rarely has there been a day when a curveball isn’t thrown in to the mix. Whether someone calls in and you’re below minimum for the day, or something weird is going on with your animals, or suddenly your raising a baby monkey or other. If you make a plan for your day, you need to be willing to throw it out the window at any moment. As a zookeeper, you’re working with animals and people. Anything can happen.
- You don’t want to learn unexpected skills.
I’ve had to do a lot of things I never thought I would do as a zookeeper. I’ve done landscaping to improve our areas. I’ve built structures for animals (they’re not the best, but their functional). I’ve learned how to use different tools I never saw myself using before. I’m also learning how to tell apart different plants. What’s safe for our animals to eat and what isn’t. Another part of this category is learning to be creative. Using what you have to get the job done. You’ll struggle to be a zookeeper if you can’t adapt.
- You don’t like yard work.
There are some zoos out there where it isn’t on the keeper to maintain an exhibit or public pathways, but there are zoos out there where it falls on you to keep the area looking nice. Mowing the grass and trimming back overgrowth is a huge part in making sure your animals are visible. Some animal exhibits involve moats that need to be cleared out and if you’re not careful, you might run into some poison ivy or oak. Depending on how big your exhibit is, you could be at it for a couple hours. You need to be willing to do yard work if you want to be a zookeeper.
- You don’t like people.
A lot of us in the animal field will admit a reason we went into animal care because we don’t like people. Whether it’s true or not, you need to be able to work with people as a zookeeper. You have to work with your coworkers and you’ll need to be able to give animal chats and represent your zoo well. Even on the tough days, you need be able to smile. I’ve lost count of how many times I would be working on an exhibit and and guests would comment: “Oh, look at the keepers in their natural habitat!” or “Hey, look! An exhibit of humans!” It takes a lot of patience to smile and nod and wave people on their way.
- You don’t want to learn about animals outside your lane.
There are lot of different types of zookeepers out there. Primate keepers, hoof stock keepers, carnivore, feline, aquatics, bird, reptile. With all the different types of animals out there, you naturally have different kinds of keepers. I wanted to get into the carnivore/feline lane. I love cheetahs, lions, leopards, tigers. My dream is to work with big cats, be a feline keeper. However, my zoo doesn’t focus felines. We have felines. I take care of a leopard and cheetah, but we have more birds, hoof stock, reptiles, and primates on our team than felines. In order to take care of these animals, I have to know about them. I need to research them. Get to know them and expand my knowledge beyond cats. Knowing your lane and your passion as a keeper is good, but being willing to expand your knowledge into other lanes makes you a more valuable keeper.
- You expect animals to do as they’re told.
Some animals know the routine. Some don’t. Some know how to get on the scale to get weighed. Some are afraid of the scale. Some animals know you want them inside, but decide they would rather stay outside for the night. Some animals are seeing you for the first time and have no idea why you’re holding your arm and finger out. There is a communication barrier when working with animals and it’s your job as a zookeeper to understand that barrier. Animals communicate how they’re feeling and they offer warning signs if you’re doing something wrong. You need to be able to communicate your intentions with body language back to them. I’ve been working with three flighty and timid vultures these past couple months and I’m finally to a point where two of them won’t fly away when I enter their space and they’ll even allow me to get within a couple of feet of them. It’s been a long process, but I keep showing them what to expect from me, and I’ve been trying several different types of meat as peace offerings, but I’m hopeful that the trust I’m building with the vultures will continue to grow. It takes patience. Which leads me to my next point.
- You have little patience.
You will struggle as a zookeeper if you can’t be patient. Patient with your animals. Patient with people. Patient with how long training is taking. You remember my first point? When the unexpected happens everyday, that means that other things get pushed back. You’ll start to feel like tasks are taking much longer than they should, and it can make you feel like a terrible keeper. However, the bottom line is that some things are out of our control and we can only make the best of what we have. Tasks will get done eventually. You have to be okay with that if you’re going to be a keeper.
- You’re not good at hiding fear.
Animals can tell when you’re nervous or afraid. Some animals will take advantage of it to try and get the upper hand on you. Hoof stock will try to charge. Some cats will pounce at the mesh to make you jump. Primates will display. You’ve got to be able to stand your ground. Trust that the mesh between you and the cat or you and the primate is going to hold and don’t react. When some animals realize they can make you react, they’ll keep pushing to get more reactions out of you. We’ve got a Kirk’s Dik Dik–an antelope the size of a small dog–who will charge at keepers occasionally to test their mettle. If a keeper reacts by running or swinging something at him, he’ll keep charging that keeper like its a game. However, if a keeper calmly stands their ground, he’ll back off and you won’t have anymore trouble with him. Zookeepers need to be able to stay calm when challenged.
- You aren’t willing to learn empathy.
Some people say empathy is a rare thing to come by these days. I say it’s important in the zoo field. Not only do you need to consider what your team mates are going through, but what your animals are going through. Maybe they’re living their best life by laying in the sunshine and chewing on cud. Or, they could have a limp, are blind in one eye, and their lip can’t always keep their tongue inside their mouth. Every animal is different and every person is different. Zookeeping is a hard job and requires a lot of teamwork. Empathy is a big part in making sure everyone succeeds.
- You have a hard time saying goodbye.
Animals don’t live forever. You and your team will find yourselves making the tough calls, sometimes more frequently than you anticipate. You need to be able to say goodbye, grieve, and take care of yourself so you can help the next animals that come your way. Loss is hard, and when it comes in waves, it can knock you flat on your back, but a keeper’s job is to make life the best it can be for the animals in their care. It’s hard saying goodbye, but there are other animals that need you to.
Published by Nikki
I am an aspiring author with one novel written and ready for representation and many in the works.
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nikki diekemper 