Senior Zoo Keepers are responsible for the care of animals in their section of a zoo, as well as the management of other Keepers working in that area.
Senior Zoo Keepers are responsible for the day-to-day care and welfare of animals in a zoo, wildlife/safari park, aquarium or special collection. Keepers may work with a wide range of animals from mammals and birds to reptiles and amphibians to fish and invertebrates.
Many Senior Zoo Keepers become highly specialised and concentrate and work with one type of animal.
Senior Zoo Keepers' responsibilities vary but will include:
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good all round animal husbandry skills
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being able to lead and motivate a team
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a scientific background may be desirable
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good communication skills
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running animal breeding programmes
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training animals for a demonstration or health checks
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preparing and delivering educational talks, presentations or guided tours to children and adults
Working hours can vary considerably and can be quite unsociable. Animals must be cared for every day of the year, so Senior Zoo Keepers work on a rota to cover all periods to include weekends and bank holidays. During the spring and summer the hours worked may be longer and a shift system may be in place. Senior Zoo Keepers may be on a call-out rota, which could include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and where people live:
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Experienced Zoo Keepers may earn £17,000 a year
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A Head Zoo Keeper may earn about £24,000 a year
Free or subsidised accommodation may also be available with some posts.
- Manage the movement of animals
- Contribute to conservation within your establishment
- Plan the construction and maintenance of structures and surfaces
- Determine and agree policies for the management of animals
- Monitor and evaluate the establishment and management of animal populations
- Plan the establishment and management of animal populations
- Assess and improve the development of teams and individuals
- Recommend improvements to organisational plans
- Interview and select candidates
- Manage the maintenance of landscapes and displays
- Management / Leadership Skills
- Planning / Organizing Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Work in a team / with others
- Work on your own
- Customer Care / People Skills
- Mediation / Negotiation Skills
- Financial Management Skills
- Project Management Skills
- Decision Making Skills
There are a variety of qualifications and training courses that can help you:
- find employment
- improve your current skills
- gain promotion
Relevant courses to become a Senior Zoo Keeper include:
- Foundation Science Degree in Zoo Resource Management
- MSc Zoo Conservation Biology
Further information on Apprenticeships in animal care can be found on the Apprenticeship website.
Read more about all types of qualifications available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Know what course you want? Search for a training course with Lantra's CourseFinder.
To gain employment as a Senior Zoo Keeper previous relevant experience will be essential. Promotion opportunities do occur although it is often necessary to move to another zoo or wildlife park for a more senior position.
In larger zoos there may be prospects for promotion to Head Keeper.
For further information on careers in the sector you can contact the Lantra Connect Service:
Tel: 02476 69 69 96 or e-mail animalcare@lantra.co.uk
Industry Information
Additional information can be found from the following organisations and publications:
Publications, magazines and websites(some may be priced):
- Ratel Journal
- Zooquaria
- Keeper Notes (Official newsletter of the International Congress of Zookeepers)
- World Conservation magazine
- Nature magazine
- New Scientist magazine
- BBC Wildlife
- ARKive www.arkive.org/
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM www.iucnredlist.org/