What does a zookeeper do as part of their job?

Click on this link to learn more about animals at Edinburgh Zoo on this interactive tour and meet some of the staff and animals.

What animals would you like to work with? 

Do you have a preference?

Click here to find out more about the role of a zoo keeper from My World of Work and from the National Careers Service.

The kind of jobs you might have to do as a keeper could be;

• Ordering and prepare food, water and bedding for the animals, as well as the daily feeds,

• Clean out animal enclosures,

• Make sure that the animal welfare is the best that it can be,

• Assisting the vet when required and basic delivery of animal medicines,

• Basic maintenance of the animal enclosures,

• Answer visitors’ questions and sometimes give talks or presentations to the public or staff,

• Observing and keeping animal healthcare records, and using basic computer skills,

• Having the opportunity for international travel to other zoo as part of independent development,

• Having in-depth knowledge about the animal in your care.

If you worked as a zookeeper could you identify the species and then find the matching animal to find out what is their correct zoo diet?