The health of the animals is in the hands of the zookeeper who prepares the food according to each animal’s specialized diet. A zookeeper makes sure that they have enough water, feeds and grooms them, and cleans both the animals and their grounds. When animals transfer locations, the zookeeper attends to them and arranges their new environment. The zookeeper supervises the animals and records their activities continuously, so a zookeeper must understand nuances in animal behavior in order to keep accurate records. If the keeper notices any change in the animal’s behavior, he/she brings it to the attention of the veterinarian. The zookeeper often trains the animals to move in ways that can help veterinarians examine them. All of these responsibilities mean that zookeepers have ample opportunity to venture into the noisy and smelly animal cages, but they are hardly confined to the cages. They must answer the patrons’ questions and tactfully keep them from feeding or teasing the animals. Zookeepers in small zoos work with all the animals, while those in larger zoos specialize. Because animals must be cared for around the clock, zookeepers work a variety of schedules. When emergencies arise, like illness, the keeper may put in extremely long hours. Most importantly, the keeper must be able to develop a rapport with his charges and be infinitely cautious to avoid being injured by the animals.
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