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.
