Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zookeeper Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Zookeeper Technician is an animal-care specialist responsible for day-to-day husbandry, habitat maintenance, enrichment, and basic veterinary support for a collection of captive species. This role emphasizes animal welfare, safety, and public-facing interpretation while supporting conservation and research programs. Typical duties include feeding and monitoring animals, administering treatments under veterinary direction, maintaining clean and secure enclosures, designing and implementing behavioral enrichment, and participating in public education programs. The ideal candidate combines practical animal-handling skills, observational acuity, facility maintenance competence, and strong teamwork to advance species welfare and institutional goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal care attendant, wildlife rehabilitation technician, or kennel/cattery attendant
Volunteer or intern roles at zoos, aquariums, or wildlife centers
Seasonal park naturalist or conservation field technician

Advancement To:

Senior Zookeeper / Lead Keeper
Curator Assistant or Collection Manager
Veterinary Technician with additional clinical training
Conservation Program Coordinator or Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Education and Interpretation Specialist
Facilities and Exhibit Maintenance Technician
Animal Transport and Collection Logistics Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare and administer daily diets and special feeding plans for multiple species, following nutrition protocols and adjusting rations under direction of senior staff or veterinary team to support health, breeding, and rehabilitation goals.
Conduct detailed daily health checks and behavioral observations for assigned animals, documenting appetite, stool quality, activity levels, wounds, respiratory signs, and unusual behaviors in official records and animal databases (e.g., ZIMS, in-house systems).
Deliver basic medical care under veterinarian instruction, including oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medication administration, wound cleaning, basic first aid, and monitoring of post-procedure recovery.
Design, build, and implement species-appropriate environmental enrichment and behavioral training programs (positive reinforcement) to promote mental stimulation, natural behaviors, and reduce stereotypies.
Clean, sanitize, and maintain exhibits, holding areas, nest boxes, and quarantine spaces to AZA, USDA, and local health standards, ensuring biosecurity, pest control, and proper disposal of biological waste.
Perform daily habitat maintenance such as replacing substrates, inspecting and repairing fencing, locks, moats, climbing structures, pools, and sheltering elements to guarantee safety for animals, staff, and public.
Assist with receiving, acclimating, and transferring animals, including performing quarantine protocols, temperature checks, health screenings, and transport preparations with proper documentation and permits.
Operate and maintain facility equipment and vehicles (golf carts, small tractors, lifts, pressure washers), following safe operating procedures and reporting malfunctions or repair needs promptly.
Help plan, execute, and document animal training sessions to facilitate husbandry procedures, voluntary medical behaviors, and public demonstrations, keeping detailed session logs and progression notes.
Support breeding programs by monitoring reproductive behavior, maintaining breeding logs, assisting with nest/site preparation, and participating in neonatal and juvenile care when required.
Participate in and contribute to collection management tasks such as inventory control of feed, medications, PPE, and enrichment materials; place orders and maintain stock rotation to reduce waste and ensure supply continuity.
Collaborate with veterinary staff during physical exams, sample collection (blood, fecal, swabs), diagnostic testing, and minor surgeries by restraining animals safely, preparing anesthesia equipment, and monitoring vitals.
Implement and uphold emergency response and contingency plans for severe weather, animal escapes, fire, or medical emergencies; participate in drills and provide first-response animal care.
Train, supervise, and mentor seasonal staff, volunteers, and interns—delegating tasks, conducting orientations, and evaluating performance to maintain high standards of animal care and team safety.
Conduct and contribute to species husbandry reports, incident reports, enrichment efficacy evaluations, and behavior study notes used for collection planning and accreditation reviews.
Provide guest-facing interpretation and education by leading tours, answering animal-care questions, and presenting short talks/demonstrations to promote conservation messaging and enhance visitor experience.
Adhere to and help refine institutional policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and regulatory compliance requirements (AZA, USDA, state wildlife permits), ensuring documentation is accurate and up to date.
Assist with husbandry-related construction and exhibit renovation projects, providing species-specific input and validating that new designs meet behavioral and husbandry needs prior to rollout.
Monitor and maintain water quality in aquatic exhibits, pools, and watering systems—conducting routine checks, simple testing, and communicating concerns to aquatic specialists for corrective action.
Participate in field collection or off-site transport projects as needed, including capture logistics, animal handling during transit, and inter-institutional transfers while ensuring animal welfare and permit compliance.
Support conservation and research initiatives by collecting behavioral and biological data, participating in tagging/marking programs, and collaborating on citizen science or academic studies.
Maintain and update animal records, medical files, and permit documentation accurately and confidentially in electronic and physical formats to support audits and cross-functional reporting.
Identify and report facility hazards, animal welfare concerns, and biosecurity breaches immediately to supervisors; recommend improvements and assist with implementation projects aimed at continuous welfare enhancement.

Secondary Functions

Assist education and outreach teams by preparing animals and equipment for demonstrations, coordinating logistics, and ensuring animal welfare during public programs.
Support cross-departmental projects including horticulture for exhibit planting, carpentry for enrichment builds, and maintenance teams during exhibit upgrades and repairs.
Aid in onboarding and cross-training initiatives to broaden institutional redundancy for critical husbandry roles across species groups.
Participate in volunteer coordination by scheduling shifts, providing training refreshers, and assessing volunteer contributions to animal care tasks.
Help prepare grant or accreditation documentation with husbandry metrics, enrichment logs, and veterinary records to support institutional funding and standards.
Contribute photographs, behavioral notes, and enrichment feedback for social media and marketing teams to enhance public engagement and conservation awareness.
Maintain personal certifications and complete continuing education (webinars, workshops) as assigned to stay current with modern animal husbandry and welfare practices.
Assist with record digitization and improvements to animal management software workflows, ensuring high quality data capture for research and analytics.
Provide occasional on-call support for after-hours emergencies and animal transports when scheduled as part of rotating duty assignments.
Participate in basic data entry and inventory audits to support budgets, grant compliance, and cost-control initiatives for feed and medical supplies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal husbandry expertise across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish — demonstrated experience with species-specific diets, breeding, and neonatal care.
Medical support skills including oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medication administration; sample collection (blood, fecal, swabs) and post-procedure monitoring under veterinary direction.
Behavioral enrichment design and implementation, plus familiarity with positive-reinforcement training methods for voluntary cooperation during husbandry and veterinary procedures.
Proficiency with animal record systems and databases (ZIMS, MedARKS, Microsoft Excel, or equivalent) for accurate logging of health, feeding, and behavior data.
Practical exhibit and enclosure maintenance: carpentry basics, plumbing checks for pools and water systems, electrical lock and gate inspections, and routine habitat repairs.
Knowledge of biosecurity, quarantine procedures, zoonotic disease prevention, and waste disposal standards relevant to zoological institutions.
Safe operation of facility equipment (golf carts, forklifts, small tractors, pressure washers) and comfort working at heights (ladders, scaffolds) for exhibit upkeep.
Water quality monitoring basics for aquatic exhibits and pools including testing for pH, chlorine, and filtration inspection.
Regulatory and permit compliance knowledge (AZA accreditation standards, USDA requirements, state and local wildlife permits), including accurate record-keeping for audits.
Familiarity with animal transport logistics and safe handling during capture, crating, and inter-institutional transfers.

Soft Skills

Strong observational skills and attention to detail to detect subtle changes in animal health and behavior.
Excellent communication and public speaking skills for guest engagement, education programs, and cross-departmental collaboration.
Teamwork and collaboration: ability to work effectively with veterinary, education, maintenance, and conservation staff.
Problem-solving and adaptability when responding to animal emergencies, unexpected weather, or exhibit failures.
Time management and organizational skills for balancing feeding schedules, cleaning routines, and enrichment programs.
Leadership and mentoring ability to train seasonal staff and volunteers while maintaining safety standards.
Ethical judgment and commitment to animal welfare and conservation principles.
Resilience and physical stamina for frequent lifting, bending, and outdoor work in variable weather conditions.
Documentation and reporting accuracy to ensure integrity of animal records and regulatory compliance.
Initiative and creativity in designing cost-effective enrichment and habitat improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with documented hands-on animal care experience (zoo, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary clinic, farm).

Preferred Education:

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Biology, Wildlife Conservation, Veterinary Technology, or related field.
Certifications preferred: Certified Professional Animal Keeper (CPAK), CPBT-KA, OSHA or first aid/CPR, or relevant veterinary assistant certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology
Animal Science
Wildlife Biology
Ecology
Veterinary Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1 to 5 years of progressive animal husbandry experience; entry-level candidates often accepted with strong internship/volunteer history.

Preferred:

2–4+ years working in a zoological, aquarium, sanctuary, or wildlife rehabilitation setting with documented species-specific experience, demonstrated enrichment program development, and basic veterinary support experience.