Zoo Keeper Reveals The Dark Side Of The Job

Getting into zookeeping is a tricky sport

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Zoo human resources departments in San Diego can receive hundreds of applications for each available position, so those without relevant degrees or extensive volunteer experience may have a hard time breaking through. Don't let it put you off though, reach for your goals!

The pay is not worth much either

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What many people don't tell you is that zookeepers don't make a lot of money. Wage comparison sites say that zookeepers rarely make more than $30,000, with the exception of those who are highly specialized or senior. Not exactly a lucrative position, considering that is less than half of the average salary in the United States.

Even zoo vets are badly paid!

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In reality, zoo veterinarians typically make the highest money, followed by those who treat horses and those who treat pets. Although zoo veterinarians deal with exotic animals that their peers may never see, they are paid less than average due to a lack of financial resources among zoos.

Only 10% of zoos meet the proper standards

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While there are minimum requirements for a zoo to be recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as a animal exhibitor, not all zoos adhere to them. In fact, only about 10% of all zoos in the US meet the stringent criteria set forth by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Most zoo animals have been rescues (thankfully)

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Many zoo animals are rescues, either from the wild or transferred from other zoos and breeding programs. Seized exotic pets as well as circus animals, lab animals, and any animals found wandering alone in an unfamiliar area, are typically sent to a zoo.

Zoothenasia is alive and kicking

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It is unfortunate but true that even at legitimate zoos, healthy animals are occasionally euthanized. Although a zoo often only has to put an elderly or sick animal to sleep when all other options have been exhausted, this is not always the case. It is possible that zoos will run out of room and money since there is no other place for animals that cannot be returned to the wild.

Pandas are the most expensive zoo animal

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Although many zoos want to get pandas, any keeper will tell you that these lovable black and white furballs are ridiculously expensive. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to lease a panda from China (the Washington Zoo spends more than $500,000 year on a pair of pandas), plus another several hundred thousand dollars on bamboo to feed them.

China issues fines if anything happens to their beloved pandas

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If any reputable zoos are found not to be taking care of the pandas properly through neglect, and it's down to human error, then China can request that the panda or pandas be returned for a hefty fine of $400,000. Pandas definitely don't come cheap!

Penguins are smellier than they look

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A penguin exhibit can be one of the most popular in a zoo. Visitors are emotionally invested in these animals for a number of reasons, one being their lifelong commitment to one another. Nevertheless, their opinion might change if they had a peek behind the Plexiglas and caught a whiff of these dapper little tuxedo birds.

Animals can develop zoochosis...

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Unfortunately, even the greatest zoos are confining their animals to quarters far too small, which can have intense psychological effects. Over-grooming, eating things they shouldn't, vomiting, are examples of abnormal and typically disastrous habits of zoochosis in zoo animals.

...so pretty much most of that cute crap is them going psycho

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Now you know that zoo animals are prone to extreme psychological behaviors, you might want to remember that the next time you observe a "strange and cute" animal behavior. Think about the possibility that the animal is just going crazy from the confinement.

Zookeepers have to get their hands dirty on the job

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Over half of a zookeeper's work is spent cleaning up after the animals when they go to the toilet, and it should come as no surprise that the bigger the animal, the more waste there is. The daily poop scooping is not for the faint of nose, so if you're looking for a career in zoos, bear this in mind (pardon the pun).

Yes, zookeepers do get bitten!

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As may be expected, zookeepers are occasionally bitten by the animals they care for. This is especially true while working with young animals, transporting animals, or caring for ill animals. Even if they take precautions by wearing gloves, the thin skin of their fingers is no match for the keen fangs of some of these adorable creatures.

Zookeepers must wash their hair after every shift in the bat cave

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Keepers at the zoo all have their least favorite animals, but the bats' cage often seems to be the subject of complaints. There's a lot of poop to deal with, but unlike other animals, a lot of it is falling from the sky. Cleaning your hair after a shift in the bat enclosure is a must.

The bat cave is a threat to bats themselves!

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It's bad enough to end the day with your head coated in bat poop, but there have been tales of bats who fall on the floor during the day and being mistakenly stepped on in the dark by visitors or zookeepers. Sounds like a big health and safety risk to me!

The animals are disappearing masterminds

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People believe that an escaped zoo animal would be a rarity at any established zoos, but be mindful, as zookeepers reveal that it's not uncommon for animals to go missing. Several animals have earned a name for themselves as escape artists. For example, San Diego's orangutan Ken Allen is known as the Hairy Houdini.

That might be down to poor fence work...

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The fencing around enclosures at zoos are often guessed, which may be one reason why animals are able to escape quite easily. It is difficult to predict how an animal will behave in an enclosure, thus fences are typically built to a starting height based on an estimate of how high the species will jump in the wild, and then raised when the animal clears it.

Zoos get complaints about "naughty" animals

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Zookeepers get a wide variety of complaints from visitors, including some who are disappointed that the animals don't behave how they would expect, or that they're being lazy. But, one of the most typical is the excitement of animals during mating season.

They get complaints about the rude animals too!

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Not only do zookeepers receive complaints about the super-excited zoo animals having a go at each other, some guests actually get offended by the obscenity of some of the zoo animals (like the one pictured here). Safe to say: if you don't want to see it, stay at home!

They've got more zoo animals in the back

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It's a misconception that all of a zoo's animals will be on public display at one time. At zoos for breeding, many of the youngest animals will be kept in isolation to ensure that they receive the best (and most private) care possible. Some of the animals could be getting used to a new home or getting over an illness.

There's a reason for brain games and toys

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When visiting your favorite zoo, you might have noticed puzzles, games, and amusements for the animals. You might think that it's an unnecessary effort to make the animals more appealing to the public but it's actually a vital component of the 'enrichment' program. Animals will be provided with novel objects, games, and even scents in an effort to prevent zoochosis and ensure their happiness.

Zoos taunt their animals with cardboard cutouts

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Zookeepers try to ensure the stimulation of animals in their care through subtle forms of enrichment. Some zookeepers will make false cardboard counterparts so that the predators may stalk and pounce. Although it can be violent to young visitors, it is essential for the animals' well-being.

They don't always need a Michelin star chef...

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Zoos also strive to make feeding time as exciting as possible for predator animals because of their natural hunting instincts. Some animals, instead of eating pre-prepared food, will devour full carcasses (something you definitely don't want the tiny kids to see on zoo days!).

Tricks aren't all just for entertainment

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Zoo animals can participate in shows where their keepers will have them perform so-called tricks for an audience. While these "tricks" may seem odd or like a money grab to some, many of them actually help keepers monitor the health of the animals. Lifting a leg or fin allows the keeper to inspect the skin underneath...

They drug zoo animals without their consent!

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It can be challenging to convey the purpose of oral medication to any animal so zookeepers sometimes resort to the same approach you could employ at home with your pet dog and conceal the drug in a tasty reward. It turns out that big, exotic animals have the same desires as any other species when it comes to the packaging of their pets, toys, and medications.

Animal feed does not come cheap

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Finding enough meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains that are suitable for zoo animals and match what they would consume in the wild can be costly. Feeding a large population of animals is difficult, and it can cost thousands of dollars annually per animal.

Fish struggle to grasp the concept of glass

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Aquariums are a common feature at zoos but while the expansive glass provides a stunning view for humans, it can be very disorienting for fish. In particular, marine life is notorious for being a bit simple and they end up swimming full speed into the glass or even jumping out of the display!

Bad guests are infamous among the zookeepers

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Zookeepers will use the radio to warn each other about particularly misbehaving visitors. This means that the keeper guarding the next exhibit will know exactly who to keep an eye out for if you've been disobeying instructions, harassing the animals, rapping on the glass, or trying to feed the monkeys.

Their job is super important in the survival of zoo animals

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Some people believe that animals should only ever be free in the wild, however numerous studies have shown that captive animals live longer and are happier than their wild counterparts. Animals are achieving new age benchmarks when zoos provide them with suitable group care in enhanced facilities that mirror their native habitats.

Zookeepers are heart broken when animals pass away

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Most people who work at zoos are very devoted to their jobs and treat the animals as if they were their own. They spend their days with them, give them names, and treat them like family, so it makes sense that the most difficult part is grieving over one that has died.