Zoo Keeper
どうぶつえんしいくいん
Industry & Occupation
Classification
Summary
Specialized profession that provides daily care for animals in zoos, maintains exhibition environments, manages health and breeding, and provides explanations to visitors.
Description
Zoo keepers perform daily feeding, cleaning and disinfection, health observation, and record management for diverse animals such as elephants, giraffes, carnivores, birds, etc. They plan and implement breeding programs, breeding management through individual identification, and environmental enrichment through behavior observation. They also provide exhibit explanations and operate educational programs for visitors, and collaborate with veterinarians and researchers on health management and disease prevention.
Future Outlook
Job openings are stable with the recovery of visitor numbers post-COVID-19. Interest in animal welfare and educational outreach is increasing, boosting demand for keepers with specialized knowledge. Expansion is expected in involvement with endangered species conservation and environmental preservation activities.
Personality Traits
Excellent observation skills / Has animal welfare spirit / Has cooperativeness / Has patience / Strong sense of responsibility
Work Style
Holidays and National Holidays Work / Night and Early Morning Duties / Outdoor Work / Shift / Team Work
Career Path
Keeper Assistant → General Keeper → Chief Keeper → Keeper Section Chief / Division Chief → Zoo Management (Department Head / Director) → Curator / Education Outreach Staff
Required Skills
Animal Health Management / Breeding Management / Cleaning and Disinfection of Husbandry Environment / Feeding
Recommended Skills
Animal Ethology / Basic Veterinary Knowledge / Environmental Enrichment / Exhibit Explanation (Foreign Language)
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Adaptability | The ability to flexibly respond to weather changes and unexpected animal behaviors is necessary. |
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Attention to detail is necessary to detect animals' health conditions and minor abnormalities. |
| Communication Skills | Because sharing information and providing exhibit explanations to visitors and team members is required. |
| Learning Agility & Knowledge Acquisition | Because it is necessary to continuously learn the habits and husbandry techniques of various animal species. |
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Because there are many physically demanding tasks such as cleaning and feeding. |
| Problem Solving | The ability to quickly respond to and resolve changes in animal behavior or health problems is required. |
| Collaboration & Teamwork | Because work is conducted in collaboration with veterinarians and the husbandry team. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Numerical & Quantitative Analysis | Because the focus is on observation and record management rather than advanced mathematical analysis. |
Related Qualifications
- Animal Handling Manager
- Animal Nurse
- Companion Animal Breeding Manager
Aliases
- Zoo Keeper
Related Jobs
- Animal Nurse
- Aquarium Keeper
- Veterinarian