When quarantine started, I began watching The Zoo on Animal Planet because I needed something calming and not stressful to watch. The show takes place at the Bronx Zoo and takes you behind the scenes of the exhibits and how they take care of the animals.
I watched a lot of the episodes, and still do, and thought to myself that being a zoo keeper would be pretty cool. I mean, you get to hang out with animals all day and take care of them.
I’m definitely not qualified at all to become a zoo keeper. I’d have to go back to school because I don’t think my two degrees in communication would benefit me at all when it comes to tending for animals.
However, I do have a list of animals I’d like to work with. I don’t know how a zoo keeper is assigned to the animals—maybe some sort of seniority or if you have a background that specializes in one type of animal—BUT I wouldn’t want to work with anything that could kill me or any sort of reptile—they freak me out.
Animals I’d Like to Work With
- Red pandas
- Penguins
- Seals and sea lions
- Giraffes
- Sloths
- Lemurs
- Otters
Animals I Wouldn’t Want to Work With
- Lions
- Tigers
- Bears (oh my!)
- Rhinos
- Alligators and crocodiles
- Snakes
- Spiders
There’s a very, very slim chance I’d ever become a zoo keeper, but it’s kinda of fun to imagine myself in a completely different profession. I think another aspect I like about it is that you’re not behind a desk all day. You’re up and walking around, feeding the animals, taking care of the exhibits, and training the animals. I don’t think I could handle, though, if the animal got hurt or sick or passed away, but I know that’s what happens. I also like that the Bronx Zoo focuses on conservation and trying to protect species of animals, especially endangered ones.
So, we’ll see. Maybe one day I’ll just want to do a complete 180 and work in a zoo. I’ll keep ya guys updated.
What’s one job you’d want to have, even if you have no experience in that field?
I could see you giving the penguins a tour of the zoo after hours. Reptiles aren’t so bad. I’ve held a turtle and gecko before, they were cool. Unrelated: I’ve also held a crab. They like to dig in with their claws even when it looks like they aren’t moving.
A job I’d want without having any experience would be to work behind the scenes for a TV show as a writer, director, or something else.
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Yes, I’d so give the penguins tours!!
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Love this! My cousin is a Marine Biologist and growing up I thought she had the coolest job in the world. She’s about 15 years older than me so she’d take us younger cousins backstage at the local zoo she worked at and let us meet her animals. She’s worked at zoos in a bunch of different states now.
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That’s awesome!
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I have this thought every time I watch We Bought a Zoo.
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I haven’t watched that movie before. I’ll add it to my list because it’s obviously necessary if I want to work in a zoo.
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It’s decent and heartwarming. Fantastic soundtrack.
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You didn’t mention the grunt work of cleaning cages. Could you do that, too?
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Ah, good point. I could maybe do it for smaller animals (because I do clean up after my dogs outside and my cat’s litter box) but the bigger animals and the bigger exhibits would be a lot. I think I could suck it up though; maybe do a quick clean at the end of each day so not everything piles up, plus it would make it safer for the animal.
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