Ask a Zookeeper and Animal Trainer anything

167 Questions

Last Answer on September 18, 2015

If an animal escaped, who do you contact or report the problem to?(Etc. Immediate manager, health and safety officer, police)

Asked by Chelsea almost 12 years ago

Hi Chelsea! I assume this question is piggy-backing on your last question about animal escapes. Since I have already answered what an employee would do in this situation, I will expand and say that if a zoo guest ever sees an escape, he/she should tell whichever employee is the closest to him/her--whether that employee is a gardener, a custodian, a camp counselor, etc. All employees are trained to deal with emergency situations, so those people will know exactly how to make sure the proper authorities receive the alert.

829 Votes

I need to ask an elephant trainer a few questions for a Middle School report, can you help me or direct me in the right direction?

Asked by Rissa over 11 years ago

Hi Rissa! I have never personally worked with elephants, but a few of my good friends have. Shoot me an email at lisaannokane(at)outlook(dot)com, and I will hook you up with one for your report!

823 Votes

Do you ever get protesters at your zoo? Like PETA or other groups who think zoos should be banned?

Asked by Bethanne almost 12 years ago

Hi Bethanne, I actually haven't ever experienced this. I'm sure it still happens, but I think the public is much more educated about the role of zoos and aquariums in the United States than they ever have been before. Gone are the days when people associate accredited zoos with crumbling, road-side circus attractions, and I think that's because the public finally understands the importance of zoos as educational, research and conservation entities.

The public is also way more aware that accredited zoos don't actually go out in the wild and harvest perfectly healthy animals; we simply serve as a home for animals that have been deemed... Read More +

823 Votes

When an animal escapes, what would you say to the owner of the animal if appropriate?

Asked by Chelsea almost 12 years ago

I'm not certain I know how to accurately answer this question, as each animal is typically owned by the zoo from which it escapes--with a few exceptions for breeding loans, etc. Also, each animal is generally apprehended before too much time passes, so it is almost never necessary to report an escape to an outside owner.

If, for some reason, a breeder loan animal (or other outside animal) either went missing or was forced to be put down during an escape, there would typically be a clause in that animal's loan contract that would detail how the receiving zoo would respond to this--whether it is a no-fault situation, a situation... Read More +

823 Votes

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Hi there; are you able to define enrichment tools used to enhance the well-being of animals in zoos? And, what are some tools used to manage undesirable behaviour in zoos? How can the zoo keeper access the effectiveness of these tools?

Asked by CAT over 11 years ago

Hi again, CAT! The sky is practically the limit with enrichment--as long as the items used are found to be safe. Depending on the species, you can use balls, boxes, buckets, containers, empty kegs, ropes, nets, bells, newspaper, treats... The list goes on and on. If you are looking for ideas, Disney's Animal Programs has a great website with species-specific suggestions: http://www.animalenrichment.org

Undesirable behavior is typically addressed through training--though this varies greatly, depending on the specific behavior. Effectiveness measures also vary greatly depending on the... Read More +

815 Votes

What happens when an animal doesn't adapt well to a zoo setting?

Thank you for answering our questions! You have helped us a lot!

Asked by Burnett Bulldogs about 11 years ago

Hi again, Bulldogs! It often takes an animal a little while to adjust to its new environment, so zookeepers are very patient. They also take great care to make the environment as "interesting" as possible so the animal has many opportunities for mental and physical stimulation.

If it seems like an animal isn't responding well to its environment, they will work hard to adapt their behavioral management plans to provide new opportunities for the animal. They may even combine certain species together (if possible) to provide companionship if the animal is the only one of its kind.

If these methods still don't work, zoos may... Read More +

812 Votes

I practically grew up on the farm, but my real dream is to become a Zookeeper. I live in the Orlando area, do you know if the Zoos/Aquariums in the area allow volunteers? If so, how can I get involved?

Asked by Laura over 11 years ago

Hi Laura! Most for-profit organizations are not allowed to have volunteers, so your best bet would be to look for a non-profit zoo/aquarium in the Orlando area. Off the top of my head, I know the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford accepts volunteers. I would recommend visiiting their website to see what their specific requirements are. Best of luck to you!

811 Votes

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Zookeeper and Animal Trainer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If an animal escaped, who do you contact or report the problem to?(Etc. Immediate manager, health and safety officer, police)

I need to ask an elephant trainer a few questions for a Middle School report, can you help me or direct me in the right direction?

Do you ever get protesters at your zoo? Like PETA or other groups who think zoos should be banned?

When an animal escapes, what would you say to the owner of the animal if appropriate?

Also on Jobstr...

Hi there; are you able to define enrichment tools used to enhance the well-being of animals in zoos? And, what are some tools used to manage undesirable behaviour in zoos? How can the zoo keeper access the effectiveness of these tools?

What happens when an animal doesn't adapt well to a zoo setting?

Thank you for answering our questions! You have helped us a lot!

I practically grew up on the farm, but my real dream is to become a Zookeeper. I live in the Orlando area, do you know if the Zoos/Aquariums in the area allow volunteers? If so, how can I get involved?

Zookeeper and Animal Trainer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If an animal escaped, who do you contact or report the problem to?(Etc. Immediate manager, health and safety officer, police)

I need to ask an elephant trainer a few questions for a Middle School report, can you help me or direct me in the right direction?

Do you ever get protesters at your zoo? Like PETA or other groups who think zoos should be banned?

When an animal escapes, what would you say to the owner of the animal if appropriate?

Also on Jobstr...

Hi there; are you able to define enrichment tools used to enhance the well-being of animals in zoos? And, what are some tools used to manage undesirable behaviour in zoos? How can the zoo keeper access the effectiveness of these tools?

What happens when an animal doesn't adapt well to a zoo setting? Thank you for answering our questions! You have helped us a lot!

I practically grew up on the farm, but my real dream is to become a Zookeeper. I live in the Orlando area, do you know if the Zoos/Aquariums in the area allow volunteers? If so, how can I get involved?

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What happens when an animal doesn't adapt well to a zoo setting?

Thank you for answering our questions! You have helped us a lot!