LisaAnnOKane
Tampa, FL
Female, 32
During my zookeeping and environmental education career, I have interacted and worked with a variety of animals, including brown bears, wolverines, red foxes, moose, camels, mountain goats, dolphins, sea lions, raccoons, porcupines, snakes, raptors and ravens. I am also a young adult author, and my debut novel ESSENCE was released in June 2014 by Strange Chemistry Books. Ask me anything!
Dogs definitely have a great sense of smell, but you're right. There are many other members of the animal kingdom whose senses of smell is just as good, if not better. Therefore, trainability is certainly a huge factor in our decision to use dogs as service animals.
Some other powerful sniffers are horses, cows, mice, rats and opossums (just to name a few). And the reputed best sniffer in the world is the African elephant. Definitely don't want those tramping down the airport security lines!
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Hi Taite! This definitely varies quite a lot from university to university, not just country to country. However, in general, the education you receive will translate fairly easily from place to place, as you will be studying broad concepts like chemistry, biology, psychology, etc. You will learn about the specific practices of each animal care facility further down the line when you begin your internships and such.
Best of luck to you!
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Hi Animal_lover! Animals do not have the same rights people do, but they do have rights. You can learn more about the rights of animals in human care by visiting the websites for their governing bodies. The two organizations most animals in American zoos and aquariums fall under are the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (https://www.aza.org) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (http://www.ammpa.org).
Also, I believe it is a risk factor to let people feed animals in human care unless these activities are strictly monitored. In almost all zoos and aquariums where patrons are given the opportunity to feed the animals, these portions are rationed out and provided as enrichment to the animals--not as the entirety of their diets. Once these "treats" have run out, they won't be provided again until the next day.
I hope this is helpful, and have a wonderful day!
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Hi Elena, I hate to admit it, but I know almost nothing about marine invertebrates like jellyfish, starfish, crustaceans and anemones. I know they're awesome; just don't ask me how their biological processes work! ;)
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Hi Emma! This is definitely the Catch-22 of animal training, but the good news is that almost all zoos will accept internship experience for this. The majority of internships are seasonal, unpaid and 40+ hours per week, so they are definitely a big time/financial commitment. However, they are often the foot in the door you need to later snag a paid position--whether at that particular zoo or elsewhere. Many places even actively recruit their interns at the end of their internships if they have openings. Definitely worth the temporary sacrifice if you can swing it!
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Hi Milan, you are typically not hired to be an animal trainer unless you have a cohesive understanding of the principles of animal training as well as experience working with animals. (These could be domestic or exotic animals, but exotic experience is always a plus.) Most animal trainers begin their careers by volunteering in zoos, aquariums or vet hospitals while they are in school, and then they become interns and/or apprentices before finally working their way up to becoming animal trainers after they graduate.
Once they finally become trainers, they still typically shadow other trainers while they get used to their specific animals. Then, slowly but surely, they begin their own training sessions.
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Hi Potato, and thanks so much for the question. The best part for me--hands down--is the relationships I have been able to form with the animals in my care. Outsiders don't often realize animals have preferences for different keepers just like we have preferences for different animals. To me, there is no better feeling in the world than when an animal you love "chooses you," too.
The worst part, unfortunately, is the salary. You have to be prepared to sacrifice a LOT in order to work as a zookeeper in the long-term. Either that, or you need to work a second job or rely on some financial support from your spouse or family.
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