Job Description
Position Summary:
The Animal Keeper is responsible for the daily care and husbandry of both marine and terrestrial animal species, supporting Senior Keepers in ensuring the health, welfare, and enrichment of a diverse animal collection. This position plays a key role in maintaining a clean, safe, and stimulating environment while assisting with training, enrichment, and educational programs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Animal Care and Husbandry:
- Provide daily feeding, cleaning, and enrichment for both marine and terrestrial animals as assigned.
- Monitor animal health, behavior, and environmental conditions, reporting any concerns promptly to senior keepers.
- Support senior keepers in carrying out specialized care routines (e.g., water quality checks, tank maintenance, terrestrial enclosure upkeep).
- Assist in safe and proper handling, restraint, and transport of animals as required.
Support Senior Keepers:
- Help implement enrichment plans, training sessions, and behavioral observations under the guidance of senior keepers.
- Participate in the execution of medical and preventative care procedures, ensuring adherence to veterinary protocols.
- Collect and maintain accurate records on feeding, behavior, health, and habitat conditions.
- Collaborate on projects such as exhibit improvements, species-specific research, and breeding programs.
Safety and Facility Maintenance:
- Maintain the cleanliness of all animal areas, including aquariums, tanks, and terrestrial habitats.
- Conduct routine inspections of habitats and life support systems, reporting issues to senior staff.
- Follow safety protocols for working in aquatic environments, including water quality monitoring and diving (if trained and certified).
Visitor Engagement and Education:
- Engage with visitors to answer questions and share information about marine and terrestrial species.
- Support public presentations, feeding demonstrations, or educational talks under senior keeper supervision.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, marine biology, or a related field required.
- Minimum 1 year of experience in animal care, including some experience with both marine (e.g., fish, invertebrates, small mammals) and terrestrial animals.
- Strong interest in supporting senior keepers in daily tasks, learning from their expertise, and developing skills in both marine and terrestrial husbandry.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Physically able to perform strenuous tasks in various weather and environmental conditions.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with water quality monitoring, life support systems, or diving certifications (e.g., SCUBA) is a plus.
- Basic knowledge of behavioral enrichment and training techniques.
Working Conditions:
- May involve working in and around water, climbing, lifting, and exposure to potentially dangerous animals.
- Required to work weekends, holidays, and evenings as scheduled.
Job Tags
Full time, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,