Be A Zookeeper For A Day! Trivia Quiz

Answer:

The zookeeper is almost a "master chef" for the animals! They must follow the rules of the nutritionalist and carefully weigh out the ingredients. This could be vegetables or fruit or meat or even things like dead rats. They sometimes have to hide medicine or vitamins in the food to keep the animal healthy. They must also, for some animals, go pick fresh leaves and branches.

The zookeeper is a "safety officer" in their daily job. They must make sure the workers know all the rules. For instance, even shutting a gate requires pulling on it, shaking it, and having a second person look at it. The zookeeper must teach guests not to crawl over railings or to try to feed animals human food. They must do safety drills (like a fire drill at school) occasionally so everyone is prepared in case of an emergency.

A zookeeper spends much of their time doing "mucking" which is cleaning and collecting animal poop. They don't just throw the poop away, though. They inspect it first to make sure there are no strange bugs or things that might mean the animal is sick. The animal has been moved to a different area so the zookeeper can then clean up the enclosure with high pressure hoses and big shovels. They then take the pile of poop to a big compost pile where it will turn into great fertilizer for the zoo plants!

Zookeepers must make sure that the animals are not bored and are challenged like they would be in the wild. To do this, the zookeepers create enrichment activities. They will make food harder to get so the animal has to work for its meal (for instance, they would put a piece of meat up high so a tiger has to jump). Zookeepers will spray different scents around the area so the animal has to use its nose. They will rearrange the enclosure or add fun things (like a swing) so the animal has something new. And sometimes they will put two animals species (who would get along in the wild) together so they make a new friend or two.

Zookeepers must record things that happen in their zoo in a Daily Log. Most zookeepers use a special computer program called ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System) that lets zookeepers around the world see what is happening. They record the different animals' three "E"s which are Eating, Elimination (poo), and Energy. They also write down any medical events that occurred that day as well as if there was anything unique in the animal behavior. When they record all this important information, they can finally head home.

Zookeepers speak to the public every day. And it's not just because they are friendly. This is a great way to teach people about the importance of animals and how to help with conservation efforts to keep animal species alive in the wild. Zookeepers will tell interesting facts about animals or explain away myths (for example, bats are not blind). They will answer questions and try to inspire people to come back to the zoo and to tell others about what they have learned.

A zookeeper is often a "Super Nurse" when an animal has to be treated by a veterinarian. First, they will help hold or restrain the animal so it will be safe while it is being treated. Secondly, zookeepers know the animals very well so they will talk to the vet and tell him all about what has been happening and why the animal is not feeling well. They will also train the animal to do things that help in a vet checkup (for instance, teach the animal to open its mouth so its teeth can be checked). They also have to make sure they learn the medicines and vitamins the animal will need in its food.

Target training is basically the "secret language" zookeepers use to talk to animals and they do this every day. The "target" is usually a long pole with a tennis ball or brightly colored foam on the end. The goal is simple: the animal must touch its nose or paw to that ball. If they do, the zookeeper uses a clicker or whistle to let the animal know it did good. A treat is also handed out. This way, a huge animal like a rhino or elephant will follow the target and move when instructed. It's not a funny trick; instead, it's a way to interact with the animal.

Zookeepers are also pool scientists when they deal with animals in enclosures with pools. They must use kits to test the water and make sure it has the right amount of acid or alkaline in it. They must make sure the water is the right temperature for the animal. Some creatures like freezing water and others just need cool water. They double check that the pumps and pipes are working and the water is flowing and not standing still (which can bring on bacteria). They also must scrub the pool area to get rid of algae and slime.

The "Morning Check" is the most important 30 minutes of a zookeeper's day. It happens the very second they arrive and usually before guests show up at the zoo. Just like school attendance, zookeepers check to make sure every animal is there and looking healthy. They also check the food that was left at night and make sure the animal is eating as expected. Finally they double-check the enclosure and ensure everything looks safe and fun for the animal.

Zookeepers cannot take the animals home for many reasons. First of all, these are wild animals and not pets. Some animals can pass sickness to humans or other animals (so a house cat might accidently pass on a germ to a rare monkey). The animals themselves might not be safe in a human's house. And, on top of all that, it is illegal.

Major surgery on animals is almost always done by a special veterinarian and not the zookeeper.

Since zookeepers are very busy, zoos hire people like Food Service Members to work the concession stands and sell people popcorn and ice cream.

The Guest Services team are usually the people who run the ticket stands and greet people at the front of the zoo while the zookeeper is very busy. They will take tickets, help people become members, and pass out maps.

Zookeepers want animals to be ambassadors for their species, not actors performing tricks for entertainment. They focus on natural behaviors (like a cheetah running or a bird flying) instead of things an animal would not do in the wild.