Zoo Keeper II en City of Alexandria, LA

About the Department

The purpose of this classification is to perform skilled work in the care of exotic zoo animals, including large cats, and the maintenance of zoo grounds and facilities. This is an intermediate-level position that emphasizes direct care of animals in addition to manual work functions; individuals in this class will have a high degree of interaction with the visiting public as well as direct contact with the animals. Individuals in this position will need a solid understanding of species specific behaviors and communication and the ability to interpret the meaning for the individual animals under their care. This position needs a working understanding of behavioral husbandry and the ability to build behaviors from new behaviors to maintenance behaviors. An understanding of the AZA and USDA rules and regulations under which the zoo operates and their meaning towards animal care and welfare is important.

Position Duties

Maintains the health and welfare of zoo animals: provides fresh food daily, preparing special diets for animal groups; provides sufficient water; assists in administering prescribed medications; inspects animals daily to ensure security and proper enclosure; and remains alert to any illness, abnormal behavior, physical conditions, and aggressive or potentially dangerous tendencies and reports these to a supervisor.

Maintains emotional and situational awareness and understands its impact on duties in terms of dealing with exotic animals. 

Creates and provides daily physical and psychological environmental enrichment for different species. 

Provides daily training sessions to continue with maintained behaviors for individual animals while learning to create cues and behaviors to obtain species specific behaviors. 

Provides information and assistance to the visiting public: answers questions about animals and exhibits; and assists in special events and educational programs including set up and take down as well as supervision of participants.

Responds to emergency situations: assists in the capture and restraint of wild animals which may or may not be sedated; and acts as a first responder if the public or the animals are harmed.

Performs general cleaning and maintenance of animal exhibits: removes and disposes of unconsumed food, manure, refuse, etc.; sweeps, rakes, hoses, and disinfects exhibits; and cleans feed troughs, bowls, and containers. 

Maintains exhibit materials: waters plants and flowers in and around exhibits; installs limbs and nesting or bedding materials; and cleans and maintains perches, nest boxes, props and decorative materials.

Performs grounds keeping and general cleaning tasks:  Mows grass, trims hedges, rakes leaves, sweeps sidewalks, picks up litter, tends flower beds; cleans restrooms and replenishes restroom supplies.

Assists with the transport of animals to and from the airport or other zoos.

Handles, prepares, and/or maintains the appropriate paperwork necessary to the functions of this position: records and files keeper daily reports, animal medical records, animal enrichment records and animal feeding charts; and records time sheets and community service records.

Minimum Qualifications

Documented or proven leadership skills and abilities. Documented expertise with a species or taxon relevant to job duties. AZA experience is preferred. 

Education shall include one of the following:  A.S. degree in one of the life sciences with at least five (5) years of full-time, paid experience working with animals in an accredited institution;