Zoo Keeper’s Training Manual
And Study Guide for Zoo Keeper’s Test
Living and Non-living Things
· Living things reproduce
· Living things grow
· Living things move
· Living things react to changes in their environment
· Living things need water
· Living things breathe
Plants and Animals
· Plants make their own food [in their leaves]
· Plants do not need to eat, so they do not have mouths
· Animals cannot make their own food, they have to eat food
· Animals need to eat, so they do have mouths
· Animals move around, they walk, run, swim, fly, slither, crawl
· Plants stay in one place, their roots hold them there
Classification of Animals [Vertebrates only]
Vertebrates have spinal cords, backbones & skeletons.
Invertebrates do not have spinal cords, backbones & skeletons.
Click on each animal group below for more details.
· MAMMALS
· REPTILES
.
· AMPHIBIANS
· FISH
· BIRDS
These 5 classes are all the vertebrates.
It is important to know the characteristics of each of these groups of animals.
Click here to learn more about all the five vertebrate groups listed above - Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Fish, and Amphibians.
More Facts About Animals
Animals have basic needs such as water, food, and protection that are
met in their natural habitat.
Animals that eat only meat are called carnivores.
Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and animals.
Animals that hunt and eat other animals are called predators and the animals that are hunted are called prey.
Sometimes animals blend in with their surroundings so they can hide. They
use this camouflage to protect themselves.
Endangered animals are in danger of becoming extinct. Extinct means there are
no more of that kind of animal left in the world.
Poachers are people that illegally hunt endangered animals.
Rules of the Zoo
· Visitors do not feed the animals.
· Visitors do not tease the animals.
· Visitors do not climb over fences.
· Visitors do not pick plants or flowers.
· Visitors do not litter.
· Visitors may not have balls, balloons, frisbees, flags, straws, skates, or
skateboards at the Zoo.
· No dogs are allowed at the Zoo.
The Zoo Keeper’s Job
Zoo keepers are responsible for the daily care of the animals; keepers feed the animals, bathe them, and clean their cages. They keep the animals safe and healthy. Zoo keepers have to be careful, observant, smart, and very hard working. It is not an easy job. Zoo keepers have to understand animals and they have to love animals!
When they are not caring for animals, keepers help other zoo workers. Keepers also help keep the whole zoo safe and clean and beautiful and they help enforce the zoo rules.
Rules That All Zoo Land Zoo Keepers
Must Follow
1. Listen and follow all directions carefully.
2. Keep the feeding and drinking dishes very clean.
3. Keep cages, food, and water clean.
4. Close and lock all animal enclosure doors.
5. Check cages, remove anything that might hurt the animals.
6. Be calm with the animals. Don’t get excited, don’t yell.
7. Be friendly to the animals, talk to them.
8. Don’t make hissing, clicking, or shrill noises near animals.
9. Observe the animals carefully to make sure they are well.
10. Report any problems to the head zoo keeper immediately.
How to Feed the Animals
The zoo curator and the zoo veterinarian decide what to feed each animal and how much food they should get, and how the food is to be prepared. The menus are written down and posted in the kitchen. It is the zoo keepers’ responsibility to feed the animals exactly what (and how much) food is written on these menus. Also some animals eat once or twice every day while other animals – like lions, tigers, and snakes - only eat once or twice a week; just like they do in the wild. Different animals eat different foods. Some eat raw meat, or live mice or fish; some eat fruits and vegetables or grass, and others eat something like dog food. So it is very important for zoo keepers to carefully check the menus every day and follow the directions exactly.
How to give medicine or vitamins
to an Animal
Be very sneaky about it. The best way is to hide the medicine or vitamins inside the animal’s favorite food.
How to Tell if an Animal is Sick or Injured
Animals cannot tell you when they are feeling bad. Wild animals hide their illnesses and injuries because in the wild predators will attack sick or injured animals as they are moving slower and are easier to catch. Zoo keepers must carefully observe the animals every day to know how they act when they are well, so they can recognize if there is a change in the animal’s behavior.
1. Does an active animal slow down, walking instead of running like usual? Does a gentle, calm, playful creature try to attack its keeper?
2. Is the animal eating less than usual? Has it lost interest in food?
3. Is the animal moving differently? Is the animal moving slower than usual?
Is there a limp? Could a foot, leg, or wing be injured?
4. Do you notice any blood on the animal or in the cage? Any swelling?
5. Do the animal’s bodily wastes look normal?
How to Keep Animals from Escaping
Animals try to escape for different reasons. It might be because they are too close to animals that are their enemies in the wild. Also animals that are new to the zoo may be afraid of people. Sometimes they try to escape because of bad living conditions such as dirty cages, or lack of a place to hide in their living place, or maybe there’s too much noise nearby that they want to escape from. If an animal keeps trying to escape it is the zoo keeper’s job to figure out why. What does the animal need that is not being provided? Each day zoo keepers must inspect animal enclosures for any signs that an animal is trying to escape such as broken fences or nets, or holes being dug near fences. And finally, zoo keepers should be friends to the animals in their care; they can talk with them, play with them, and care for them every day.