Zoology, part 4: The Zookeeper's Job
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- feed the animals
- clean the animals
- prepare the animal's food
- observe the animals
- clean the animal's cages, and maintain the cages
- provide enrichment for the animals
- conduct research
- provide public education
- keep records
This is not to say that the zookeeper actually does each of these jobs each day, but he does make sure that each of these jobs gets done.
Feeding the Animals
When the zookeeper prepares the animal's food, they weigh it carefully so that they can keep track of the animal's weight to ensure the animal is healthy. They also add supplements, vitamins and medicine, as needed, to the food. They write all this down on a nutrition-diet log.
Keeping the Cages Clean
Zookeepers have to clean the animal's cages every day by spraying the cages with disinfectant, scrub them with a broom that is similar to a scrub brush and then mop them dry.
Observing the Animals
Zookeepers oversee the births of new animals and pay special attention to the young animals, making sure they have no injuries. They observe every animal that is under their care every day, making sure that all the animals are getting along, checking to see that the animals are healthy and well and conducting various types of research. They keep a record of all their observations. If an animal is not well, it's their job to report it to the veterinarian and then they work hand-in-hand to provide proper medical care.
Providing Enrichment for the Animals
Zookeepers make sure that their animals are entertained. They add fun things to the exhibits such as logs, balls, ice floats, swings, tires, mirrors and rags. They also come up with improvements for the cages to make them more realistic or entertaining for the animals and for the spectators. They also train the animals so that they can be handled easier. For example, a keeper can train a Rhino to go to a cleaning station so that it will be easier to care for the animal.
Providing Public Education
Zookeepers have to provide the public with information about the animals either through shows or just through their daily work and routines. They answer questions the public might have about the animals, tell of personal experiences with the animals and inform the public about how to responsibly behave towards the animals. Depending on the layout of the zoo and the zoo's size, the zookeeper may be responsible for several different types of animals, one group of animals (such as big cats) or a whole landscape of animals (such as jungle). Luckily a zookeeper is rarely, if ever, assigned to any animal alone.
The Zookeeper Exam
Now it is time to give your students a test in order to become zookeepers for Zoology. Make your own multiple-choice exam, gearing it to the level of your students. Once they pass, you can reward them with Zoology ID cards, complete with their photos and signatures.
Sometimes you can arrange a field trip to see a zookeeper's routines personally.
books:
- Panda Math, Ann Whitehead Nagda; "Topics such as bamboo consumption, life span, and sleep habits drive the demonstrations of several clearly explained subtraction techniques, which always include a graphic aid for visual learners. Some will look in vain for a strong connection between the subtraction problem and the topics in the accompanying story."
- Chimp Math: Learning about Time from a Baby Chimpanzee, Ann Whitehead Nagda
- Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger, Ann Whitehead Nagda
- Cheetah Math: Learning About Division from Baby Cheetahs, Ann Whitehead Nagda
- Polar Bear Math: Learning About Fractions from Klondike and Snow, Ann Whitehead Nagda
related posts:
- Zoology part 1: Introduction and Living vs. Non-living
- Zoology part 2: Plants, Animals and Their Cells
- Zoology part 3: Classification of Animals
sources:
- Interact Simulations: Zooland, Grades 2–5
- Exploring Creation with Biology, Jay Wile
- Exploring Creation with Zoology series, Jeannie Fulbright
