Animal Keeper Skills

There are various skills keepers need to learn and perfect through the course of their careers. It takes a lot of experience to become a good animal keeper.

Everything a keeper does in their working day has a direct affect on the animals in their care. One ‘bad day’ at work can have serious consequences, so keeping staff must be continually alert and aware.

Knowledge

Building up a complete knowledge of the species you work with is essential. A general knowledge of anatomy and psychology of each species is highly advantageous and can help a keeper predict how an animal will behave in different situations.

An understanding of your own body language and the affects it can have on the animals around you is also very important in minimising problems. Many species feel threatened by direct eye contact; others become stressed by sudden movements, noises or even a change in routine.

Observation

Along with good background knowledge of their charges observational skills are key, subtle changes in animal behaviours can indicate a problem, the sooner a keeper can tune into these changes the quicker they can act and pre-empt any problems.

Communication

It is essential that keepers relay information to senior staff either by talking or documenting what they see.

Animal keepers are constantly being watched by visitors, from when the Park opens at 10am until the visitors leave the keepers are constantly ‘on show’. At any given time they could be asked a question, be it directional advice, “where are the nearest toilets?” Curiosity “what are you doing now?” Behavioural “what’s that animal doing?” Personal, “how old is that animal, what’s his name, where does he come from?” A good keeper knows all the answers; a great keeper knows all the answers and can still continue working whilst explaining, (multi tasking yet another skill!)

Education

On a more serious note keepers are an invaluable resource for talking to and educating visitors, many give informative talks both to visitors and school groups.

Want to Help?

A visit to the Cotswold Wildlife Park can now be even more worthwhile. By adopting an animal, you can provide a helpful contribution towards the costs of keeping and feeding the animals and supporting our conservation breeding programmes... click here for more information