Animal Keeper

• Cares for exotic mammals, birds, and reptiles (including venomous varieties) at the Los Angeles Zoo
• Observes and reports on animal behavior and condition for illnesses, compatibility, imminent birth and other signs reflecting the animal's well-being
• Prepares food for animals as instructed
• Maintains the exhibit premises in a clean and aesthetically pleasing manner
• Answers questions about animals from the general public
• May make educational and other presentations before groups, and on radio and television
• May provide training and supervision to volunteers and students in caring for animals

• The equivalent of one year of full-time paid experience (2,080 hours) in the care and maintenance of exotic animals with a facility similar to the Los Angeles Zoo whose core function is the exhibition of a variety of exotic animals
• Successful completion of the Animal Keeper Training program conducted by the Los Angeles Zoo
• An equivalent program at an accredited school or college providing classroom and field work on the basic structure and function of exotic animals
• basic nutritional requirements
• recognition of the symptoms of animal diseases
• sanitation measures
• and aspects of animal behavior
• A valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• Must be available to work weekends and holidays

• Six months of full-time paid experience in the care of reptiles, amphibians, fish and/or invertebrate, including hands–on work or training in working with venomous and/or poisonous species
• Six months of full-time paid experience in training birds for free-flight behaviors and/or falconry experience
• Six months of full-time paid experience in the care of exotic birds, including experience with propagation, artificial incubation of eggs and/or hand-rearing of chicks
• Six months of full-time paid experience working with and/or training African and/or Asian elephants
• Six months of full-time paid experience in designing and refining enrichment furniture/devices for exotic animals
• Six months of full-time paid experience or one year of part-time paid experience as a Nutrition Center or Commissary keeper

Employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment