Animal Care Keeper - Wildlife Connections

Description

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Animal Care Keeper is responsible for providing the highest quality daily care, husbandry, and behavioral advancement of a defined portion of The Living Desert’s (TLD) animal residents and habitats.

The Animal Care Department is expected to support the Zoo in its mission “to support desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.” The team embraces a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture. The Animal Care team is a strong, cohesive team working to deliver uncompromising excellence in animal care, welfare, and guest engagement while working for the greater good of the zoo and its mission.

A TLD Animal Care Keeper is an example to others while working towards an improved future and shared vision within our organization. This position educates, engages, and provides exemplary guest service connections for all Zoo guests and internal programs. Each Animal Care Keeper is encouraged to lead from where they are, bring innovative ideas forward and provide a high level of well-being for each individual in their care.

The Wildlife Connections keeper oversees a diverse range of animals located throughout the zoo and supports the Animal Department’s culture of providing conservation connections with our guests through demonstrating the natural behaviors of the animals. The connection animals are comprised of a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. This team member should foster enthusiasm, demonstrate strong guest engagement skills, have an energetic presence, and can work in a fast-paced environment.

Wildlife Connections keepers demonstrate exceptional public speaking and performance skills to conduct both formal and informal presentations throughout the park. This is a key guest interactive position that requires creativity and the confidence to inspire guests through a revised and modern approach.

Job description is a summary of the typical duties of the role, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and dutie
s.

• Must represent The Living Desert in a professional manner
• General knowledge of zoological animal husbandry, natural history, and observational skills
• Ability to use critical thinking skills to trouble shoot issues and reveal solutions to move the animal team forward
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and remain levelheaded in emergency situations
• Keep accurate and detailed records of daily observations of area animals containing information regarding behavior, meal intake, fecal output, behavior, health, weight, breeding, aggression, behavioral enrichment, capture/restraint, prescribed medical treatments
• Attend and participate in team meetings to discuss the needs of the animal residents, resolve challenges, and learn new procedures and policies
• Contribute and maintain a safe, positive, and productive workplace environment for animals, guests, and team members

• Diet/meal preparation, feeding and restocking of feed supplies as needed and as prescribed
• Daily cleaning and general maintenance of animal habitats, service areas, holding units, and support areas utilizing various tools, instruments, disinfectants; and with the ability to do so safely
• As assigned, assist with medical treatments such as prescribed medication/treatments, weighing/measuring, surgery, hand injections, restraint/capture of animals, prepare & administer any required medications &/or supplements, collect fecal, urine & other samples as requested by the veterinarian
• Continue education on the animal residents; research scientific journals, create environments that induce breeding and welfare goals and recommended habitat design options

• Participates with daily behavioral husbandry, operant conditioning, and enriching experiences of the animal collection
• Condition behaviors for animal management and welfare advancement, and educational programming according to accepted training culture

• Ability to provide and accept feedback professionally and effectively
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability…