Zookeeper Resume Examples & Templates
6 free customizable and printable Zookeeper samples and templates for 2026. Unlock unlimited access to our AI resume builder for just $9/month and elevate your job applications effortlessly. Generating your first resume is free.
Zookeeper Resume Examples and Templates
Junior Zookeeper Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Relevant hands-on experience
You show direct, recent zookeeping work at Parc Zoologique de Paris and ZooParc de Beauval. You list tasks like feeding, cleaning and medical support. That hands-on record matches core duties for a Junior Zookeeper and proves you can handle daily animal care and enclosure work.
Quantified impact and outcomes
You include measurable results such as a 25% rise in species-typical behaviours and an 8% increase in donations. Those numbers show impact from enrichment and education work. Recruiters and ATS both favour concrete outcomes tied to animal welfare and visitor engagement.
Relevant certifications and education
You list a B.Sc. in animal biology and a certified veterinary assistant diploma. Those credentials back your skills in husbandry, basic medical care and ethology. They make you a strong fit for tasks that require protocol following and veterinary assistance.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Skills section lacks tool and procedure keywords
Your skills list is solid but skips common keywords like 'biosecurity', 'CPR for animals', 'behavioral monitoring software' or specific enrichment techniques. Add precise terms from the job posting to boost ATS matches and show procedural familiarity.
Summary could be more role-focused
Your intro reads well but stays general. Tighten it to state the specific value you bring to Parc Zoologique de Paris, such as routine enclosure maintenance, enrichment program delivery and veterinary assistance. That makes your candidacy clearer at a glance.
Experience could show daily routines and safety metrics
Your experience lists outcomes but not day-to-day scope or safety data. Add items like daily feeding schedules, enclosure cleaning frequency, incident reports or biosecurity compliance rates. Those details show reliability and risk awareness for the role.
Zookeeper Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Strong measurable impact
You show clear, numbered results that prove your impact. For example, you increased foraging behavior by 42% and cut feeding errors by 85%. Those metrics match what employers look for in a zookeeper focused on welfare and operations, and they make your daily care outcomes easy to judge.
Relevant hands-on experience with large mammals
Your senior role lists direct care of elephants, giraffes and Bactrian camels for four years. You also note anesthesia support and surgical assistance. That hands-on work and clinical collaboration fits the job requirement for large mammal management and shows you can handle high-responsibility tasks.
Clear mix of enrichment and education skills
You combine enrichment design with public outreach. You mention a species-specific program and 60+ talks yearly that raised visitor satisfaction by 25%. That mix shows you improve animal welfare and engage the public, two core skills the employer asked for.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Make the summary more concise and tailored
Your intro lists strong experience but reads dense. Tighten it to two short sentences that state your years, key strengths and the value you bring to large mammal teams. That helps the hiring manager scan quickly and ties you directly to the job description.
Add technical and certification keywords
Your skills list is solid but misses some keywords ATS may expect. Add certifications, software or protocols like anesthesia monitoring, enrichment planning software, or species-specific training certificates. That boosts keyword match and helps your resume get through automated screens.
Clarify metrics origin and methods
You cite strong percentages but don't always say how you measured them. Note methods like weekly ethograms or sample size and timeframe. That makes your results more credible and helps interviewers ask better follow-up questions.
Senior Zookeeper Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Strong quantifiable impact
You show clear, measurable results across roles. For example, your enrichment program increased positive behaviors by 45%, voluntary husbandry compliance rose 60%, and supply costs fell 18%. Those numbers prove you deliver outcomes that match senior zookeeper responsibilities like welfare improvement and program evaluation.
Relevant leadership and team management
You led teams and volunteers at scale, supervising 12 keepers and 25 volunteers at San Diego. You also mentored junior staff and cut incident reports by 40%. That leadership track fits the job need for supervising keepers and running training or onboarding programs.
Clear conservation and regulatory experience
Your resume lists multi-institution breeding coordination, translocations, reintroductions, and AZA and USDA compliance work. You managed six births and two reintroductions and served as point person for inspections. Those items match the job focus on conservation initiatives and permit compliance.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Summary could be more targeted
Your intro covers strong experience but reads broad. Tighten it to name the exact leadership level you seek and two top achievements. For example, state you seek Senior Zookeeper and highlight the 45% behavior gain and six successful births to make your value immediate.
Skills section needs tool and method keywords
Your skills list reads well but lacks specific tools and methods. Add keywords like behavioral audit methods, enrichment design frameworks, animal training techniques, record systems, and permit types to boost ATS hits and show technical match for the role.
Some achievement context is missing
Several bullets show results but lack baseline or timeframe context. For example, say what audits measured the 45% increase and over what period. Add time windows and scope so hiring managers can better judge scale and sustainability of your programs.
Lead Zookeeper Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Clear leadership and team management
You show strong leadership. You supervise 14 keepers and run training in safe handling and positive reinforcement. That direct language proves you can manage staff and daily operations, which matches the Lead Zookeeper role's need to lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure safe husbandry.
Quantified animal welfare outcomes
You use clear numbers to show impact. The enrichment program reduced stereotypic behaviour by 45% and medical incidents fell 30%. Those measurable results show you improve welfare and meet the job need for demonstrable husbandry outcomes.
Relevant cross-functional collaboration
You document working with vets, education, and conservation teams to run tours and talks. You also led quarantine and translocation for 27 animals with zero post-transfer morbidity. That shows you can coordinate across functions for safe operations and public programs.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Summary could be tighter and job-focused
Your intro lists strong achievements but reads long. Tighten it to two crisp sentences that state your leadership level, core species expertise, and one key metric. That helps hiring managers see your fit for a Lead Zookeeper quickly.
Skills section lacks specific tools and certifications
You list key skills but omit certifications and technical tools. Add first aid, chemical handling, record systems, and permits you hold. Those keywords improve ATS matches and show you meet regulatory and biosecurity requirements.
Experience could include more day-to-day metrics
Your achievements read strong but lack routine KPIs like caseload, enclosure counts, or feeding schedules. Add metrics such as number of enclosures managed, daily feeding rounds, or keeper-to-animal ratios. That gives a clearer sense of operational scope.
Zookeeper Supervisor Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Relevant supervisory experience
You clearly led a team of 12 keepers at Bioparco di Roma and reduced turnover by 30%. That shows you can manage schedules, training, and performance reviews. Those points match the supervisory and staff leadership parts of the Zookeeper Supervisor role.
Quantified animal welfare impact
You use numbers to show results, like a 45% drop in stereotypic behaviours and a 20% improvement in recovery rates. Those metrics prove you improved welfare and clinical outcomes, which hiring managers for this role will look for.
Strong skills and compliance credentials
Your skills list includes enrichment design, emergency coordination, and CITES compliance. You also note translocation logistics and EU regulations. Those keywords match the job description and help with ATS screening for the Zookeeper Supervisor role.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Summary could be more targeted
Your intro lists strong abilities, but it reads broad. Tighten it to one clear value statement about supervision and welfare outcomes. Mention the Bioparco role and a top metric to hook the reader in the first two lines.
Add more procedural and leadership examples
You show outcomes, but add brief examples of protocols you designed and training modules you ran. Give one or two concrete procedures or curricula names. That helps link your experience to daily supervisor duties and staff development tasks.
Optimize format for ATS and quick scans
Your descriptions use rich HTML lists. Convert key accomplishments into short bullet lines at top of each role. Add a skills keyword section with tools and certs like first aid, zoo software, or permit numbers to improve ATS hits.
Curator of Animals Resume Example and Template
What's this resume sample doing right?
Strong quantifiable impact
You use clear numbers to show impact, like reducing stress incidents by 35% and a 22% rise in donations. Those metrics prove your decisions improved welfare and funding. Hiring managers for Curator of Animals roles will see your ability to track results and drive measurable conservation outcomes.
Relevant conservation and breeding experience
Your captive-breeding pilot for Emys orbicularis with 92% survival directly matches species management needs. You also list EEP collaboration and studbook work. That makes your background a close fit for conservation-led exhibit planning and reintroduction programs.
Clear leadership and training record
You led an 18-person cross-functional team and raised enrichment compliance to 98%. You also started staff training programs. Those points show you can manage keepers, vets, and educators for welfare and exhibit delivery.
How could we improve this resume sample?
Summary could be more targeted
Your intro lists strong achievements but stays broad. Tighten it to one sentence that states your goal for the Curator of Animals role and two core strengths, such as species management and exhibit-driven fundraising. That helps recruiters match you quickly.
Skills section lacks technical specifics
You list useful skills but miss tools and protocols that ATS looks for. Add terms like 'EEP coordination', 'biosecurity protocols', 'behavioural enrichment planning', and software used for studbooks or animal records. That boosts ATS hits and shows technical fit.
Work history could highlight leadership outcomes
Your experience shows actions and results, but some bullets read as tasks. Reword a few to start with strong verbs and tie them to outcomes. For example, change 'Authored revised biosecurity' to 'Authored biosecurity protocols, cutting cross-enclosure disease risk 50%,' to sharpen impact.
1. How to write a Zookeeper resume
Breaking into zookeeping can feel impossible when every posting asks for experience you don’t yet have. How do you prove you can care for snow leopards when you’ve only fed house cats? Hiring managers want measurable animal-care wins, not just a long list of species you’ve touched. Too many applicants pack their resume with “loves animals” and forget to show how they reduced veterinary stress or cut food costs.
This guide will help you turn volunteer feedings and part-time barn work into bullet points that get interviews. You’ll swap “fed giraffes” for “prepared 18 customized diets daily, cutting waste 12%.” We’ll shape your experience, education, and certifications so both the ATS and the curator see you’re ready for the keeper team. By the end, you’ll have a one-page resume that proves you can keep animals healthy and guests amazed.
Use the right format for a Zookeeper resume
Most keepers pick chronological. It shows steady animal-care progression. Recruiters scan it fast.
Go functional only if you’re swapping careers or have big gaps. Mix both if you’ve done short seasonal gigs. Skip fancy columns. ATS can’t read them.
- Chronological: steady zoo jobs, easy to skim.
- Functional: highlight skills over dates for gaps.
- Combination: blend skills plus short contract work.
Craft an impactful Zookeeper resume summary
A summary works if you already feed giraffes daily. It packs years, species, and one wow fact into three lines.
New to the field? Swap it for an objective. State the role you want, your animal passion, and the skills you bring.
Formula: years + main species + top skill + measurable win. Keep it under 50 words so the busy curator keeps reading.
Good resume summary example
Summary: 6-year zookeeper, hoof-stock specialist, AZA-accredited. Reduced giraffe medical stress 30% via crate training. Skilled in operant conditioning, record keeping, and guest talks.
Why this works: numbers prove impact, keywords match ATS, species and skills are named.
Bad resume summary example
Objective: I love animals and want a zookeeper job to grow and help wildlife.
Why this fails: no species, no skills, no proof. Reads like a wish list.
Highlight your Zookeeper work experience
List jobs back in time. Start each line with a verb. Show size, weight, or number of animals you handled.
Metrics beat chores. “Fed 12 lions” is dull. “Cut meat cost 18% by switching to seasonal suppliers” pops.
Use STAR: what was the Situation, Task, Action, Result? Fit it into one tight line.
Good work experience example
Trained 3 adult orangutans to present shoulder for injection; cut sedation events 40% in 6 months.
Why this works: action verb, clear numbers, welfare win.
Bad work experience example
Responsible for daily care of birds and mammals at city zoo.
Why this fails: vague scope, zero numbers, no outcome.
Present relevant education for a Zookeeper
Put school, degree, and year. New grads can add GPA if 3.5+ and list animal-related courses. Old pros keep it short.
Add AZA courses, CPR certs, or scuba here if you like. Or give certs their own line for spotlight.
Good education example
B.S. in Animal Science, University of Florida, 2019. Relevant: Animal Nutrition, Exotic Behavior. AZA Principles of Zookeeping grad, 2021.
Why this works: shows core degree plus up-to-date zoo training.
Bad education example
Studied biology at State College.
Why this fails: no dates, no detail, no proof of zoo focus.
Add essential skills for a Zookeeper resume
Technical skills for a Zookeeper resume
Soft skills for a Zookeeper resume
Include these powerful action words on your Zookeeper resume
Use these impactful action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities:
Add additional resume sections for a Zookeeper
Certifications beat hobbies. List AZA courses, scuba, or forklift tickets. Add volunteer rehab work only if animal-related.
Good example
AZA Professional Development Certificate, 2022. Completed 40 h on elephant foot care; applied knowledge to reduce lameness in 2 bulls at Grant-Little Zoo.
Why this works: shows fresh learning plus on-the-job use.
Bad example
Volunteer, local animal shelter, walked dogs.
Why this fails: not exotic species, no keeper skills shown.
2. ATS-optimized resume examples for a Zookeeper
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s the robot gatekeeper that zoo HR folks use to sort 200+ resumes before a human sees them.
If you write “critter care guru” instead of “animal husbandry,” the bot shrugs and files you in the digital trash. Your real skills never reach the hiring manager.
Beat the bot by copying exact phrases from the zoo’s posting. Use “operant conditioning,” “AZA accreditation,” “ZIMS records,” “enrichment design,” and species names like “Panthera tigris.” Sprinkle them in plain sentences under boring headers: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
- Keep layout simple: one-column, 11-pt Arial, no tables, no text boxes, no footer page numbers.
- Save as .docx unless the ad asks for PDF; some older ATS choke on fancy PDFs.
- List licenses upfront: “AZA Safe Capture Certified, 2022” and “DOT Class C driver’s license.”
Never hide keywords in a logo or sidebar—they vanish. Never swap “zookeeper” for “wildlife technician” if the ad says “zookeeper.” Bots match words, not heart.
ATS-compatible example
Skills
- Operant conditioning & target training for big cats
- ZIMS medical records entry
- AZA Species Survival Plan data collection
- Diet prep for herbivores, carnivores, piscivores
- Class C AZA Safe Capture certified
Why this works
The section uses the exact keywords the ATS scans for—no cute synonyms. One-column list keeps parsing clean, and every bullet matches language pulled from real zookeeper postings at Johnston, Kozey and Skiles.
ATS-incompatible example
Wildlife Whisperer Toolbox
| critter coaching | animal charts |
| zoo logs | dart gun ace |
Why this fails
The creative header “Wildlife Whisperer Toolbox” isn’t mapped to any standard ATS field, so the whole table gets skipped. Words like “critter coaching” don’t match the required keyword “animal husbandry,” and tables often scramble when the file is parsed at Runte-Kutch’s HR office.
3. How to format and design a Zookeeper resume
Keepers work with fur, feathers, and scales—not fussy fonts. Pick a clean, one-column template so both the hiring manager and the ATS can scan it fast.
Stick to one page unless you’ve wrangled animals for ten-plus years. White space gives tired eyes a break after a long day of cleaning enclosures.
Choose Calibri, Arial, or Georgia in 11 pt for body text and 14 pt for headings. Leave at least 0.5 inches on every side so your words don’t look caged.
Skip photos, graphs, and cute paw-print bullet points. Those extras confuse the software and can shove your resume straight into the rejection pile.
Use standard headings like Experience, Education, and Certifications. That way both humans and bots know exactly where to find your venom-handling license.
Well formatted example
Erich Kuphal
Zookeeper | Lowe, Bergnaum and Feeney
- Prepared diets for 120 exotic animals daily, cutting food waste by 18 %
- Led behavioral enrichment program that reduced stereotypic pacing in big cats by 30 %
- Collaborated with vet team to monitor health, logging 1,500+ medical observations
Why this works: Simple bullets, clear metrics, and standard headings let both recruiters and ATS pick out key facts in seconds.
Poorly formatted example
Jami Block
Senior Zookeeper
Experience: Cared for mammals, birds, reptiles. Made fun toys. Helped vets. Trained new staff. Managed records. Cleaned habitats. Fed animals. Answered guest questions. Ordered supplies. Updated protocols.
Why this fails: One giant paragraph buries the wins and exhausts the reader before they reach the good stuff.
4. Cover letter for a Zookeeper
A zookeeper cover letter is your chance to show you care about animals and can handle hard, hands-on work. Your resume lists facts; this letter tells the story of why you wake up excited to clean enclosures and train otters.
Start with a short header: your name, phone, email, date, and the zoo's address. Then jump right in. Say which keeper role you want and drop one quick fact that proves you're ready—maybe you've already bottle-fed orphaned wallabies or logged 1,000 volunteer hours at a wildlife rehab.
In one or two middle paragraphs, match your real experience to the job ad. Mention species you've worked with, diets you've prepared, record software you know (like ZIMS), and any safety certs such as AZA Principles of Elephant Management. Use numbers: “I monitor 120 reptiles daily” or “I cut food costs 15 % by switching produce suppliers.” Show soft skills too—calm under pressure, clear guest talks, smooth teamwork with vets.
- Highlight one animal-care story that ended well.
- Name the exact zoo and why its conservation mission matters to you.
- Sprinkle keywords from the posting so HR software smiles on you.
End by saying you’d love to discuss how your passion and hoof-trim skills can help their collection thrive. Thank them, sign off, and keep the whole thing to one upbeat page.
Sample a Zookeeper cover letter
Dear Hiring Team,
I am applying for the Zookeeper position posted for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. While volunteering at Safari Park last year I bottle-fed three orphaned serval kittens and logged 400 keeper hours, so I already know your safety code and animal records system.
For the past two seasons I have worked as a relief keeper at Zoo Miami, caring for 25 species of small carnivores and primates. I prepare specialized diets, train ring-tailed lemurs for voluntary radiographs, and maintain daily logs in ZIMS. Last quarter I noticed a recurring limp in a fossa; my prompt report led to early arthritis treatment and earned praise from the head vet. I also lead weekend chats that reach 200 guests, turning curiosity into conservation support.
I am excited by your new African kopje exhibit and would love to apply my enrichment ideas and operant-conditioning skills to keep your meerkats and servals healthy and engaged. I am available to start within three weeks and would welcome the chance to discuss how my experience and passion fit your team.
Sincerely,
Maria Rodriguez
5. Mistakes to avoid when writing a Zookeeper resume
Your zookeeper resume is your first chance to show you can keep both animals and visitors safe. Small errors can make a hiring manager wonder if you’ll skip steps in a feeding protocol.
Below are the slip-ups I see most often, plus quick ways to fix them so your application stays out of the reject pile.
Listing "loves animals" with no proof
Mistake: "Passionate about animals and wildlife."
Fix: Show the proof. Swap the fluff for facts: "Hand-reared three orphaned red pandas, achieving 100 % survival and re-introduction to exhibit."
Using one generic resume for every zoo
Mistake: Same resume sent to San Diego Zoo and local petting farm, mentioning only "animal care experience."
Fix: Mirror the job ad. If they ask for "Operant-conditioning with big cats," write: "Implemented daily operant-conditioning sessions for two Amur tigers, cutting veterinary-sedation events by 30 %."
Hiding your safety record
Mistake: "Responsible for keeper safety protocols."
Fix: Lead with numbers: "Zero lost-time incidents during 1,200+ carnivore shifts by creating double-gate checklist adopted park-wide."
Stuffing the page with every species you’ve touched
Mistake: A three-column list: "Lemurs, macaws, meerkats, koi, boas, giraffes, poison dart frogs..." (takes up half the page).
Fix: Group and contextualize. "Maintained daily husbandry for 45+ species in African Savannah section, focusing on mixed-species grazing dynamics."
Forgetting the ATS keywords
Mistake: "Fed critters and cleaned pens."
Fix: Use the words the computer hunts for: "Prepared species-specific diets, maintained AZA enclosure standards, recorded ZIMS medical observations."
6. FAQs about Zookeeper resumes
Whether you're feeding giraffes or training penguins, your resume needs to show you can care for creatures great and small. These FAQs and quick tips will help you build a one-page document that zoos actually want to read.
What skills should I list on a zookeeper resume?
What skills should I list on a zookeeper resume?
Lead with animal husbandry, behavioral enrichment, and operant conditioning. Add vet basics like preventative care, medication dosing, and zoonosis prevention. Don't forget people skills—public demos and keeper talks matter just as much.
How long should my zookeeper resume be?
How long should my zookeeper resume be?
How do I show animal experience if I've never worked at a zoo?
How do I show animal experience if I've never worked at a zoo?
Include every unpaid hour: wildlife rehab centers, farm sanctuaries, aquarium volunteer shifts, even reptile rescues. Note species you handled, feeding schedules you followed, and enrichment toys you built. Photos in a small portfolio link help too.
Should I add my AZA membership or other certs?
Should I add my AZA membership or other certs?
Yes—list AZA membership, CPR/First Aid, and any Species Survival Plan workshops right under education. These badges tell the curator you already speak the industry's safety language.
Pro Tips
Quantify Every Creature
Swap “fed primates” for “prepared 42 daily diets for 8 species following USDA nutrition guidelines.” Numbers show scale and precision.
Highlight Safety Stories
Mention the day you spotted early lameness in the zebra or safely shifted a venomous snake for exhibit cleaning. Brief safety wins reassure managers you won't make the evening news.
Link to a 30-Second Video
Add a QR code that opens a short clip of you giving a keeper chat or target-training a raccoon. Curators love seeing calm body language around animals before they invite you on-site.
7. Key takeaways for an outstanding Zookeeper resume
You're ready to land that zookeeper job, so let's wrap up the essentials.
Use a clean layout with clear headings so both humans and ATS can scan it fast. Lead with animal-care experience: note species handled, feeding routines, enrichment design, and any medical or breeding support. Show safety focus by listing protocols you follow and incidents you prevented. Add hard numbers—animals cared for, habitats maintained, visitors taught—to prove impact. Sprinkle keywords like “operant conditioning,” “ZIMS,” “AZA standards,” and “SCUBA certified” exactly as the posting states. Keep bullets short; start each with an action verb: “monitored,” “trained,” “recorded.”
End with a brief line about volunteer work or conservation projects; zoos love passion. Proofread twice, save as PDF, and send it off. Your dream enclosure awaits—go get it!
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