Chimpanzees in Australia Zoo? » Australia Zoo

15-04-2008

Taronga zoo looks like a nice place to work but the houses around there cost between $500,000- $600,000. Zookeepers make that much money in around 12 years!!! And i dont think i meet the requirements to work there.

What are the requirements to become a Zoo Keeper at Taronga Zoo?

Certificate III in Captive Animal Management (or equivalent), or the ability to enrol in the course.
Knowledge and experience in captive husbandry and exhibit design.
Knowledge of animal training and conditioning practices.
Demonstrated customer service ethos.
Demonstrated presentation and communication skills
Hold a current NSW Class C Drivers Licence.
Hold or have the ability to gain a Class A&B Firearms Licence
Other specific criteria dependent on the role.

I havent heard about Monarto zoo before i think ill research it!

15-04-2008

You are basically just a cleaner, long hours, low pay to pick up doo doo. You get very little time to actually interact with the animals. I get much better animal contact as a researcher, and when I finish my PhD my pay will be considerably more, and I get far better opportunities.

Having said I won't be a keeper, I actually do look after the colony of capuchins I am now studying, I am essentially their keeper, and boy do I whinge having to get up early, and for no pay!

Your first step is talk about becoming a volunteer with Perth, if you are very lucky you might get to do some actual volunteer keeping and then you can decide if it is worth what you have to do to try to get a keeping job. But in the meantime think of alternative jobs, because as ZooPro has said, the number of people who want to be keepers for the jobs that are available is huge.

If you want to move to Renmark you can always volunteer for me, then I can come in after the morning feed at stupid o'clock!

15-04-2008

Monarto is one of my research locations, have a look by all means but don't get your hopes up for a position there on chimps, it will be filled by existing staff.

15-04-2008

There must be a different Taronga that I don't know about. Houses around Taronga Zoo in Sydney start at around the $1.5 - 2 million mark! You wouldn't even get a garage for $500,000!

15-04-2008

So what does your future job involve doing all day? Are you in a lab doing scientific tests or ar you just out in natural habitats of animals recording notes on them? And when you say more pay how much money do you think you will get paid a year? And is there a University in Western Australia that would give me oppurtunities to do research on primates like you?

15-04-2008

HOLY CRAP.. Probablly takes the keepers a 3 hour drive to get to work,

15-04-2008

So what does your future job involve doing all day? Are you in a lab doing scientific tests or ar you just out in natural habitats of animals recording notes on them? And when you say more pay how much money do you think you will get paid a year? And is there a University in Western Australia that would give me oppurtunities to do research on primates like you?

15-04-2008

I'm a cognitive and behavioural researcher, right now I do experiments with zoo primates. So I spend a crazy amount of time thinking about the right way to collect data, go have some fun doing the experiments (when it works that is) then go spend more time writing it all up.

A PhD graduate can be expected to get about 55,000 P/A. That is after doing a bachelor degree, a year doing honours and another 3 years doing the PhD. That might sound like a lot, but I have been going between destitute and the poverty line for many years to get here.

You will need to look up what UniWA has to offer for courses, you need to do zoology or psych or a combination of both before you will get any chance to do research. Assuming of course you are suitable for research, while I am no Einstein clone I am bloody good at research, and there are very few people who have what it takes. I got where I am because I can combine initiative with opportunity and hard work.

You need to go do some research on your own about what is available to you, it is all there on the net.

15-04-2008

That sounds like a good job. But is the 7 years in University worth it. And how much did it cost you to pay for University all up. Oh and can you please explain in more detail what you do? It sounds really intresting! Like do you stay outside the exhibit of the animals and write down notes on them or do you go inside and contact with them and write down how they behave towards you and there environment and stuff.

Whats the actual name of the job your doing? Primate Behavioural Researcher??

15-04-2008

go here and have a look AARCG Homepage, I have a ton of marking to get finished so have to concentrate on that right now.

15-04-2008

ha ha - i was about to say the same thing. $500,000 won't even buy you a terrace in inner city melbourne these days let alone a place in the glitzy harbor-viewed suburb of mosman!

when i was living in cremorne point, i went on a date with girl from mosman i met at a bus stop. old money, private-school educated, friends with the howards... yes, those howards. suffice to say we never called eachother again.

15-04-2008

Ok sorry for that. But before you get backed to marking whats the name of you job? Primate Behaviour Person?? I dunno XD.

15-04-2008

Please reply to my previous question once your done. Thank you!

15-04-2008

There really isn't one job title, depending on what day it is I am a comparative psychologist, zoologist, primatologist, it varies.

Kalxok is an interesting name, where does it come from?

15-04-2008

kalxok, you want to work with chimps? Sounds like you just want to hang around with your relatives all day!

And as for Mosman, Taronga's location; it's obvious that having a zoo there hasn't stopped it being one of Sydney's most prestigious (and expensive!) suburbs. (The giraffes have billionaire's views. Wonder if they vote liberal?)