Is it possible for a 17 year old to get a job at the zoo working with animals?
This will depend on what country you are in, and which animals you want to work with. Here in the UK, you can work in a zoo at 16, but you cannot work with certain dangerous species until you are 18. You should be able to work with birds at 17. However, getting a job as a zookeeper is difficult – it’s a job many people want, and competition is fierce. I’d recommend volunteering at your local zoo – this will not only get your foot in the door, so to speak, but also give you a good idea of what the job entails, and some experience working with animals. Most zoos are more interested in experience with animals than in qualifications – I used to be a zookeeper and got the job without any qualifications other than G.C.S.E.s. Having higher qualifications is no guarantee of getting the job (my boss told me he’s had people come in with degrees who didn’t know which end an elephant craps out of!), and not having them is no guarantee you won’t get the job. You also need to be able to work hard, n
