Staff Pattern in a Zoo
Large zoos have in general more departments and more employees with staff pattern in addition to more number of wild animals and wild animal species, unlike the small or min zoos.
Director
Director of the zoo is the executive and a chief person in any zoo. Min job is to expose the activity to every one, the public, the zoo society and to the government level.
Management plan is prepared actively by the zoo director about various issues prevailing in the zoos. Master plan is also prepared in a detailed manner.
Various group of personnel like range officer, forester, animal keepers, veterinarians , administrative staff etc. are closely associated with the provision of required inputs for the up keeping of zoo and it becomes a team work with a director as a chief person.
Deputy Director and Assistant Director
Deputy director helps directly the Director of the zoo in the routine management of zoo and Assistant Director assists the Deputy director in this regard.
Generally both the Deputy Director and Assistant Director are responsible for the public affair and maintenance of the zoo in particular. They assume much of the burden for the day-to-day function of the Director.
Range Officer
Range officer looks after the wild animals in their range under control. They actively associate with any activities pertaining to the care of wild animals falling in their range.
Range Officer apprise to the higher officials about the welfare measures required for the up keeping of the health status in the wild animals. Administrative activities are being assisted in a systematic manner.
Animal Keeper
The animal keepers are entrusted with the cleanliness of cages, enclosures, animal houses, moats, their surroundings including removal of excreta, removing of weeds and bushes. They are involved with discouraging of teasing activities by the visiting persons or public. Tigers, lion tailed macaques, hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees etc. are the frequently teased wild animal species.
Reports on any damage to the structure of enclosure or cage are immediately made by these persons to the concerned range officers or other officials when they are visiting the enclosures, cages etc.
Reports about anorectic wild animals or finding of wound on the wild animal’s body or any kind of visible sickness condition is immediately reported to the veterinarian in particular.
They generally ensure that no materials remain in the animals vicinity that are likely to hurt the wild animal maintained under captive conditions like wire bits, mesh, ropes, plastic materials, sharp pieces, nails etc.
Security of the cages or enclosures are given more priority by these group of personnel and they need to offer assistance during the treatment of wild animals by the zoo veterinarian and it is an accepted one that animal keepers are familiar with the habits and vices of the wild animals that are under direct care in the cages or enclosures.
Animal Keeper offer information associated with birth, death, abnormality if any like intensive vomiting, diarrhoea etc.
Veterinary Officer (Veterinarian)
Health and Disease management are given utmost priorities by the zoo veterinarian in general. Technical suggestions need to be offered with regard to the management of health and diseases in case of the captive wild animals belonging to various species.
Veterinarians in the zoos have multitasks in general. Director will be assisted in the fields of health and disease management effectively.
