Zookeepers are essentially personnel who manage and maintain the animals kept in zoos as well as their surrounding environment. This job entails keeping the enclosures clean, feeding the animals regularly and monitoring the health of each animal to ensure maximum comfort. In the event of any sickness or injury, zookeepers are duty bound to take immediate care of these animals. They have to keep a keen eye on all the animals in the zoo including keeping note of their eating habits and any abnormalities in their behaviour. The job of a zookeeper is a 365 day, 7 days a week job as the animal can never be neglected. Therefore, there is a huge responsibility imparted on zookeepers.

One of the most prominent zookeepers in the world was Steve Irwin. He was raised by conservationists and that is what urged him to become the zookeeper he was. He maintained the Australian zoo and enlarged the scope of a zookeeper. It no longer became just about caring for animals and their well-being but also about using education about these animals as a means to encourage conservation of species. Steve Irwin used his fame and TV success to encourage people to learn more about wildlife and instil in them a feeling of empathy towards these animals. He strongly condemned poaching of wild animals and promoted the protection and preservation of native and endangered species. He encouraged people to treat animals with kindness. He was as outspoken in his support of considerate ecotourism as he was in his condemnation of illegal poaching and the purchase of products made from endangered species. Steve's message of "Conservation through exciting education" is achieved everyday within the zoo.

It is clear from the life of Steve Irwin, that the responsibility of a zookeeper is no longer just confined to attending the basic needs of the animals. It is not enough to merely keep their enclosures clean or regularly feed and bathe them. It is important to give these wild animals a voice by advocating for their protection and security, their right to cruelty free existence and protect them from being exploited as a consequence of human greed and Selfishness.

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Zookeepers are essentially personnel who manage and maintain the animals kept in zoos as well as their surrounding environment. This job entails keeping the enclosures clean, feeding the animals regularly and monitoring the health of each animal to ensure maximum comfort. In the event of any sickness or injury, zookeepers are duty bound to take immediate care of these animals. They have to keep a keen eye on all the animals in the zoo including keeping note of their eating habits and any abnormalities in their behaviour. The job of a zookeeper is a 365 day, 7 days a week job as the animal can never be neglected. Therefore, there is a huge responsibility imparted on zookeepers.

One of the most prominent zookeepers in the world was Steve Irwin. He was raised by conservationists and that is what urged him to become the zookeeper he was. He maintained the Australian zoo and enlarged the scope of a zookeeper. It no longer became just about caring for animals and their well-being but also about using education about these animals as a means to encourage conservation of species. Steve Irwin used his fame and TV success to encourage people to learn more about wildlife and instil in them a feeling of empathy towards these animals. He strongly condemned poaching of wild animals and promoted the protection and preservation of native and endangered species. He encouraged people to treat animals with kindness. He was as outspoken in his support of considerate ecotourism as he was in his condemnation of illegal poaching and the purchase of products made from endangered species. Steve's message of "Conservation through exciting education" is achieved everyday within the zoo.

It is clear from the life of Steve Irwin, that the responsibility of a zookeeper is no longer just confined to attending the basic needs of the animals. It is not enough to merely keep their enclosures clean or regularly feed and bathe them. It is important to give these wild animals a voice by advocating for their protection and security, their right to cruelty free existence and protect them from being exploited as a consequence of human greed and Selfishness.

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