Animal Keeper; Emergency Appointment

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SCHEDULE
Five (5) days a week between Sunday and Saturday;
Regular days off will vary per position
Hours vary between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
* Please confirm prior to accepting a position as schedules may change at any time for operational needs.
LOCATION Los Angeles Zoo – 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
DUTIES / JOB DESCRIPTION
These positions will fill 5-day ape keeper vacancies in the Ape/Old World Monkeys section. They
require candidates with strong commitment to working with a team of keepers and supervisors in the
best interests of the needs of the animals in this section. In addition, strong training background is
desired, as training for husbandry and medical management is essential to provide the best possible
care to the animals. As 5-day ape keeper in this section you will work primarily with the chimpanzees,
but will also be trained on the Gibbon, African Primate, Gorilla, and Orangutan strings, and will be
scheduled if needed throughout the section.
The ideal candidates would exhibit qualities such as being effective team member, while also being
proficient in working independently with proper time management. Effective communicator is a must
with seniors, keepers and veterinarian staff verbally, on ZIMS, reports and emails. Candidates would
be expected to understand approaches in operant conditioning, enrichment, animal welfare
evaluations, and general and specialized animal husbandry. Identifying, collecting, and processing
browse is an essential duty of this position.

REQUIREMENTS / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. The equivalent of one year of full-time paid experience (2,080 hours) in the care and maintenance
of exotic animals with a facility similar to the Los Angeles Zoo whose core function is the exhibition
of a variety of exotic animals; or
2. (a) Successful completion of the Animal Keeper Training program conducted by the Los Angeles
Zoo; or
(b) An equivalent program at an accredited school or college providing classroom and field work
on the basic structure and function of exotic animals; basic nutritional requirements; recognition
of the symptoms of animal diseases; sanitation measures; and aspects of animal behavior.

$57,378.24 - $83,812.32 annually

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should email an updated resume or a completed City application to
lazoo.personnel and the subject line must include:

“EMG ANIMAL KEEPER (APES/OWM) APPLICATION.”

Resumes and/or applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, or until
sufficient applications have been received.