The Living Desert - Animal Care Keeper - Rhino Savanna

Position Summary:

The Rhino Savanna is a four-acre, multi-species habitat that is home to a young breeding pair of black rhinos as well as waterbuck, springbok, and a variety of bird species. Additionally, the Rhino Savanna team provides care for our dwarf mongoose, banded mongoose, naked mole rats, addax, camels, and a herd of goats. The Rhino Savanna keeper will participate in animal husbandry, training, habitat renovation, staff training, and medical procedures for the animals of the Rhino Savanna.  

The Animal Care Keeper is an energetic front-line staff position responsible for providing the highest quality daily care, husbandry, and behavioral management of a defined portion of The Living Desert’s (TLD) animal residents and is responsible for the daily care of assigned animal habitats and other associated animal facilities.

The Animal Care team is expected to support the Zoo in its mission “to support desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.” The team will help the Zoo achieve a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture.

A TLD animal care keeper is an example to others while working towards an improved future and shared vision within TLD. This position educates, engages, and provides exemplary guest service experiences for all Zoo guests through various programs, activities and continuous guest interaction as outlined by Animal management. Each Animal Care Keeper is encouraged to lead from where they are, bring innovative ideas forward and provide a high level of well-being for each individual.

This person must have the ability to make good decisions regarding the wellbeing of animals, staff and guests while working for the greater good of the zoo. This person will support the Zoo in our mission “to support desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation” and will help the Zoo achieve a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture. This person must be a cooperative and collaborative team member with a great guest service attitude.

Job description is a summary of the typical duties of the role, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Animal Care Keeper Tasks, Duties & Responsibilities:

General:

• Must represent The Living Desert in a professional manner, and act accordingly at all times.
• General knowledge of zoo animal husbandry, natural history, and observational skills
• Ability to use critical thinking skills to trouble shoot issues and reveal solutions to move the animal team forward.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and remain levelheaded in emergency situations.
• Keep accurate and detailed records of daily observations of area animals residents containing information regarding behavior, diet intake, fecal output, behavior, health, weight, breeding, aggression, behavioral enrichment, capture/restraint, prescribed medical treatments in-house.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings to discuss the needs of the animal residents and animal staff, resolve challenges, and learn new procedures and policies.
• Familiar with USDA and AZA regulations and comply with them.
• Contribute and maintain a safe, positive, and productive workplace environment for animals, guests, and staff.
• Maintain accurate timecards and approve them in a timely manner.
• Must check emails regularly and respond in a timely manner including but not limited to surveys and questionnaires.
• Provides assistance to other departments as needed.
• Other related responsibilities as necessary to accomplish department objectives.

Behavior:

• Participates with the daily behavioral husbandry, operant conditioning, and enriching experiences of animal collection.
• Work with animal residents on a one-to-one basis to train behaviors for animal management and educational programming according to accepted training protocols
• Responsible for completing well-being assessments and always striving to increase animal well-being. May be responsible for completing quality of life assessments and participating in euthanasia discussions.

Communication:

• Able to be honest and forthcoming about abilities with Animal Care leadership.
• Must bring animal well-being concerns to management with proposed suggestions for improvements.
• Able to professionally articulate thoughts, ideas and suggestions to Animal Care leadership.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to accurately report daily information written, orally and with computer programs.
• Motivated, self-starter who can work with minimal supervision. Should also be able to work with others in a team setting.
• Able to establish and maintain effective and professional working relations with co-workers and other department personnel, and to do so in accordance with The Living Desert Employee Handbook
• Communication skills for effective working relationships with all Zoo staff and outside professionals. Courteous with guests, staff and volunteers at all times while representing the institution at the highest standard of professionalism.
• Ability to professionally and effectively provide and accept feedback.
• Ability to record and articulate observations intelligently.
• Ability to give and comprehend written and oral instructions, and to accurately carry out such instructions.

Guest Engagement:

• Maintain assigned areas and holding spaces to ensure animal, keeper, and guest safety, and are in good appearance paying attention to detail for guest viewing at all times.
• Excellent guests service and communication skills for effective & engaging public speaking; Gives knowledgeable and engaging tour/talks for guests, staff, and donors.
• Participate in guest education programs on or off-site, formal, and informal animal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled and impromptu keeper talks and provide accurate, effective, and engaging presentations; Assist Animal Care Curator or Director of Animal Care with development of educational material.
• Assist other departments (i.e., Development/Marketing, Social Media, Special Events, and Education) in their duties by providing educational, animal programs or appearances for the media, promotional events, donors, or on/off-site events, as assigned by Animal Care Management
• Ability to speak to guests, donors, staff and zoo campers to provide animal presentations both informally and formally.
• Provide engaging behind the scenes experiences for guests, donors, zoo camp, team members, colleagues or any other group requested by management.

Husbandry:

• Perform cleaning and maintenance of assigned habitats and make minor repairs when needed.
• Diet/meal preparation, feeding and restocking of feed supplies as needed and as prescribed.
• Daily observation of animal collection for injury, illness, aggression, stress, breeding activity, diet intake and fecal consistency.
• Daily cleaning of animal enclosures, service areas, holding spaces, and support areas utilizing various tools, instruments, disinfectants; and with the ability to do so safely.
• General maintenance of habitats, service/support areas and holding units such as: fence/enclosure repair, furniture, mister system, automatic drinkers, shade cloth, fill holes, etc. Complete monthly containment checks on enclosures.
• Capture and restraint of animals for shipping/loading or routine/non-routine medical procedures; captures animals by hand-injection, hand, net, catch pole, or by corralling them under direction of Area Animal Care Curator or Director of Animal Care
• As assigned, assist Veterinary Care Services with medical treatments such as prescribed medication/treatments, weighing/measuring, surgery, hand injections, restraint/capture of animals, prepare & administer any required medications, vaccinations &/or supplements, collect fecal, urine & other samples as requested by the veterinarian.
• Research the animal collection; research scientific journals, observe and recognize a variety of courtship behaviors; create environments that induce breeding where appropriate and recommended design options.
• Monitor the incubation process of eggs and/or hand rearing of neonates as necessary; keep appropriate records.
• Recognize signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests as directed.
• Ability to enter accurately animal daily reports using in-house computer ZIMS program.
• Must have strong organizational, observational, and time management skills.
• Responsible for care of supplies, resources and zoo property.
• Responsible for maintaining a clean and tidy workspace including but not limited to common areas, desk areas and restrooms.

Safety:

• Ability to work with potentially dangerous animals under the Two Key/Two Lock/Two Keeper and Lock Out Tag Out Engineering Control systems
• Must be capable of emergency response handling to avoid injury to self, others, and animals.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in the event of an unpredictable situation and follow through until situation is over.
• Must actively participate in required training exercise drills and debriefs.
• Follow direction of leadership and vet care teams in procedures and emergencies.

Qualifications:

• AA, AS or higher degree in Zoology, Biology, Animal Science, or other related degree and at least one year of exotic animal experience, preferred. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with animal training and public presentations a plus.
• Will substitute training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skill, and abilities. Generally, one year of full-time exotic animal experience will translate to one year of college.
• Valid California driver license.
• Must be insurable on The Living Desert's automobile policy.
• Covid vaccination plus one booster required.
• Annual TB test with negative reading required.

Equipment Used:

PC computer, general office equipment, telephone, radio, electric and gas cart, vehicles including medium to heavy equipment such as bobcat, tractor, pepper spray (Counter Assault Bear Deterrent), rake, shovel, wheelbarrow, catch pole, capture net, baffle board, snake hook, weight scale, garden hose, small handheld and power tools such as hammer, screwdriver, drill, wire cutters etc.

Physical Position Description:

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL TASKS: Standing, walking, twisting, climbing, crawling, kneeling, reaching motions, lifting up to 50lbs.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Exposure to extreme heat, chemicals, and dust/airborne materials. Work with potentially dangerous animals (i.e., large ungulates, carnivores, and venomous animals).

HOLIDAY WORK: Holiday and weekend work required.

TRAVEL: Occasional conference and workshop attendance available if funding available. Some or all expenses paid.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.