Jobs
at the Zoo
It takes lots of people with many different skills to run a zoo. Take a look at some of the jobs and people that make it all happen, and learn how you can get a job like that!
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Mechanic
We’re the mechanics who maintain and repair the tour buses, elevators, moving sidewalks, and Skyfari aerial tram ride at the San Diego Zoo, and the Africa Tram Safari and Caravan Safari vehicles at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We also work on any other equipment with wheels and/or a motor.
Zoo Keeper
We feed and provide for the general care and welfare of assigned exhibit animals (either mammals, reptiles, or birds).
Horticulturist
We take care of all the plants and the trees at the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park. The plants are here for decoration, for education, and for the animals as shade, shelter, or food. Some of us trim the trees, and some make sure the irrigation system is always working to provide our plants with water.
Photographer
We take pictures and videos of the animals and plants in our collection, as well as events and construction of new exhibits.
Nutritionist
We support animal health as we research and provide diets for the many different animals at the Zoo and Safari Park.
Veterinarian
We’re the medical team for the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Animal Park. Our veterinarians diagnose and treat illness, and conduct physical examinations on healthy animals as part of our preventative medical program.
Lab Technician
Those of us who work in the laboratories at the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park perform diagnostic tests on blood, feces, urine, and other fluid samples taken from the animals.
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Yvette Kemp
Yvette Kemp is a hospital keeper at the Zoo. She has worked at the San Diego Zoo since 1993, and while she started in the Education department, she says she always knew she wanted to work with animals.
Janet Hawes
Janet Hawes is a nursery keeper in the Children's Zoo. She has worked for the San Diego Zoo for 31 years, and has cared for many baby animals whose mothers could not take care of them.
Peggy Sexton
Can you imagine taking care of 21 different species of animals? That's what Peggy Sexton does! She has worked at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for 34 years, and as a mammal keeper, now supervises 10 other keepers who care for all those species of animals.
Mark Freeland
If you have taught your dog to "sit" or shake hands, then you know a little bit about what Mark does every day. He is a senior animal trainer and has worked at the Zoo for 24 years.
Rick Schwartz
Rick's job is to share information about the wonderful animals and plants of the Zoo and Safari Park with everyone he meets—in person, on TV, and on the Web. He was a senior keeper at the Zoo before becoming Ambassador. Rick has worked for the Zoo for over 10 years. During that time, he has worked with so many animals that it's hard to pick just one favorite!
Jane Kennedy
Jane Kennedy has worked at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for 26 years. She is a lead keeper at the Safari Park, and she is also a board member (vice-president) of the International Rhino Keeper Association.
Pat Witman
In her 32 years working for San Diego Zoo Global, Pat has worked as a bird keeper for 17 years and has performed her duties at both the Zoo and the Safari Park. She has been the manager at the APC for 15 years.