Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Animal keeper
Recognized by ordinance of 3 July 2003 ( BGBl. I, p. 1093)

Duration of traineeship

Three years
The venues for training are company and part-time vocational school (Berufsschule).
From the third year of training, training takes place in one of the following three specialist areas:
- Research and clinic
- Zoo
- Animal homes and boarding facilities

Field of activity

Animal keepers work in zoos, animal parks, aquariums and terrariums, research and investigation facilities, animal clinics and veterinary practices, animal homes, boarding facilities, animal schools and other facilities which deal with the care, keeping, raising and training of animals.

Occupational skills

Animal keepers carry out their work independently, taking into account animal, species, nature and environmental protection, safety and health protection on the job and business practices. They · care for and look after animals
· recognise and take into account the systematics, anatomy, physiology and the behaviour of animals
· fit out, clean, disinfect, and maintain animal accommodations
· set up specific facilities
· transport animals
· recognise and prevent illnesses
· cooperate in the treatment of animals
· communicate with internal and external customers
· carry out quality assurance measures.
In the Research and Clinic speciality they
· breed and care for, among others, hygienically and genetically defined animals
· select and apply appropriate techniques
· carry out measures for maintaining the hygiene status
· cooperate in experiments
· apply the rules of good laboratory practice.
In the Zoo speciality they
· classify, feed, water and care for animals
· breed and raise wild animals and endangered domestic breeds of animals
· cooperate in the planning and fitting-out of zoo-specific facilities
· occupy animals with regard to behavioural enrichment
· look after groups of visitors and inform them about animals living in the zoo.
In the Animal home and boarding facility speciality they
· water, feed and care for animals
· raise and train animals
· look after visitors and groups of visitors
· advise visitors and customers on the acquisition and care of animals
· carry out commercial and administrative work  

Last modified on: December 12, 2006