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zoo-curator/references/skills.md
2026-08-14 16:42:32 +02:00

5.3 KiB

Competences — zoo curator

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/1c948509-4015-40b0-b380-105fc85782a5).

Essential

  • administer treatment to animals (skill/competence)
  • advise on animal purchase (skill/competence)
  • anatomy of animals (knowledge)
  • animal acquisition (knowledge)
  • animal breeding programmes (knowledge)
  • animal evolution (knowledge)
  • animal welfare legislation (knowledge)
  • applied zoology (knowledge)
  • assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together (skill/competence)
  • budgetary principles (knowledge)
  • chair a meeting (skill/competence)
  • coordinate events (skill/competence)
  • corporate social responsibility (knowledge)
  • develop recreation programmes (skill/competence)
  • develop zoonotic disease control policies (skill/competence)
  • ensure health and safety of staff (skill/competence)
  • ensure health and safety of visitors (skill/competence)
  • environmental legislation (knowledge)
  • establish daily priorities (skill/competence)
  • fix meetings (skill/competence)
  • follow company standards (skill/competence)
  • liaise with local authorities (skill/competence)
  • maintain catalogue collection (skill/competence)
  • maintain professional records (skill/competence)
  • manage budgets (skill/competence)
  • manage logistics (skill/competence)
  • manage recreational facility (skill/competence)
  • manage staff (skill/competence)
  • manage supplies (skill/competence)
  • manage teamwork (skill/competence)
  • manage zoo staff (skill/competence)
  • organise zoological exhibitions (skill/competence)
  • oversee animal management (skill/competence)
  • perform project management (skill/competence)
  • physiology of animals (knowledge)
  • promote recreation activities (skill/competence)
  • read zoo reports (skill/competence)
  • recreation activities (knowledge)
  • represent the organisation (skill/competence)
  • schedule recreation facilities (skill/competence)
  • set organisational policies (skill/competence)
  • speak different languages (skill/competence)
  • supervise daily information operations (skill/competence)
  • work effectively with animal-related organisations (skill/competence)
  • zoo regulations (knowledge)

Optional

  • analyse transportation costs (skill/competence)
  • animal transport regulations (knowledge)
  • breed reptiles (skill/competence)
  • coordinate export transportation activities (skill/competence)
  • coordinate import transportation activities (skill/competence)
  • create safe working protocols (skill/competence)
  • liaise with transportation companies (skill/competence)
  • prepare transportation routes (skill/competence)
  • solve operational transport problems (skill/competence)
  • speak about your work in public (skill/competence)
  • study a collection (skill/competence)
  • zoo exhibit design (knowledge)

Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 5 ads, as of 2026-07-20)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

Hard skills

  • animal care — 80 %
  • record keeping — 60 %
  • behavioral management — 40 %
  • husbandry — 40 %
  • herd management — 20 %
  • enrichment — 20 %
  • enrichment program development — 20 %
  • life support system maintenance — 20 %
  • breeding programs — 20 %
  • budget preparation — 20 %
  • animal training — 20 %
  • collection planning — 20 %
  • collections management — 20 %
  • conservation education — 20 %
  • elephant management — 20 %
  • restraint techniques — 20 %
  • program development — 20 %
  • staff evaluation — 20 %
  • staff training — 20 %
  • training — 20 %
  • veterinary assistance — 20 %
  • water quality monitoring — 20 %
  • zoological research — 20 %

Methods

  • AZA standards — 60 %
  • operant conditioning — 40 %
  • positive reinforcement training — 40 %
  • USDA standards — 40 %
  • protected contact environment — 20 %
  • welfare assessments — 20 %
  • AZA accreditation — 20 %
  • emergency weapons team protocols — 20 %

Responsibilities

  • animal welfare evaluation — 40 %
  • health monitoring — 40 %
  • safety inspection — 40 %
  • staff training — 40 %
  • supervising animal care programs — 20 %
  • team leadership — 20 %
  • water quality maintenance — 20 %
  • record maintenance — 20 %
  • research facilitation — 20 %
  • protocol maintenance — 20 %
  • program development — 20 %
  • enrichment program creation — 20 %
  • hiring and training staff — 20 %
  • keeper staff oversight — 20 %
  • monitoring job performance — 20 %
  • natural history research — 20 %
  • life support system operation — 20 %
  • maintaining holding areas — 20 %
  • managing employee issues — 20 %
  • medical care assistance — 20 %
  • assisting veterinary staff — 20 %
  • animal care — 20 %
  • collection maintenance — 20 %
  • collection plan assistance — 20 %
  • conservation education — 20 %
  • coordinating safety efforts — 20 %
  • daily husbandry — 20 %
  • data documentation — 20 %