Career Options as a Zoo Nutritionist

Career Options as a Zoo NutritionistCareer Options as a Zoo NutritionistZoo nutritionists are responsible for managing the dietary requirements of exotic animals kept in tierparks. Duties Zoo nutritionists oversee all aspects of nutritional management for a wide variety of animals kept in the zoo environment. They are responsible for designing diets for hundreds of species, ensuring that each animal consumes a well-balanced ration with the proper caloric content. They also make adjustments to the rations of animals needing to gain or lose weight, those that are pregnant or lactating, animals that have been ill, or new animals that are transitioning into the zoos dietary program. This process involves keeping nutritional records, monitoring diet consumption, monitoring weight changes, and reviewing diets periodically to ensure that all needs are being met. As a parte of their management role, zoo nutritionists must supervise zoo commissary keepers as they prepare, assemble, and d istribute rations. They also must work closely with other staff members such as the zoo veterinarian, zoo veterinary technicians, and zookeepers to monitor animal health. Zoo nutritionists are tasked with ensuring that food safety procedures are in place, with special attention focused on proper food storage and handling. They also are responsible for ordering ration ingredients and evaluating purchased items to be sure they are fresh and of a high quality. Budgeting and cost analysis may also be one of their responsibilities tied to the ordering process. At some facilities, zoo nutritionists may be involved with conducting and publishing nutrition-related research. Career Options Zoo nutritionists can also find work in other animal nutrition roles including research and development for pet or livestock feed. They can also transition into zoo management roles. Education Training A graduate degree in nutrition, animal science, biology, or a closely related area is required f or employment as a zoo nutritionist. A Ph.D. degree is mandatory for most positions in this field. Zoo nutritionists must have excellent communication skills, leadership ability, and strong organizational skills. Record keeping is a critical element of this position, so the candidate should be extremely detail oriented. Computer literacy is also very important, as most record keeping and nutritional analysis are managed digitally. Zoo internships, wildlife rehabilitation internships, and animal nutrition internships can help an aspiring zoo nutritionist to gain valuable practical experience working with exotic animals. Salary Compensation for professionals in this role can vary widely based on the nutritionists level of education, years of experience, and the funding available to the zoo where they work. While specific data on the niche of zoo nutritionists is not readily available due to the limited number of available positions in this field, most animal nutritionists earn a s olid salary. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) cited an average annual wage for all food scientists of $58,610 ($28.18 per hour) in the most recent salary survey of 2012. The BLS research data also indicated that those specifically employed as animal dietitians and nutritionists earned an average salary of just over $50,000 per year in 2012. Indeed.com cited a similar average salary ($55,000 per year) for animal nutritionists in 2011. SimplyHired also cited an average salary of $61,000 per year for animal nutritionists in 2011. Career Outlook There are very few zoo nutritionists, so finding a position in this field can be quite challenging. Only large zoos in major metropolitan areas tend to be able to keep a full-time zoo nutritionist on staff, though the number of positions is slowly increasing each year. A few zoos (like the National Zoo in Washington D.C.) have multiple zoo nutritionists on staff. Candidates with a Ph.D. degree and significant experience with exotic a nimals will continue to enjoy the best job prospects in the field.