Many people think that being a zookeeper is the best job possible. You get to work with and care for amazing animals. What’s not to love? However, there are only so many zoos in the world, and only so many zookeeper jobs. These jobs can involve a lot more than a daily handshake with a friendly gorilla. They can involve understanding animal behavior, following specific rules for animal care, and lots and lots of cleaning up after them.

Since there are more would-be zookeepers than zookeeper jobs available, it’s important to start working toward getting your ideal zookeeper job as soon as possible. If you live in a major city, it’s quite likely you have a zoo where you can volunteer. If you don’t, then work on volunteering at humane shelters, or look for private wildlife reservations where you can volunteer.

Often zoos welcome volunteers in their early teens, though jobs with more responsibility may be held for kids who are 16 years or older. Some zoos offer one week summer camps to train those who would like to be zookeepers. If you can’t work at a zoo close to your home, consider saving up for one of these camps. Volunteering and experience with animals is an essential quality for getting hired at a zoo.

Even before middle school and high school, begin studying and reading everything you can about wildlife. Subscribe to a few quality wildlife magazines, such as Nature. Also work hard in science classes and speech courses. As a zookeeper you will need to have a good background in animal science, but you may also need to make presentations to visitors to the zoo, so good speaking skills are a must.

There are few colleges that offer degrees in zookeeping, and in the US, there are only four. College study to become a zookeeper should focus on animal science, zoology, marine biology, if you are interested in aquatic parks, and animal behavior and psychology. You might even want to ask a nearby zoo what qualities they look for in employees, and what type of employees they hire. This can help you direct your choice of college toward the schools best geared toward helping you fulfill your dream of becoming a zookeeper.

While in college, don’t forget to keep volunteering at zoos or shelters. In fact, you may want to choose a college close to a major zoo, so you can get impressive volunteer credentials and superior training.

In addition to lots of experience and a good education, a zookeeper must be physically fit. Your job will not involve a lot of sitting, so keep yourself in good shape, and practice some weight lifting. When feeding animals or cleaning cages, you may be required to lift as much as 50 pounds (22.67 kg) on a regular basis.

Be prepared to work flexible hours. Zookeepers often work every day of the week, and may work a swing shift or midnight shift, since animals need around the clock care.

You should be able to work well on your own, but also work well in a team. Zookeeper is a general term for many different types of jobs in a zoo. Some zookeepers are specialists in animal behavior, others are nutritionists, and some are veterinarians. Other support staff members round out the team. As a zookeeper you will need to maintain good relationships with everyone on the team so the animals get the best possible care.