Day in the life of
Zoologist – Charli Burbidge
For most of the day, we are field-based, which means this is not the type of office work. When I was a young zoologist, I took lots of time following and observe the action, behavior, and habit of animals (horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, etc). My place of work sometimes is based in the place where the animals live. Following their daily habit like how they react when fed, what do they like during training sessions, what are the differences in the behavior of different dogs breeds, etc.
We also need to spend some time doing a report and working with the data that we collect through the time to find patterns, straits, and sometimes, make a specific report for a specific pet if our client requires it. We also need to continuously update with the latest research of the academia on the animals and pets behavior, or different diseases treatment, which would help us during our work a lot. Some of the days we will go on a special field trip in which we can observe the animals in the connection with others, and see the reaction to compare with their natural habitat. I also work with vets specializing in different fields to discuss different cases as each animal/pet has its own characteristics, besides the species/breeds.
Pros
Working as a professional zoologist gives me a chance to increase my empathy and love for all creatures on earth, not only humans but animals and plants. It gives me a sense of responsibility to live more eco-friendly as I understand we are sharing a home with many other creatures. Nature is also a healing environment to be in, and working in this environment is a perk to me. I apply the ethic training of being a zoologist into my daily life and would like to pass it to my children also.
Cons
There are difficulties working as a zoologist, such as sometimes it is dangerous to deal with such situations, or there are some strange diseases of animals which might be dangerous for humans and we might be the first ones to get it. I also need to continuously develop my physical strength as the job requires much of it. The working environment is not always peaceful, especially when the animals are angry. However, at the end of the day, the passion for the job and the ethical responsibility of being a zoologist keeps me going. I know I bring values to the community and I am happy with that.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.