Animal Keeper Associate: Savannah

About the Role & Team

Walt Disney's legacy of caring for animals and the environment is a way of life for Disney Experiences and our Guests. Disney's Animals, Science and Environment team's mission is to lead Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to CARE for animals and the environment, CONNECT people to nature and CONSERVE our natural resources.

We are looking for an Animal Keeper Associate to join the Savannah team. You will work closely with fellow keepers to assist in the care, well-being, management, behavioral conditioning, and enrichment of our Savannah collection of animals within the operation of the Kilimanjaro Safari.

African species of focus may include, but is not limited to, large and small ungulates, carnivores, zebra, white rhino, giraffe, warthog, flamingo, and / or ostrich.

This is a full-time, hourly position, reporting to the Savannah Zoological Managers.

What You Will Do

• Keepers are responsible for the day-to-day animal care and welfare. This includes husbandry, enrichment, and operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management and research of assigned species
• Ensure the daily routines of cleaning, animal observation, diet preparation and reporting medical needs or abnormal conditions to Zoological Managers
• Maintain daily records, collecting and logging information, and ensuring this information is communicated to management and the central animal record keeping system
• The work includes physical labor in ambient outdoor temperatures and weather conditions in Central Florida, which may include extreme heat and humidity
• Provide animal information and conservation messages through guest and cast interaction.
• Keepers must work well in a large team environment
• Partner with maintenance, operation managers, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators, and scientists
• Savannah keepers keep a flexible schedule, working a variety of shifts including early morning start times (5AM) or late evening ending times, as necessary to support Safari operation hours

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Minimum of one-year paid animal husbandry experience in an AZA accredited facility or institution with comparable standards OR a t least two years of verifiable college course work (60 semester hours)
• Experience working with a variety of African species, including but not limited to, large and small ungulates, carnivores, equids
• Experience with different taxa with an emphasis on operant conditioning
• Observation, evaluation and data collecting skills
• Experience applying operant conditioning techniques in the field.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role including lifting manure, moving doors, and carrying heavy objects (bales of hay, feed bags, etc.)
• Guest service skills
• Must meet all requirements to promote our premium guest experiences

Preferred Qualifications

Experience or knowledge of hoof care and hoof conditions.

Education

Bachelor's or Associate's Degree in Zoology or related field preferred

Perks