Employees who work in wildlife conservation create and maintain safe habitats for wildlife while also preserving endangered species. Those interested in a career in wildlife conservation can often find work at animal preservation sites and organizations. A wildlife conservationist might work as a zoo associate or animal curator, or as a litigation director or regional outreach coordinator in courtrooms or offices.
One of the more well-known wildlife conservation jobs is that of a zoo associate, who educates the public about the animals on display at a zoo. The associate informs the public about the population statistics, natural habitats, and feeding habits of the animals. An associate also makes sure that exhibits are clean, secure, and safe for both guests and animals. An associate’s other responsibilities include monitoring animals for illness, enforcing zoo rules, and assisting with exhibit set-up. A zoo associate must have an outgoing personality and basic customer service experience to work in this position; some positions may also require related education.
Those interested in a career in wildlife conservation should look into becoming an animal curator. A curator’s responsibilities include overseeing a zoo’s grounds, plant collections, and animal exhibits. A curator also oversees each conservation project and contributes to scientific research papers on exotic animal captivity. Records management, humane programs, and specimen acquisition are some of the other responsibilities that may be assigned. An advanced degree in a related field is usually required to work as a curator.
A litigation director aids animal conservation advocacy campaigns and typically requires at least 10 years of experience in conservation litigation as well as a law degree. The director addresses global warming issues, protects nature for people and animals, and develops arguments to help the industry advance its conservation efforts. A conservation litigation director might also set up outreach programs with other conservation organizations and recruit other lawyers to help with fundraising and donations.
A regional outreach coordinator is one of the more public wildlife conservation jobs. A person in this position is involved in conservation efforts such as combating global warming and developing wildlife preservation campaigns. The coordinator is frequently involved in planning wildlife restoration and environmental conservation advocacy campaigns, as well as media outreach and lobbying elected officials. A college diploma and five years of activist recruitment, media outreach, or other related experience are typically required for this position. In addition to strong writing and public speaking skills, a successful regional outreach coordinator may also have strong writing and public speaking skills.