Jobs working
with animals
Jobs working with animals
You can turn your love of animals into a career. There are many rewarding jobs that allow you to work with animals, and the list is probably longer than you might expect, from field guides and conservationists to veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators. At Bushwise, our students are passionate about wildlife and animals by nature, with conservation and animal care often going hand in hand.
Starting your career with a wildlife course at Bushwise is a great way to build practical skills, deepen your knowledge, and explore where your interests could take you.
What jobs can you get that involve animals?
When you think about working with animals as a career, what kinds of jobs come to mind? You might initially think of zoos, veterinary clinics, farms, or animal shelters. These are certainly some of the more common and popular jobs involving animals, but the list is much larger than this.
Depending on your education, interests, skills and willingness to learn, many different career paths allow you to work with animals or contribute to their care, conservation and protection.
The first step is to think about the kind of work you would like to do. Are you interested in conservation, wildlife management, game management, animal care, rehabilitation, biology, agriculture, animal husbandry, hospitality or guiding? Identifying your specific interests will go a long way in helping you narrow down the wide range of careers available to you.
Do I need a degree to work with animals?
There are many ways to build a career working with animals that don't require a university degree. Some roles may require specific training or certification, while others may allow you to learn through practical experience and on-the-job training. Requirements can also vary depending on the country, employer, and type of work.
Some careers and roles that may not require a degree include:
Wildlife researcher
Naturalist
Park ranger
Wildlife tour guide
Animal shelter staff
Animal caretaker
Animal rescue technician
Pet sitter
Animal care officer
The qualifications and experience required for these roles will vary, so it's important to research the requirements for the specific career and location you're interested in.
Some careers working with animals require a degree or advanced qualification. For example, if your dream is to become a wildlife veterinarian, zoologist, research scientist or biologist, you will need to complete the relevant higher education and professional training.
Careers that may require a degree or specialised qualification include:
Animal behaviour/training specialist
Research scientist
Biologist
Wildlife veterinarian
Habitat specialist
Veterinary nurses and technicians
Zookeeper
Zoologist
Wildlife rehabilitator
Another great way to gain experience and build your career with animals is to volunteer. While you may need a degree or specialised qualification to work in some positions, you can often assist qualified professionals by volunteering your time and gaining valuable practical experience. There may also be support roles within these organisations that allow you to work around animals and alongside professionals in animal care, conservation and wildlife management.
Is working with animals dangerous?
Caution and experience are essential when working with animals, whether they're wild or domesticated. As with many careers, you'll typically start by learning from more experienced people in the field. They can teach you how to recognise animal behaviour, identify warning signs and avoid unnecessary risks or confrontations.
Respecting an animal's personal space is extremely important, whether the animal is trained or completely wild. Understanding animal behaviour and knowing when to observe from a distance are essential skills for anyone working with animals.
What is the best job for someone who loves animals?
It depends on what you're interested in doing!
You might want to work outdoors in nature, contribute to conservation and wildlife management, guide people through wild spaces, work in wildlife hospitality, care for animals or study animal behaviour. You might prefer working directly with animals, or you might be more interested in protecting their habitats and supporting the ecosystems they depend on.
There are many different career paths to explore. The right one for you will depend on your interests, experience, qualifications, location and the kind of work you enjoy.
How can Bushwise help me start a career working with animals?
We believe that one of the best ways to build a career working with wildlife is to develop a strong understanding of the natural world.
Our wildlife courses combine practical experience with theory in many different fields, including safari guiding, conservation, game management and wildlife hospitality. Depending on your interests and career goals, a Bushwise course can help you explore different opportunities within the sector and develop a foundation of practical skills and knowledge.
Terianne
from the UK, joined Bushwise in 2010. After finishing she went back to the UK and worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Tess
finished with Bushwise in 2011 and went home to Australia to work in bush regeneration in wild habitats.
Sophie
who is from Switzerland, joined Bushwise in 2011. She volunteered at a reserve in Botswana and then worked as conservation manager in Nepal.
Daniel
from the UK ran his own photography company and managed a wildlife concession in Botswana after Bushwise in 2013.
Francesca
is from the UK. After Bushwise, she worked on a research project with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Anna-Marie
graduated from Bushwise in 2013 and went back to Australia to work on wildlife documentaries and at a travel company back home.
Michael
returned to the UK in 2016 to finish his degree in Environmental Management, and went on to manage a lodge in Botswana.
Nathan
joined Bushwise from the UK in 2017, afterwards he went on to conduct elephant research in Malawi.
Ellie
graduated in 2018 and returned to the USA to work in wildlife rescue.