Information about Career as a Zoologist – Making the Right Choice

Zoologists belong to the class of animal scientist, who study wildlife (generally, a specific specie of animals) in the natural habitat or in the laboratory. In other words, a zoologist pursues his or her career in zoology, the branch of biology that deals with animal study. If you are a nature lover and are interested in animal conservation tasks, here is a complete guide about zoologist as the right career option. Duties Involved A zoologist is responsible for preparing reports on various traits and aspects of animals, birds, mammals, insects, fishes and worms and managing them at different places. It should be noted that the zoologist profile doesn't include the study of plants and microorganisms. Some of the animal aspects studied by a zoologist include: • Body and cell structure • Life processes • Evolution and animal genetics • Growth and development • Animal classification • Nutrition and physiology • Health issues and illness • Behavior and type of habitat • Interaction with other animals and environment Places of Employment The zoologists are employed at various places, some of which are mentioned below: National research institutes for animals National park boards Zoos and aquariums to help in management of animals. Museums to provide education to the visitors Conservation agencies to help in preserving the species on the verge of extinction. Wildlife rehabilitation places Biological laboratories Biology institutes as instructor Becoming a Zoologist The minimum educational qualification required to be a zoologist is the bachelor's degree in zoology. The subjects taught in the degree program include biology, chemistry and mathematics. Master's and doctoral degrees in zoology, microbiology or biochemistry are required to become a wildlife researcher. Career Profile The career profile for zoologists varies according to the organization chosen to work for. An animal scientist may require working all alone or in small teams. The person must be willing to spend most of his or her time with variety of animals and in risk situations like biting, stinking and injuries. A zoologist is required to be socialist with animals, whereas, his or her social interaction with humans may decrease, depending upon the organization employed at. Salaries also vary according to the nature of work and organization working for. In general, the annual income of a zoologist may vary between $50,000 and $100,000.