6 weird jobs with animals that you'll absolutely love | the leap
DESCRIPTION
6 Weird Jobs With Animals That You'll Absolutely Love | The LeapTRANSCRIPT
T 01672 519922 E [email protected] LOGIN TO 'MY LEAP'
6 Weird Jobs With Animals That You’ll Absolutely LoveWritten by: Alice Baines Hamblin, 4 comments
As a nation of animal lovers, it’s surprise that jobs with animalsare amongst the most popular careers in the UK. If you haveyour heart set on working with animals then you’re going to lovethese weird and wonderful options… Be warned, though – for atruly amazing career you’re going to have to think outside the box!
1. BECOME A CROCODILE WRANGLERFancy yourself a bit of a Steve Erwin Mk II? Known in the trade as ‘herpetologists’, this occupation involvescapturing crocodiles for research and conservation purposes.
It usually takes a whole team of wranglers to catch a crocodile. Why? Because as well as beingunpredictable and dangerous, they also typically weigh a staggering 2,600 pounds. Oh, and they’re teethare pretty sharp too – not something you want to get on the wrong end of!
Wrangling itself involves pinning the crocodile down on dry land, then wrapping tape or rope round itssnout to prevent it from biting, and from there it’s just a simple task of relocating the animal to safety.Sound like your (crocodile hand-)bag? First step is to get a degree in a related science or conservationfirst, though it’s recommended that you get plenty of experience in the field too if you want to stand outfrom other job applicants. Survival of the fittest, right?
2. ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVEMore of a Jim Carey than a Steve Erwin? We’re pleased to report that the job of pet detective really doesexist, and does exactly what it says on the tin! These courageous and determined sleuths locate lost andstolen animals and return them to their very grateful (and often wealthy) owners.
Want to learn more? Check out this website, and read some of the inspirational stories of Melody Pugh.
Written by:
ALICE BAINESHAMBLINGap Expert
WANT AN UNFORGETTABLEGAP YEAR?Take part in unique projects acrossAfrica, Asia and South America
Download E-Brochure
SEARCH
Search
1111FANS
808FOLLOWERS
13BOARDS
139FOLLOWERS
Email Address
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
RECENTThe Essential Guide to Summer Jobs forStudents
5 Bold Ideas for the Best Gap Adventures
6 Weird Jobs With Animals That You’llAbsolutely Love
POPULARThe Essential Guide to Summer Jobs forStudents
5 Bold Ideas for the Best Gap Adventures
6 Weird Jobs With Animals That You'llAbsolutely Love
AUTHORSAlice Baines Hamblin
Max Hardy
View all Authors >
GAP YEAR ADVICE
3. SNAKE MILKING: NOT FOR WIMPSBeware this job is not for the faint hearted… or any ophdiophobics for that matter!
Become a snake milker and you will be part of an elite group of professionals/crazies that extract venom(not actually milk!) from slippery serpents.
You may ask ‘why would anyone want to do that?!’ Well, here’s your answer: snake venom is highlydangerous, generally lowering blood pressure, stopping the heart, paralyzing muscles and causinginternal bleeding. If you were to get bitten, I think it’s safe to say you’re going to want an antidote.
And what are antidotes made of? You guessed it: venom. Because antidotes are made from venomthemselves, there’s an essential need for brave souls willing to extract it. Cue the snake milkers.
Check out this video to watch milkers in action!
4. YOU COULD BE AN OSTRICH BABYSITTER!And it gets weirder. This (highly niche) job with animals basically involves sitting in a field full of ostrich,making sure that their territorial nature doesn’t cause them to peck each other to death.
If that’s not enough, you also need to ensure these cuties aren’t ostrich-napped… we all know how cutebaby birds are. Now this might sound like a very easy job, but with one of the strongest beaks in the birdworld you might want to think twice before putting yourself in the pecking/firing line!
5. ANIMAL COLOURISTS MAKE ANIMALS LOOK PRETTYLove art and animals? Want to combine your furry and fashion passions? Well then this could be the jobwith animals for you. Providing make up treatments for animals on screen and stage, animal colouristsare hired by film makers to make their cast look picture perfect.
Think this could be the role for you? Then check out the story of Rose Ordile, colourist to the (animal)stars! Read how she gave ‘zebra stripes to a white pony; dyed a horse a deep majestic red; and put a redbull’s eye around the eye of a bull terrier’.
And just for fun, here are some photos of animals with dye jobs.
6. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, BECOME A BIG CAT DENTISTJust how brave are you? Could you… perform a root canal on a tiger? Extraction on an ocelot? Believe it ornot, there are big cats out there with dental problems to be seen to (it’s all that red meat if you ask me).
If 7-8 years of veterinary school doesn’t make you flinch, and you’ve got nerves of steel, perhaps you’remade for this ultimate job working with animals.
STILL LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO WORK WITH ANIMALS?Of course the jobs listed above are not for everyone. But if you still want to get a job with animals in futurethere are worse ways to start than by gaining work experience in the field first.
There are volunteer opportunities all over the world where you can join expert vets and conservationistsworking to protect animals in the wild or captivity. These not only give you insight into the practicalities of apossible career working with animals but may also open doors to a dream career through connectionsand CV boosting experiences.
The Leap offers a wide range of animal projects overseas giving volunteers the opportunity to work with
Name *
4 THOUGHTS ON “6 WEIRD JOBS WITH ANIMALS THAT YOU’LLABSOLUTELY LOVE”
Jonathan Coffman said:on August 29, 2013 at 3:03 pm
This is, in a word, awesome. Nice one guys! Your post made me think of this video ‘Top 5 GrossestAnimal Jobs’.
Reply ↓
Alice Baines said:on September 4, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Haha, thanks Jonathan! You’re right that was a great video. I think we can all agree that elephant inseminator
trumps big cat dentist…
Reply ↓
Catherine Cole said:on August 29, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Great post Alice!
Reply ↓
Tim said:on September 3, 2013 at 3:10 pm
enjoyed this a lot, always wanted to be a pet detective…
Reply ↓
LEAVE A REPLY
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
turtles, horses and elephants to name but a few. Here’s a few that might be of interest:
Help run a Safari Eco-Lodge in South AfricaTrack nesting turtles in Costa RicaConserve wildlife on horseback in Africa’s Kruger National Park
OVER TO YOUKnow of any unusual animal jobs I missed out? Let me know in the comments below. High five to anyonewho can beat big cat dentist…
Last updated: 19 Sep, 2013
Next ›
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
Email Address
SHARE THIS POST
Each placement is fully researched, safety audited and risk assessed in accordance
w ith British Standards (BS8848). Which Gap Year? | Booking Conditions | Site Map | Cookie/Privacy PolicyThe Leap - Established 2002
Copyright © 2013 - The Leap Overseas Ltd
The Leap Overseas Ltd, 121 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1LZ
BEST GAP YEAR COMPANY- THE SUNDAY TIMES
Email *
Comment
You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronymtitle=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""><strike> <strong>
Post Comment
T 01672 519922 E [email protected]
LOGIN TO 'MY LEAP'