Animal Keeper, Ituri Team (Seasonal)

The Walt Disney Company; Florida; On-site; USD 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Savings benefits

Educational opportunities

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company’s Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, FL seeks an Animal Keeper for the Ituri Forest team on a seasonal basis. You will care for a diverse collection, assist husbandry programs, enrichment, and behavior modification, and engage guests with conservation messages.

Shifts may include early mornings (5AM) or late evenings (12AM) and weekends/holidays. You will report to Zoological Managers and work with maintenance, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with animal care, enrichment, and behavioral conditioning.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Valid Florida driver's license.
• Must complete required safety training and maintain authorization for multiple areas.
• Minimum 3 years Disney Elephant and Ituri team experience.

Responsibilities

• Care for Ituri Forest collection including Black Rhino, Okapi, Nile Hippo, Bongo, Kudu, Nile Crocodile, Pink-backed Pelicans and Saddle-billed Storks.
• Maintain daily routines: cleaning, observation, diet prep, and reporting medical needs.
• Record and log information for management and central animal records.
• Work outdoors in Central Florida heat and humidity; weekend/holiday shifts may be required.
• Collaborate with maintenance, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators, and scientists.
• Provide conservation messages through guest and cast interaction.

Skills

Animal care

Husbandry

Operant conditioning

Guest interaction

Education

High school diploma

AZA keeper experience

Job description

Job ID 10161574 Location Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States Business Walt Disney World Resort Date posted okt.. 21, 2026

Disney's Animal Kingdom is looking for applicants for an Animal Keeper position on the Ituri Forest team. In this role, you will work with a large team of keepers to perform the daily care of the collection(s) and other animals following established guidelines. You will support the Ituri/Elephant husbandry programs, daily maintenance, animal enrichment, and behavior modification. The collection of this team is focused on African hoof stock and large birds, elephants, rhinos and hippos.

This position is seasonal with no guarantee of regular hours.

You will report to a team of Zoological Managers.

You Will:

• Maintain the care, well-being, management, behavioral conditioning and enrichment of Ituri Forest collection which includes Black Rhino, Okapi, Nile Hippo, Bongo, Kudu, Nile Crocodile, Pink-backed Pelicans and Saddle-billed Storks.
• Ensure the daily routines of cleaning, animal observation, diet preparation and reporting medical needs and 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.
• Be open to physical labor in ambient outdoor temperatures and weather conditions in Central Florida, which may include extreme heat and humidity.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Partner with maintenance, operation managers, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators and scientists.
• Provide animal information and conservation messages through guest and cast interaction.
• During your training, you will be asked to participate in and be expected to successfully complete Fall Protection Authorized User training, as well as be able to maintain requirements for safe use of fall protection equipment.
• You will be working a variety of shifts including early morning start times (5AM) or late evening ending times (12AM) and may be required to work weekends and holidays.

You Have:

• Proven experience working with different taxa focused on general husbandry, enrichment, and exposure to operant conditioning techniques in the field, as well as observation, evaluation and data collection skills as it relates to the daily management and research of the species in their care.
• Comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds as needed in the work area.
• Possession of or the ability to acquire a valid Florida driver’s license.
• Must complete required operating-guide training, obtain sign-off, and maintain authorization to work in both the Elephant and Ituri areas.
• Must maintain a minimum of two shifts per month, but availability for multiple shifts a week is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of Disney Elephant experience
• Minimum 3 years of Ituri team experience
• Experience working with Black rhino, Okapi, Nile hippo, Bongo, Kudu, Nile crocodile, Pink-backed pelicans, Saddle-billed storks or similar species.
• An advanced understanding of operant conditioning.
• Previous experience providing guest service and guest interaction opportunities throughout your workday.

Required Education:

• High school degree or equivalent plus a minimum of one of the following:
• Three years paid experience as a keeper in a AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards, and at least two years of verifiable college course work (60 semester hours)
• or
• Four years paid experience as a keeper in a AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards, and at least one year of verifiable college course work (30 semester hours)
• or
• Five years paid experience as a keeper in an AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards.

Preferred Education:

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

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

#LI-AU4

Job Requirements

About the Role & Team

Disney's Animal Kingdom is looking for applicants for an Animal Keeper position on the Ituri Forest team. In this role, you will work with a large team of keepers to perform the daily care of the collection(s) and other animals following established guidelines. You will support the Ituri/Elephant husbandry programs, daily maintenance, animal enrichment, and behavior modification. The collection of this team is focused on African hoof stock and large birds, elephants, rhinos and hippos.

This position is seasonal with no guarantee of regular hours.

You will report to a team of Zoological Managers.

You Will:

• Maintain the care, well-being, management, behavioral conditioning and enrichment of Ituri Forest collection which includes Black Rhino, Okapi, Nile Hippo, Bongo, Kudu, Nile Crocodile, Pink-backed Pelicans and Saddle-billed Storks.
• Ensure the daily routines of cleaning, animal observation, diet preparation and reporting medical needs and 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.
• Be open to physical labor in ambient outdoor temperatures and weather conditions in Central Florida, which may include extreme heat and humidity.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Partner with maintenance, operation managers, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators and scientists.
• Provide animal information and conservation messages through guest and cast interaction.
• During your training, you will be asked to participate in and be expected to successfully complete Fall Protection Authorized User training, as well as be able to maintain requirements for safe use of fall protection equipment.
• You will be working a variety of shifts including early morning start times (5AM) or late evening ending times (12AM) and may be required to work weekends and holidays.

You Have:

• Proven experience working with different taxa focused on general husbandry, enrichment, and exposure to operant conditioning techniques in the field, as well as observation, evaluation and data collection skills as it relates to the daily management and research of the species in their care.
• Comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds as needed in the work area.
• Possession of or the ability to acquire a valid Florida driver’s license.
• Must complete required operating-guide training, obtain sign-off, and maintain authorization to work in both the Elephant and Ituri areas.
• Must maintain a minimum of two shifts per month, but availability for multiple shifts a week is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of Disney Elephant experience
• Minimum 3 years of Ituri team experience
• Experience working with Black rhino, Okapi, Nile hippo, Bongo, Kudu, Nile crocodile, Pink-backed pelicans, Saddle-billed storks or similar species.
• An advanced understanding of operant conditioning.
• Previous experience providing guest service and guest interaction opportunities throughout your workday.

Required Education:

• High school degree or equivalent plus a minimum of one of the following:
• Three years paid experience as a keeper in a AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards, and at least two years of verifiable college course work (60 semester hours)
• or
• Four years paid experience as a keeper in a AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards, and at least one year of verifiable college course work (30 semester hours)
• or
• Five years paid experience as a keeper in an AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards.

Preferred Education:

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

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

#LI-AU4

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The pay rate for this role in Lake Buena Vista, FL is $21.10 to $25.75 per hour. The base pay actually offered may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: http://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

This position is Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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