National Zoo Keepers Week

The week begins each year on the third Sunday of July, a tradition that started when the American Association of Zoo Keepers, known as AAZK, pushed to give keepers the national recognition they deserved. That push paid off on June 21, 2007, when Representative Susan A. Davis introduced House Resolution 509, expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Zoo Keeper Week and recognizing the contributions keepers make to animal care, conservation, research, public education, and recreation. In 2027 the celebration runs from Sunday, July 18 through Saturday, July 24. AAZK itself is a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1967, now counting more than 115 independent chapters across the United States and around the world, and its National Zoo Keeper Week program team supports chapters with planning packets, event ideas, and resources for the week.

What does a zookeeper actually do all day? Far more than scoop and feed. Keepers prepare carefully measured diets, design enrichment puzzles that keep clever minds busy, train animals through positive reinforcement to participate willingly in their own medical care, keep detailed behavioral records, and watch for the smallest change that could signal a health problem. It is physical, early-morning work performed in every kind of weather, and it demands equal parts science, patience, and creativity. As AAZK chapters like to say, keepers wear many hats: keeper, aquarist, caretaker, specialist, conservationist, educator, and trainer, often all before lunch.

Behind nearly every conservation success story, there is usually a keeper holding the clipboard. Modern zoos and aquariums take part in cooperative breeding programs that safeguard endangered species, and keepers manage the day-to-day details that make those programs work, from carefully managed introductions to round-the-clock newborn watches. Keepers also contribute to field research and reintroduction efforts, putting hard-won knowledge of animal behavior to work beyond zoo grounds, and the week has become a platform for sharing keeper-led conservation success stories with the public. When a species gets a second chance in the wild, keeper expertise is part of the reason why.

The best keepers are part scientist, part chef, part detective, and part trusted friend. Animals in their care learn to recognize individual keepers, and long bonds of trust form over years of consistent, gentle handling. That trust is what allows a keeper to draw blood from a tiger’s tail through cooperative training, or to coax a nervous okapi onto a scale for a routine weigh-in. It is earned slowly, treat by treat and session by session, and it is one of the quiet marvels of the profession. The public sees the feeding demo; the keeper remembers the hundred sessions that made it possible.

During National Zoo Keepers Week, zoos roll out the red carpet in keeper style. Expect keeper talks at exhibits, behind-the-scenes tours, enrichment demonstrations where visitors watch animals tackle puzzle feeders, and social media spotlights introducing the people behind your favorite animals. Many AAZK chapters run fundraisers for conservation projects during the week, and chapters have been known to host Zoo Keeper Olympics, potlucks, and trivia nights. Local businesses sometimes join in with discounts or donation drives for enrichment supplies. Follow your local zoo and AAZK chapters online all week for keeper takeovers and stories from the barns and back areas.

Consider the scale of the job. There are approximately 6,000 animal care professionals in the United States, caring for vast collections across zoos, aquariums, and wildlife centers. A single keeper may chop produce, thaw fish, mix specialized pellets, and cut fresh browse before most of us have had coffee, then spend the afternoon logging observations that become part of the scientific record. Enrichment is serious business: novel scents, hidden treats, and new objects keep animals curious and active, and keepers invent fresh ideas constantly. It is a job where a great day might include a breakthrough training session, a healthy newborn, and a very muddy boot.

For the keepers themselves, the week is part celebration and part education. AAZK’s National Zoo Keeper Week program team encourages chapters to share keeper profiles and conservation stories under hashtags like #NZKW, #NationalZooKeeperWeek, #ZooKeeper, and #ZooCrew, and the national organization points members to its Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest events and fundraiser ideas. Chapters use the spotlight to talk about what the job really entails: the years of study, the physical demands, the emotional weight of caring for animals that do not live forever, and the joy that keeps them coming back. It is a rare week when the people who usually stand quietly to the side of the exhibit get to stand in front of it.

The week is also an invitation to see zoos with new eyes and to join the online celebration. Every habitat you stroll past represents thousands of hours of keeper labor, and every thriving animal is evidence of someone who chose dedication over convenience. Share your visit with the week’s hashtags, including #NZKW and #NationalZooKeeperWeek, and tag the keepers who made your day. So this July, linger at the keeper talk, ask how the enrichment works, and say thank you. The animals cannot say it, but the people who care for them will feel it all week long. Mark your calendar for July 18-24, 2027, and make some noise for the keepers.

THE STORY BEHIND NATIONAL ZOO KEEPERS WEEK

📆 The 2007 Resolution
On June 21, 2007, Representative Susan A. Davis introduced House Resolution 509, giving National Zoo Keeper Week its national recognition.

👥 AAZK Since 1967
The American Association of Zoo Keepers, a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1967, now counts more than 115 chapters worldwide.

🔬 The Third Sunday Rule
The week starts annually on the third Sunday of July. In 2027, that is Sunday, July 18.

❤️ 6,000 Keepers Strong
Roughly 6,000 animal care professionals work in zoos and aquariums across the United States.

📢 Conservation in Action
The week spotlights keepers and their roles in animal care, conservation, research, public education, and recreation.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

🏫 Catch a Keeper Talk
Time your visit for a keeper talk or feeding demo, then stick around to ask how enrichment works for your favorite animal.

👣 Share a Keeper Shout-Out
Post a photo from a zoo visit with #NationalZooKeeperWeek and tag your local zoo to thank the keepers by name.

💬 Support a Conservation Fund
Join an AAZK chapter fundraiser during the week; donations back the field conservation projects keepers care about.

Celebrate National Zoo Keepers Week

From July 18 to 24, 2027, look past the glass and see the people. Visit your local zoo, join a behind-the-scenes tour, catch a keeper talk, or simply wave at the keeper with the bucket. Share your photos with #NationalZooKeeperWeek and consider a gift to a keeper-supported conservation fund. These are the folks who make the wild feel at home, and this is their week to shine.