Is A Zoo Veterinarian A Good Job?

This will depend on what you think a good job is. Zoo veterinarians are on call 24/7 and must be available to handle emergencies over nights, weekends and holidays. Your patients are extremely expensive and in some cases endangered species, which means you have to be very careful to first do no harm and second try to maintain a decent quality of life. In many cases, the proper medical protocol for these species hasn't been determined, so you end up extrapolating from other species and hoping for the best. It can be physically dangerous as well as emotionally and mentally exhausting.

Having said all of this, zoo veterinarians typically love their jobs - they thrive on the challenge and the thrill of learning new information about exotic animal species. They tend to be pragmatic, hands-on and adaptable - I know of one veterinarian who ended up splinting a flamingo's broken leg with tongue depressors because it was in quarantine and that was the only material available (the flamingo turned out fine). You get to work with a dedicated team of passionate individuals and help to preserve the wild populations of the species you are working with.