Are you someone who prefers animals to humans? Does spending time with animals give you immense happiness? Are animals your passion and first love? Does waking up to your pet’s face give you a kick and a burst of energy in the morning?
If you answered yes to these questions, you are an animal lover.
Now, there are certain careers where your love for furry friends would prove useful! Here are 8 careers that will allow you to spend your work life being surrounded by and caring for animals.
1. Veterinary Doctor
What better way to show your love for animals than by treating and caring for them? Veterinary doctors are medical professionals who diagnose and treat the injuries and illnesses of a wide variety of animals. They also provide them with vaccinations, first-aid, and take care of their overall health. If you are an animal lover, the work of a Veterinary doctor will be very exciting for you, as you will be working with animals throughout the day, and also get the satisfaction of saving their lives. You can either specialize in a particular kind of animal such as cats or dogs, wild animals, etc. or be a general veterinary and work with all kinds of pets. They also provide them with vaccinations, first-aid, and take care of their overall health.
Career Path to be a Veterinary Doctor
You first need to complete your Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc), which takes 5 years. To take admission in this course, you need to give the NEET exam after your class 12th, which will evaluate you on your knowledge of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Following this, in order to be able to practice, it is necessary for you to get registered with the State Veterinary Council. The license can be obtained only after completing your internship under the council for 6 months. After your graduation, a Master’s in Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc) is recommended, during which you can also select your area of specialization.
Colleges/Institutes for Veterinary Science
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Aizawal; Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, etc.
Professional Opportunities for Veterinary Doctors
You can either work at established clinics under senior doctors, or set up your own private practice., You can also get into research, education, or work with diagnostic laboratories. Various NGOs also employ veterinarians for consultation.
2. Wildlife Photographer
Are you someone who loves nature and wildlife? Would you like a chance to capture their beauty on camera as well? You would be spending your time close to nature and animals in the wild. Wildlife photographers select their niche as animals and plants, and spend hours around them in jungles, observing animal movements and patiently waiting for the perfect click.This is a profession where you can combine your love of nature with your passion for photography. Other than patience, you should be knowledgeable about cameras, angles, photography terminologies, usage of light, etc.
Career Path to be a Wildlife Photographer
Since photography is a skill-based profession, you don’t require a degree to be able to practice. However, a degree or diploma in Photography can be a value-add, as it would equip you with the knowledge and skills pertaining to the field. You can either go for a specialized like Bachelor’s degree in Photography (B.A Photography), Bachelors in Fine Arts (B.F.A Photography), etc., or go for a diploma or short-term certification course in Wildlife Photography.
Colleges/ Institutes for Wildlife Photography
National Institute of Photography, Mumbai; National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; Raghu Rai Center for Photography, Multiple Locations; Delhi College of Photography, New Delhi; Indian School of Photography, New Delhi; Symbiosis School of Photography, Pune; Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, etc.
Professional Opportunities in Wildlife Photography
The majority of Wildlife Photographers work as freelancers, however, some big companies do hire them on a full-time basis. Wildlife photographs are much in demand with big publications, news channels, animal TV channels, books, journals, etc., who may purchase their photographs or hire them for specific projects. Some big companies do hire them on a full-time basis. Nature and travel magazines are also regular employers.
Recommended Read: How to Start a Career in Photography – All About the Career Path & Colleges
3. Pet Groomer
Pet Groomers care for animals by maintaining their appearance and working on their hygiene. They make sure that their nails are cut, fur is well-shaped, they are properly groomed and de-wormed, etc. Pet groomers often advise pet owners on different accessories and dresses to enhance their pet’s look. Patience is an important trait in this profession.
Career path to be a Pet Groomer
You are not required to attain any specific degree, but you need to pursue certificate or diploma courses that will teach you specific skills needed on the job, such as grooming, styling, styling, handling pets, etc. There are various specialized pet grooming courses, as part of which you will learn to identify different pet breeds, understand the anatomy of dogs and cats, administer emergency first-aid to animals, gain knowledge of grooming equipment, etc.
Colleges/ Institutes for Pet Grooming
Fuzzy Wuzzy Pet Styling Studio and Spa, Bangalore; Scoopy Scrub, New Delhi; RedPet Paws Pet Spa and Shop, New Delhi, etc.
Professional Opportunities in Pet Grooming
Pet Groomers generally work with veterinary doctors. They also work in a variety of different places catering to animals, such as animal salons, dog shows, etc. They groom pets and professionally trained cats and dogs for various animal shows. The demand for the pet groomers is high, people have started becoming concerned about their pet’s grooming and hygiene.
4. Oceanographer
Oceanography is the study of the physical and biological properties of the ocean. Oceanographers study the motion and properties of ocean waters and their impact on the climate and weather of coastal areas. Another interesting element about their job role is studying the relationship between freshwater, saltwater, polar ice caps, atmosphere, etc. They use mathematical calculations and theories in their research to make recommendations to the government and various organizations working to save the aquatic life.
Career Path to be an Oceanographer
During your graduation, you can pursue related fields like Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Fishery Science, Earth Science, Microbiology, etc. During your post graduation, you can select Oceanography or Marine Biology as your specialization. It is a course that is generally pursued at the master’s level.
Colleges/Institutes for Oceanography
Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai; Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu; Andhra University; Pondicherry University, Puducherry; National Institute of Oceanography, Andhra Pradesh; Goa University, Goa; Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, etc.
Professional Opportunities in Oceanography
Oceanography is a broad and diverse field, and thus you can choose from a range of job profiles, such as Marine Biology, Marine Geology, Marine Chemistry, Biological Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, Climate Research, etc. They are employed by organizations such as Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), National Oceanography Centre, British Antarctic Survey, and various other environmental agencies, etc.
5. Wildlife Conservation
With the ongoing mass exploitation of wildlife, wildlife conservation is a field that is increasingly gaining importance. Forests are the home of the wildlife, and therefore wildlife conservationists protect not only the wildlife but also the forest. They maintain and regenerate forest wealth and resources and try to ensure that wildlife is preserved. They do this by studying various animal habitats, their demographics, climate trends of particular areas, etc.
Career Path to be a Wildlife Conservationist
You require Physics, Chemistry and Biology in your class 12th. During your graduation, you can either pursue a B.Sc in Forestry or a B.Sc in Wildlife Conservation. These will be general courses, to help you build a base of knowledge about forest life. During your master’s, you can select your specialization from areas such as Forest Management, Commercial Forestry, Forest Economics, Wood Science & Technology, Veterinary Science, etc.
Colleges/Institutes for Wildlife Conservation
National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; University of Kota, Rajasthan; Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala; Saurashtra University, Rajkot; Indian Institute of Forest Management, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
Professional Opportunities in Wildlife Conservation
You will have multiple job roles to choose from in this field. You can work as a Wildlife Biologist to analyze the data used in formulating conservation laws and campaigns. You can even get into pure research and work under a senior Wildlife Biologist to capture animals, observe and document the condition of animals in different habitats. Habitat Restoration is yet another field where you can find employment. Professionals in this field survey areas, analyze water, air, plant and soil samples; and assess how pollutants, invasive species, noise, etc. affect wildlife.
6. Aquarists
Aquarists are trained professionals whose job is to take care of the animal life living in aquariums. They make sure that the fishes and other aquatic animals are fed on time, and they are getting everything required to maintain their life. They also make sure that the tank is clean and the quality of the tank is maintained. If you are interested to work with water animals, and if you want a comparatively less taxing simple profession academically, you can pursue this field.
Career Path to be an Aquarist
You can pursue your graduation in Veterinary Science, B.Sc in Biology, Zoology, Botany, or any other related field. It is mandatory to complete at least a graduation degree to get hired. As it is a skill-based job, it is good to have thorough knowledge, multiple internships, qualified experience, etc. This will increase your chances of to getting a job easily.
Colleges/ Institutes for Biology/Zoology/Botany
Delhi University, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Bihar, etc.
Professional Opportunities as an Aquarist: All major aquarium companies hire aquarists to maintain the quality of their tanks. You can also find employment at zoos, theme parks, animal research laboratories, etc. With time and experience, you can take up managerial positions. You can also work as an environmental consultant or advisor to help design laws and regulations to protect the environment.
7. Animal Scientist
If you wish to combine your love for animals with research, you should definitely explore this profession. Animal Scientists conduct research in various areas relating to animals, such as their genetics, nutrition, growth, breeding and reproduction. The research is aimed at generating better quality animal products like meat, eggs and milk. You can also work in a specialized sub-division, such as Animal Breeding, Dairy Science, Poultry Science, etc.
Career Path to be an Animal Scientist
Physics, Chemistry and Biology are subjects required in class 12th to be eligible for this field. During your graduation, it is mandatory to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science. You can also take up certifications in Animal Breeding, Nutrition, Reproduction, and And Muscle Biology, etc. along with your graduation. A master’s would be beneficial in case you wish to understand concepts in further detail to wish to specialize for more upper-level positions, such as production, education, management, etc., and hence will help you in understanding concepts in further detail.
Colleges/ Institutes for Agricultural Science
Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jharkhand; Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar; Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Chhattisgarh; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, etc.
Professional Opportunities as an Animal Scientist
As an Animal Scientist, you can find employment in both private and government sectors. Food production companies and processing plants employ them to improve the overall quality of food. The government also hires them to conduct in-depth research on animals, so that they can plan their projects efficiently. This research also ensures helps to maintain the that the quality and the number of animals, especially in farms. They also work with pharmaceutical companies to help them develop drugs and test them on animals.
8. Animal Trainer
Animal Trainers are professionals who train animals for various security agencies or events. Your training and education would be shaped according to the animal of your choice. Trainers learn to train horses for various competition or shows, marine animals for various entertainment shows, etc. The traits needed most in this career are patience, problem-solving ability, sensitivity, and respect towards animals.
Career Path to be an Animal Trainer
There is no set education path, but it is recommended that you complete your graduation in related subjects, such as Animal Science, Marine Science, Zoology, etc. There are also various institutes that provide animal training programs.
Colleges/Institutes for Animal Training
Border Security Force Academy, Tekanpur; Dog Training Institute, New Delhi; Animal Behavior Institute, Durham, etc.
Professional Opportunities in Animal Training
Law enforcement agencies of India, Special Police Officers (SPOs), Border Security Force (BSF), security agencies, bomb squads, and various law enforcement agencies employ animal trainers. They are employed to train animals to identify certain smells, suspicious objects, bombs. They train the animals police utilize at crime scenes to search for evidence. Various entertainment show agencies and TV channels employ them to train for various shows. This profession is growing in demand.
Convert your love for animals into your profession with these exciting careers.
Have any other career in mind for animal lovers? Share with us in the comments!