© Elisa de Jong
Show the world what it means to be a zookeeper
The International Congress of Zookeepers (ICZ) is launching a Video Competition, and we want you to be part of it. Grab your camera and capture the incredible diversity of work that zookeepers do every single day: from caring for animals to educating visitors. Your clip could reach zookeepers around the world.
Win a stunning prize from Lynx Nature Books
Enter this competition for a chance to win a copy of Turtles and Crocodiles, the eagerly awaited first volume of Lynx Nature Books’ upcoming series Handbook of the Reptiles of the World.
Covering all families of turtles and crocodilians, the book presents up-to-date taxonomy, distribution and conservation information, brought together in a richly illustrated edition featuring outstanding artwork and photography throughout.
A major reference work and a true collector’s item, this remarkable volume will be an essential addition to the library of any wildlife enthusiast, naturalist or herpetology lover.
What are we looking for?
Some ideas to get you started:
…monitoring and observing animals
…training an animal
…giving an educational presentation or tour
…performing small technical maintenance
…cleaning (raking, scrubbing, washing windows)
…assisting with veterinary treatments or exams
…preparing animal diets or feeding animals
…releasing animals in their natural habitat
…collecting samples or performing tests (e.g. faecal samples, water tests for aquaria)
…performing landscaping maintenance
…providing enrichment
…keeping records
And many more — you know how diverse the job is!
Tips for a great submission
The better the quality, the better your chances to win. Here are a few tips:
- Film in landscape mode (horizontal).
- Use the best camera available to you (although your phone’s camera can work great too).
- Consider involving your institution’s marketing team (they may already have usable footage ready to share).
- Make sure lighting is good and the zookeeper is clearly visible.
How to submit
Send your videos to competition@iczoo.org before August 1st, 2026. You can use a file transfer service such as SwissTransfer, TransferNow or WeTransfer to share your files.
You are welcome to submit up to 5 clips — the more variety, the better!
Competition rules
- Videos submitted should portray zookeepers and aspects of their working life.
- Clips should be no longer than 30 seconds.
- Submissions must be free from logos, watermarks, or overlays.
- Entries will be judged by the International Congress of Zookeepers (ICZ). All decisions are final and no negotiations will be entered into.
- Contestants must understand that submitted videos may be used in promotional material at any time at the ICZ’s discretion.
- Videos submitted must not infringe on the rights of any third party.
This competition is sponsored by:
