Really? That’s news to me. I worked as a keeper for eight years, and my experience of the zoological community is pretty much the exact opposite. Of course, I also worked in a privately-owned and funded facility. The govt-run facilities, however, tend to be another kettle of fish entirely. The keepers are all unionized, and some places actually go so far as to hire ONLY female keepers.
Well, on reflection, an extreme statement based on a couple of acquaintenances.
I withdraw my gross generalization!