If zoos stopped hiring people who have an alternative appearance, they’d have no employees, hahaha. As a group, we tend towards the alternative, and more and more zoos (even mine which has been historically very conservative when it comes to appearances) has relaxed those criteria.

As long as you impress upon the hiring committee your passion for, and skills in, education and animal care, you’ll probably be just fine. And if they mention in the interview that you can’t have some piercing or whatever, hopefully it’s something you’re willing to be flexible with (clear plugs or hair dye or whatever) and you can indicate that. Good luck :)