Keeper Volunteer

We take the responsibility of training and supporting volunteers seriously, which means there can only be a maximum of two Keeper Volunteers in each day. This scheme also receives a high volume of applications, so places are extremely limited.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, we ask that you consider some of the other volunteering opportunities to avoid disappointment.

Why do we have Keeper Volunteers and what do they do?

Having volunteer support means we are able to do additional, but important, tasks such as more behaviour observation and creating more enrichment activities for the animals.

Keeper Volunteers provide valuable support to our Animal Department. If you’re passionate about zoological collections and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then this is the volunteer role for you!

Our Keeper Volunteers work closely with Keeper staff to assist with the day-to-day husbandry of our animals. A standard day may include enclosure cleaning, diet preparation and enclosure maintenance. There are also opportunities to get involved talking to our guests by assisting with the lemur walkthrough and helping other departments.

Who are we looking for?

• Friendly confident people, who are at ease speaking to guests and being part of a team.
• We’re not looking for experts, but an interest in wildlife and conservation is a must!
• A willingness to learn and to keep up to date.
• Happy being outside in all weather conditions and volunteering in hot humid animal enclosures.
• Good levels of physical fitness - you will be on your feet the majority of the day and some tasks will require stamina.
• Reliability and regular attendance. We would like Volunteers to attend one regular day each week from 8/8.30am – 4.30/5pm (depending on the time of year) for at least 6 months or more.

What’s in it for you?

By becoming a Keeper Volunteer you can…

• Gain valuable animal husbandry experience to enhance your CV.
• Spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle.
• Gain a valuable insight into our conservation work.
• Expand your knowledge of wildlife and conservation.