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- Tasks: Care for over 70 species and ensure their wellbeing in a vibrant zoo environment.
- Company: Tilgate Zoo, a top tourist attraction with a passionate team.
- Benefits: Generous employee benefits, discounts, and wellbeing incentives.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real difference in animal conservation.
- Qualifications: Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals or equivalent preferred.
- Other info: Weekend work required; excellent career growth opportunities in a supportive environment.
ZSL – Whipsnade Zoo
East Midlands
Closing date for applications is: 21st Jan 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the large Hoofstock Team at Whipsnade Zoo as a Zookeeper! In this role, you’ll play a key part in providing exceptional animal husbandry and welfare, ensuring the highest standards of care in line with industry best practices.
The section is home to an incredible collection of species, including white rhinos, reticulated giraffes, mountain bongos, and pygmy hippos. As part of a dynamic and passionate team, you’ll contribute to advancing animal care, management, and welfare, while also having the opportunity to develop your skills and reach your full potential in a world-class zoological setting.
Key responsibilities
- Animal Care & Feeding: Prepare approved diets and carry out feeding procedures to ensure optimal animal nutrition.
- Exhibit & Equipment Maintenance: Maintain the highest hygiene standards by cleaning and upkeeping exhibits, equipment, and designated areas.
- Husbandry & Welfare Development: Contribute to improving animal welfare by helping to design innovative, enriching, and naturalistic enclosures with the team.
- Animal Observation & Reporting: Monitor animal behaviour, health, and security, reporting any concerns to Lead Keepers, the Team Leader, or the Section Manager.
- Training & Enrichment: Assist in developing and implementing animal training and enrichment programmes to enhance animal well-being.
- Veterinary Support: Administer veterinary treatments under the guidance of the Veterinary Team.
- Visitor Engagement: Deliver engaging talks and demonstrations, creating an informative and memorable experience for visitors.
- Record Keeping: Accurately enter data into animal records, daily record sheets, and the ZIMS database to ensure comprehensive documentation.
About You
- Passionate about animal careand thrive in ateam environment, bringing enthusiasm and dedication to everything you do.
- Strong communication skills, allowing you to engage effectively with colleagues and visitors alike.
- Successfully completed theZookeeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship Programmeor hold aDiploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA).
- Hands-on experienceworking with zoo animals, ideally Hoofstock.
- A full UK driving licence, enabling you to carry out duties across the site efficiently
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.
About Us
We’reZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives andwe’reworking every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
What We Offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
- Purpose driven work – join an organisation where every role contributes to creating a world where wildlife thrives.
- Pension scheme -we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
- Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
- Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays (increasing with milestone anniversaries).
- Access to ZSL’s staff Equality Networks -Race & Culture, Team Pride, Disability, and Menopause, supporting an inclusive and welcoming workplace for those with lived experience.
- Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
- Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
- Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
- Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
- Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.
We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’simportant to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.
If you have any questions about this role,we’dlove to hear from you!
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Zookeeper employer: BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
Contact Detail:
BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Zookeeper
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the zoo! Before your interview, spend some time at Tilgate Zoo. Familiarise yourself with the animals and their habitats. This shows your passion and commitment, plus it gives you great talking points during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current zookeepers or staff at Tilgate Zoo on social media. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have. This insider knowledge can really help you stand out in your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! During the interview, be ready to discuss specific examples of your animal husbandry experience. Whether it's caring for exotic species or managing enclosures, we want to hear how you've made a difference in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! Make sure you complete your application online as soon as possible. We might close the advert early if we get enough applications, so don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Zookeeper
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know Us: Before you start your application, take a moment to learn about Tilgate Zoo and our values. Understanding our mission and the role of a zookeeper will help you tailor your application to show how you fit into our team.
Be Specific: When filling out your application form, be as specific as possible about your experience with animal husbandry and any relevant qualifications. Highlight your passion for wildlife and conservation to make your application stand out!
Cover Those Gaps: Make sure to address any gaps in your employment history on the application form. We appreciate honesty and clarity, so don’t leave us guessing—explain what you were up to during those times.
Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We might close the advert early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website to ensure you don’t miss out.
How to prepare for a job interview at BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
✨Know Your Animals
Make sure you brush up on the species you'll be working with, especially the unique ones like the ring-tailed lemur and Madagascan boa. Being able to discuss their care, habitat needs, and conservation status will show your passion and knowledge.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Since you'll be part of a small team, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively. Share examples from your past experiences where you successfully worked in a team, especially in high-pressure situations or during animal care tasks.
✨Highlight Your Qualifications
If you have a Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) or any relevant qualifications, make sure to mention them. Discuss how your education has prepared you for the responsibilities of the role, particularly in animal husbandry and health and safety standards.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-life scenarios. Think about how you would handle specific situations, like an animal's health emergency or a visitor interaction, and be prepared to explain your thought process.
