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- Tasks: Care for deer and antelope, ensuring their health and wellbeing.
- Company: Join ZSL, a leading conservation charity dedicated to saving wildlife.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and complimentary zoo tickets.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in conservation while working with amazing animals.
- Qualifications: Must have relevant qualifications and practical animal care experience.
- Other info: This role requires a full manual driving license and involves outdoor work.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
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An exciting opportunity is now available to join the Deer and Antelope section at Whipsnade Zoo as a Zoo Keeper. You\’ll become a valued member of a dedicated and experienced team, passionate about the care, welfare, and management of a diverse range of ungulates.
The section is home to large breeding herds, including some of the world’s most remarkable and endangered species such as the Indochinese sika deer (extinct in the wild), Père David’s deer, White-lipped deer, and Michie’s tufted deer. It also includes species managed under the European Endangered Species Programmes, including Scimitar-horned oryx, Visayan warty pigs, Przewalski’s horses, and Barasingha. Additional residents include Wild boar, Bactrian camels, and Yak.
The team is committed to continuous improvement, high standards of welfare, and active contribution to global conservation through breeding and husbandry excellence.
ZSL’s zoos operate 7 days a week, and this role requires an average of 37.5 hours per week, worked on a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays.
Key responsibilities:
- Animal Care & Welfare: Support the preparation of approved diets and feeding procedures, maintain high standards of hygiene in enclosures, and assist with the delivery of enrichment and training programmes to support animal wellbeing.
- Health Monitoring: Observe animal behaviour, health, and security daily, administering veterinary treatments as directed and promptly reporting concerns to Lead Keepers or Section Managers.
- Record Keeping: Accurately input data into daily records, ZIMS, and risk assessments, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and animal management protocols.
- Visitor Engagement: Help create a positive and educational visitor experience by engaging with the public in a friendly and informative manner.
- Collaboration & Conservation: Work closely with the curatorial, veterinary, and research teams to support conservation goals and uphold equality, diversity, and inclusion standards in all aspects of your work.
About You:
- Successful completion of the Zookeeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship Programme or a Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) qualification (or equivalent).
- Practical experience of working with animals in a Zoo or aquarium (preferably hoof-stock in a zoological or similar setting).
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and a pro-active approach to completing tasks beneficial to the section/department.
- Ability to deliver keeper talks and presentations.
- Demonstrates respectful, punctual, reliable, trustworthy, and diligent behaviour
- Capable of supporting volunteers, apprentices, students, and colleagues as requested.
- Staff who are contracted in this role at our Whipsnade Zoo site require a full manual driving license as an essential requirement.
- This role is physically demanding and involves long periods of standing, walking, lifting, and other manual tasks. It requires working outdoors in all weather conditions as well as indoors in environments with artificially high temperatures, with regular direct exposure to animals.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate\’s right to work in the UK.
We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.
About Us:
We’re ZSL, 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 and we’re working 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 do we offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
- Our vision and purpose – you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
- 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
- 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
NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.
It’s important to personalise your application 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.
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Zookeeper - Deer and Antelope employer: Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Contact Detail:
Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Zookeeper - Deer and Antelope
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific species mentioned in the job description, such as the Indochinese sika deer and Scimitar-horned oryx. Showing a genuine interest and knowledge about these animals during your interview can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any practical experience you have with hoof-stock or similar animals. If you've worked in a zoo or similar environment, be ready to discuss specific tasks you undertook and how they relate to the responsibilities of this role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to engage with visitors. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated information or created a positive experience for the public, as visitor engagement is a key part of this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research ZSL's conservation efforts and values. Being able to articulate how your personal values align with their mission can show your commitment to their goals and make a strong impression during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Zookeeper - Deer and Antelope
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially any work with ungulates or in a zoo setting. Emphasise your qualifications, such as the Zookeeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship Programme or DMZAA, and any practical skills that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for animal care and conservation. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to engage with the public and contribute to visitor education, as well as your commitment to high standards of animal welfare.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, clearly outline skills that are essential for the role, such as health monitoring, record keeping, and teamwork. Provide examples of how you've successfully used these skills in previous roles or experiences.
Showcase Your Commitment to Conservation: ZSL values conservation efforts, so include any relevant volunteer work or projects that demonstrate your dedication to wildlife preservation. This could be anything from participating in local conservation initiatives to engaging in educational outreach.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
✨Know Your Animals
Familiarise yourself with the specific species you'll be working with, especially the deer and antelope. Understand their behaviours, dietary needs, and conservation status. This knowledge will show your passion and commitment to animal welfare during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Practical Experience
Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with animals, particularly hoof-stock. Share specific examples of your previous roles or volunteer work that highlight your skills in animal care and management.
✨Engage with Conservation Goals
ZSL is dedicated to global conservation efforts. Be prepared to talk about how you can contribute to these goals and any relevant projects you've been involved in. Showing alignment with their mission will set you apart.
✨Showcase Communication Skills
As a zookeeper, engaging with visitors is key. Practice how you would deliver keeper talks or presentations. Highlight any past experiences where you successfully communicated information to the public or worked as part of a team.
