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Zoo keeper experience days

19 replies

Hellocatshome · 19/08/2021 19:33

Has anyone been on any zoo keeper for the day type experiences that can recommend or warn to avoid any? A family member is having a big birthday and really wants to do something like a keeper for the day type thing. Their particular interest is in big cats or bears. There seems to be all sorts available at different places across the UK (it doesn't matter where it is as we can organise transport and a hotel stay as well) but most dont really tell you too much detail about what you will actually do. The more close up and hands on the better.

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EvilPea · 19/08/2021 19:47

Longleat do some great experiences, they do a brilliant big cats one if you’ve got the money.
London zoo and whipsnade is great but not as hands on as others.
www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/
Is a good one

thelastgoldeneagle · 19/08/2021 19:48

Paradise Park (Hertfordshire) do some good ones.

Mumdiva99 · 19/08/2021 19:53

We did giraffe feeding at London Zoo. It was amazing. More amazing because I bought it at a cheap price from someone locally who was selling it as they couldn't use it.
My daughter and I went. Spent time in the zoo. Then fed the giraffes in their house. The looked some more around the zoo before having a meal out and going home.

It was just such a lovely day. We went in school time - so the other couples were adults. It was November so the zoo was quiet. Giraffes are my daughters favourite animals. I think she was turning 7 or 8 when we went and I will always treasure the day and the memories.

Paradise Park is good for big cats and they do experience days. Obviously you are unlikely to be hand feeding big cats....so they may be less hands on experiences.

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TroysMammy · 19/08/2021 19:57

I had one at Bristol for my 40th, 13 years ago. It was fab. I fed a giant tortoise who was double my age and a lot bigger than our family tortoise. I fed fur seals, had an aye aye climb on me, a ruffed lemur licked my wellies whilst an armadillo scuttled past. I planted some plants in their new butterfly house. Had a tour behind the scenes of the bugs. Saw a boa constrictor being fed up close. Went into the bat enclosure and helped an enthusiastic and knowledgeable keeper called Johnny feed the fish with grapes and live cockroaches. It was an excellent day and as you can see after 13 years the memories of that day are still there.

BestZebbie · 19/08/2021 20:00

Hobbledown near Chessington does a great junior zookeeper experience (with safer animals than tigers) if you are age about 5-9. Lots of feeding, washing tortoises, making toys for lemurs etc.

Hellocatshome · 19/08/2021 20:07

Ah should have mentioned its for a 60th birthday so don't think he will get away with booking a junior experience. Paradise Park and Longleat look great so far.

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EvilPea · 19/08/2021 20:09

Oh just thought of another one Linton zoo in Cambridge is really good. Small but good

EvilPea · 19/08/2021 20:14

Longleat has some lovely hotels nearby if you want to make it a family trip with the experience.

LimberlostLark · 19/08/2021 20:24

I did the big cat feeding experience at Paradise Park a few years ago with my brother for his birthday.

It was really good and the guy who was with us was really friendly and informative.

As I recall we fed some tigers (through bars), cleaned out an empty tiger cage including shovelling poo and cleaning away empty bones from dinner, got taken round to see lots of other types of big cat. They then offered us a chance to walk into the cheetah enclosure to hand feed them. At the time they didn't advertise this but added it in if guests had been reliable and well behaved up to then (sounds patronising but I think they just wanted to check you would follow instruction and keep calm).

We did that, chaperoned by two keepers on either side of us and the cheetahs were amazing. They came up and ate out of a small bucket we held.

On the way out the enclosure my 6ft+ brother, who is normally as a cool as any cat, fainted and jammed the doors open as he fell to the ground. The keepers with us called for help and within seconds we were surrounded by a sea of green uniforms Grin.

The cheetahs had long since scarpered to the other side of their field - not wanting to hang about if humans were going to be acting weird.

Everyone was very sweet and made him tea and sandwiches when he came round. In retrospect I think he'd just been a bit under the weather and not eaten/drunk enough up to that point in the day.

Mumdiva99 · 20/08/2021 09:53

@LimberlostLark blimey that's definitely when you don't want to faint!! I bet they don't offer that any more due to a guest who fainted in the doorway!!! Grin

Bells3032 · 20/08/2021 09:59

I did one at London Zoo a few years ago and absolutely loved every minute of it.

We've also done Lemur feeding experience at Howletts which was a lot of fun too.

however, with covid there may be restrictions on the animals you can interact with as primates can catch Covid so if there's a particular animal they want to see then double check it will be on the tour.

But deff recommend - one of the funest days i've ever had

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2021 10:08

@LimberlostLark I'm glad the cheetahs didn't see him as an easy meal!

Longest is looking the best so far they have an option of going in the meat wagon and feeding the big cats which I think would be right up their street. Its also quite near some family members so could make a little holiday of it.

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LimberlostLark · 20/08/2021 10:19

[quote Mumdiva99]@LimberlostLark blimey that's definitely when you don't want to faint!! I bet they don't offer that any more due to a guest who fainted in the doorway!!! Grin[/quote]
Probably not.

What I DO know is that I have never, ever let my brother live that one down Grin

viques · 20/08/2021 10:36

There is also the stay for the night experience at London Zoo where you do a sleep over and a night walk. I don’t think you do any feeding or mucking out though.

Floralnomad · 20/08/2021 10:44

My sister did a big cat photography experience at the Big Cat sanctuary in Kent , she had a great time and got some amazing photos , so if your family member is interested in photography that may appeal .

Floralnomad · 20/08/2021 10:45

I’ve just looked and they do other types of days where you can be a ranger etc as well .

earlydoors42 · 20/08/2021 10:46

My husband did a big cats keeper experience at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and loved it. My son then did a lemur keeper experience there too and really liked that as well.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 20/08/2021 10:52

@EvilPea

Oh just thought of another one Linton zoo in Cambridge is really good. Small but good
Can't help on the adult days but I took DD to Linton Zoo for a keeper experience and it was great. Went in and fed the giant tortoises, wallabies, various birds and lemurs. The lemurs were particularly fun as they were so very cheeky - were jumping all over us! Was very relaxed and informative.
HandlebarLadyTash · 20/08/2021 14:41

Just adding to the zoo sleep over, ive done a 'Bed Bugs' sleepover in the bug house at london zoo. There are also little lodges that you can rent out. The 10yr old had a great time also done sleepover in Natural history museum - had a great time

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