Job opportunities

Volunteer Birds and Carnivores Keeper

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team as a Volunteer Birds and Carnivores Keeper at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. This is a varied section, with primates, small mammals and birds, including those with breeding recommendations from the EEPs.

We are looking for a motivated individual to assist the animal teams with their daily routine. The volunteer will learn to care for the primate section to a high standard, under the supervision of the animal team as well as carry out additional tasks around the rest of the zoo if needed. There is potential to ultimately train on other sections for the right candidate.

Please note that this section includes protected contact species and therefore candidates will be require to follow safe working practices and security protocols at all times.

Species held on the section

-       Emperor tamarin

-       Cotton-top tamarin

-       Large hairy armadillo

-       Bali starling

-       Meerkat

-       Asian short-clawed otter

-       Striated caracara

-       White-nosed coati

-       Mount Omei Liocichla

-       Roulroul partridge

Daily Tasks

In this role you will work alongside our zookeeping team. You will assist in many tasks relating to animal husbandry and zoo upkeep. These tasks may include the following:

·      Cleaning enclosures (this takes up the majority of the day)

·      Zoo upkeep – including washing windows, weeding, bark chipping, leaf collecting and pond cleaning

·      Helping to prepare and distribute food. This also includes sorting food deliveries.

·      Maintaining our keeper areas e.g. feed rooms, yards and storage barns

·      Preparing, distributing and cleaning enrichment devices

·        Accurately recording daily parameters such as temperature, humidity and UV.

·      You may get the chance to observe training sessions, basic veterinary care, health monitoring (e.g. weighing). These opportunities do not always arise and cannot be guaranteed.

Please read this section before applying and consider carefully if a volunteer role is right for you.

We mainly care for animals that do not enjoy or tolerate close human contact – if you are expecting to be handling, grooming or playing with animals then this is not the role for you.

Zookeeping is physically demanding and you must be prepared to be on your feet for the majority of the day. Elements of the role require heavy lifting and so a moderate level of fitness is required. You must also be prepared to be outside in all weathers and occasionally may have to work in areas with high temperature and humidity.

We work in an environment that exposes us to many known allergens including (but not limited to) nuts, wheat, eggs, crustaceans etc. This also include environmental allergens such as pollen, hay, dust, animal fur etc. Please consider this in your application.

Required skills

·       Experience of working with animals is preferred.

·       Enthusiasm and an interest in animals and conservation.

·       Ability to work independently and in a team, and be confident to ask for assistance when needed.

·       Ability to work calmly and sensitively in animal environments

·       Good levels of physical fitness – this involves working in environments that are both hot and humid, cold and wet.

·       Good levels of English to enable clear communication and understanding.

·       Good initiative and a willingness to learn, follow instructions and communicate.

·       Commitment to ongoing training.

Commitment to role

This placement is a minimum of 1 day a week for 1 year. Hours are 8:30am-5:30pm in summer and 8:00-5:00pm in winter.