Allies for Wildlife: Skills for KEEPs

Alice Vassallo writes for BIAZA on how keepers and aquarists share expertise across the community. 

Every May, BIAZA invites its members and the public to take part in "Love Your Zoo" week—a national celebration of the work zoos and aquariums do in conservation, education, animal welfare, and research. For the Keeper Educational Exchange Programme (KEEP), participating in this campaign is more than just a gesture of solidarity; it is a joyful reminder of our core values: collaboration, education, and conservation. We are proud to be involved in “Love Your Zoo” week and to use this opportunity to highlight the incredible work being done across institutions and borders.

KEEP was founded on the belief that shared knowledge leads to better animal care, stronger conservation outcomes, and greater professional development for zookeepers. By facilitating temporary placements for keepers at our partner zoos, both in the UK and abroad, the programme fosters the exchange of expertise, techniques, and ideas. During “Love Your Zoo” week, where this year’s theme is “Allies for Wildlife”, we hope to bring this philosophy to life by discussing our mission to connect the zoo industry nationwide and beyond.

Since the last “Love your Zoo” week in 2024, KEEP has worked hard to help zookeepers love their zoo; by providing opportunities that allow them to grow, learn, and develop their animal husbandry knowledge. We were delighted to have facilitated 25 placements within 13 collections in the UK (and 1 in France) as well as providing free conference tickets, and extra opportunities to those wishing to give back to the zoo community. We’ve partnered with organisations, including BIAZA, that are passionate about highlighting the incredible work going on in the industry, and are championing the notion of continuing professional development in the animal field.

One of the key benefits of the exchange programme is the cultural and professional enrichment that comes from stepping into a new environment. Keepers return from placements inspired, not only by new animal care techniques, but by fresh approaches to public engagement, enrichment methods, and the teamwork it takes to successfully run a zoo. Whether it's an English keeper learning new Lemur training techniques in Ireland, or a Welsh keeper helping with Iguana monitoring at a facility in Scotland, we are proud to be bringing the industry closer together in the name of animal welfare.

Our work to provide these opportunities for keepers helps us embody the meaning behind “loving your zoo” – KEEP promotes the exchange of passion and expertise, unity across the zoo community, and the strengthening of conservation efforts through collaborative work, demonstrating that love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a commitment to learn, grow, and care better every day.

So, this week, we’d like to take the opportunity to celebrate the passion that drives every zookeeper. We feel that now is a good time for us all to reflect on the hard work, the challenges, and the triumphs that define life in the zoo community. For exchange participants, it’s a time to reflect on how their placements have changed their perspectives and improved their practices. For the public, it’s a time to engage with the people who dedicate their lives to animal welfare and conservation, and to learn about the species they care for. But for all keepers, it’s an opportunity to remind themselves of why they love their zoo.

To conclude, KEEP is excited to support BIAZA’s “Love Your Zoo” week and to be considered “Allies in Wildlife”. The message of this week aligns perfectly with our mission and provides a unifying moment for zookeepers, institutions, and the public alike. Our small team is proud to declare our commitment to making a positive impact—for the animals, for conservation, and for one another, and we truly hope to see you on a KEEP placement soon.

- Alice Vassallo (she/her), Director of the Keeper Educational Exchange Programme.