The South Lakes Zoo in the United Kingdom offers a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the daily life of a zookeeper. From feeding the animals to cleaning their enclosures, the South Lakes Zoo Keeper Experience provides a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the zoo.
The Zookeeper for a Day Experience
The Zookeeper for a Day experience is a private, full-day program that allows one person to work alongside the zoo’s experienced keepers. This hands-on experience includes a minimum of one hour in each of the zoo’s five sections: Mammals & Primates, Cats and Carnivores, Africa, Birds, and Lemurs.
During the day, participants may have the opportunity to:
- Prepare animal food
- Feed the animals
- Assist with animal health checks
- Muck out animal enclosures
- Scrub and refill water bowls
- Create enrichment items for the animals
- Rake sand in the enclosures
- Collect animal waste
The Zookeeper for a Day experience is available daily, except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and costs £87.50 (discounted from £175 during the Christmas sale).
The Mammal Keeper for the Morning Experience
For those interested in a group experience, the Mammal Keeper for the Morning program is available for groups of 2, 4, or 6 people. This half-day experience allows participants to work alongside the zoo’s friendly and knowledgeable mammal keepers, caring for animals such as Red Panda, Sloth, Tapir, Maned Wolves, and Giant Otters.
The cost of the Mammal Keeper for the Morning experience varies depending on the group size, with prices ranging from £100 to £240 during the Christmas sale.
Additional Experiences and Memberships
In addition to the Zookeeper for a Day and Mammal Keeper for the Morning experiences, the South Lakes Zoo offers several other opportunities for visitors to get up close with the animals:
- Animal Experiences: Includes opportunities to feed and interact with various animals, such as penguins, meerkats, and lemurs.
- Junior Keepers & Animal Experience Days: Designed for younger visitors, these programs allow children to participate in zookeeping activities and learn about animal care.
- Adopt an Animal: Visitors can adopt a specific animal at the zoo, with the proceeds supporting the animal’s care and the zoo’s conservation efforts.
The South Lakes Zoo is open 364 days a year and offers annual memberships that include access to exclusive member events and a complementary mini experience package worth over £200.
Important Considerations
When planning a visit to the South Lakes Zoo, it’s important to note that age restrictions may apply for certain experiences, and bookings must be made in advance by contacting the zoo directly. The zoo is located in Ulverston, Cumbria, and visitors can find information about opening times, prices, travel guides, and other useful details on the zoo’s website.
References:
– TripAdvisor Review
– Virgin Experience Days – Junior Keeper Experience
– Virgin Experience Days – Keeper for the Day
– South Lakes Safari Zoo – Experience More
– South Lakes Safari Zoo – Zookeeper for a Day