'keeper for a day' experiences (UK)

A

ad441

Member
Hello,
I hope it's ok to ask this here.

I've been investigating purchasing a 'keeper for the day' type package for my partner. I realise this kind of thing is always going to be a bit artificial and in no way resembles what a keeper actually does, but I think it's something she'd enjoy.

I've just spent a long time reading threads here about the RSCC which seems to get mixed reports. It does have a lot of animals she likes (tapirs, binturongs, etc). on the other hand small enclosures might be a bit distressing for her.

Anyway, as a specific question, can anyone recommend anywhere that does this kind of thing well? Needs to be closeish to London/South East probably, though we could travel for somewhere particualrly good. And I supose as a secondary question, how to people feel about these kind of packages?

Thanks very much
 
ZSL do keeper for a day at London zoo and whipsnsde. I've no idea about costs but I'm pretty sure it would be a better experience than the RSCC.
 
They're also significantly more expensive...

Which isn't necessarily a problem if it's a much better experience, but I can imagine it might be a bit more of a personal at a smaller zoo. But I've no idea really.

Just been looking at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne who do something similar - Anyone know if they're any good?
 
ad441 said:
Just been looking at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne who do something similar - Anyone know if they're any good?
Click to expand...

I enjoyed my day there, for what it's worth.

If it's the same thing now, then you move around from section-to-section during the day so you get some experience with a range of animals (although there is limited experience with the cats and wolves)
 
CZJimmy said:
I enjoyed my day there, for what it's worth.

If it's the same thing now, then you move around from section-to-section during the day so you get some experience with a range of animals (although there is limited experience with the cats and wolves)
Click to expand...

That's good to know, thanks - not that surprised that cats and wolves are limited... and she's actually likely to be more excited by tapirs and gibbons anyway so it's not a problem.

Unless I can find somewhere that has anything specifically based around anteaters or tamanduas then Broxbourne is looking like the best option so far.
 
I'm doing a Keeper for a Day at Marwell at the end of June; I can't give a review as I haven't done it yet of course, but you 'work' in all of the sections of the Park, and it's £350 for the day. Marwell's a rural open zoo so it isn't too confined, and it is near to the South-East region, just over half a dozen miles outside Winchester.
 
Zambar said:
I'm doing a Keeper for a Day at Marwell at the end of June; I can't give a review as I haven't done it yet of course, but you 'work' in all of the sections of the Park, and it's £350 for the day. Marwell's a rural open zoo so it isn't too confined, and it is near to the South-East region, just over half a dozen miles outside Winchester.
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The Marwell one looked very good - I'm afraid I discounted it as being a little over my budget, which is a shame as they sound great.
 
£350?! Get her work experience, she'll do more and it'll be free lol.
 
Ironically, Marwell is the hardest place to get work experience: You have to be over 18 and must be studying either a vetenairy course or an animal management course at Sparsholt. I have a friend at Oryx Club who goes to Sparsholt, and they said that they only took two students a year anyway.
 
I didn't necessarily mean Marwell, but that sounds difficult to get into, most of mine were just "yeah, come along on whatever date" lol.
 
If it isn't too far for you, one of the country's finest zoos has a keeper for a day scheme priced at £250. Places are always in very short supply, but the people I know who have taken part said that the experience was amazing (I believe they get a lot of repeat bookings).

Chester Zoo - Keeper for a Day
 
SMR said:
If it isn't too far for you, one of the country's finest zoos has a keeper for a day scheme priced at £250. Places are always in very short supply, but the people I know who have taken part said that the experience was amazing (I believe they get a lot of repeat bookings).

Chester Zoo - Keeper for a Day
Click to expand...
Thats because you become part of the team for the day and you deal with whatever all the rest of the team do on that day regardless of what happens!!!
 
I'm going to Paradise wildlife park on 3rd of August to feed the lions. My mum got me it as a christmas prezzie off QVC or one of those stupid buying channels...not sure how much it cost or if they still do it. Not been yet though. We were supposed to go um.....tomorrow but I thought it would be best to wait until summer after I've done my GCSEs so we pushed it back.:D
 
my local zoo is paradise wildlife park and i know of a few people that have done experiences there and have enjoyed them. i would recommend them as the keepers are very freindly and have been told they are europes leading zoo for animal experiences :)
stu
 
thanks stubeanz!:P
Good to know, although I wouldn't expect anything else apart from a fantastic time lol :P
 
I don't know whether you really are paying to work as you say. Most zoos are aware that they are charging for it and so offer an "experience" different to what you would get on work experience for example.
I mean yes you will do a bit of cleaning, but no-where near as much as a keeper does each day, you'll do a lot more animal feeding instead, and be able to take your time over it and really watch the animals in a way that those people who are paid to work can't justify doing. You also usually get to see a wider variety of animals in one day then the average keeper who has their own section and that's it.

I know at London they have a dedicated keeper who's job is just to do keeper for a day that day, and it's their job to be a guide almost, or a party planner. If you were actually working you wouldn't be shown to the cafe or being told info about each thing you do. So no I'd disagree that you're paying to work - the amount of help you're giving is minimal and the staff time you're taking up more then cancels it. You're paying for an experience, and they're providing an experience. Whether it's £300's worth of experience is up for debate of course.
 
I know what you mean zelda, that keeper for a day can never be a real taste of zoo keeper life, it just seems a little wierd thats all. I would certainly debate that over £150 I would call too much. many people do not have that money and zoos should appeal to as many people as possible (theorecticaly this would generate the same cash but send more conservation messages and give out more experiences...of course keepers have to take time out to show keeper-for-a-day ' s around, but I think its worth it if people can strenghten their enthusiasm for wildlife and strive for the conservation of species.)
 
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