The Zoo Keeper Experience
Come "Kick it in Khaki" and experience what life as a zoo keeper is really about!
Join your VIP Zoo host and our knowledgeable and passionate zoo keepers for this intimate behind-the-scenes, half day experience.
Journey through several different animal precincts including Elephants, Carnivores, Ectotherms, Wild Sea, Primates or Australian Bush and by assisting and participating in daily care routines, enrichment, feeds, cleaning and set up for many of our remarkable animal ambassadors.
Learn about how our keepers are involved in important onsite and offsite conservation, research and breeding efforts.
You will also have an opportunity to visit one of our rarely-seen Fighting Extinction species, such as the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect or Baw Baw Frog.
Each experience will be unique and different, allowing our Keepers to let the individual animals shine and give them the choice and control over how they participate. If you’re an animal-lover or looking at entering into the zoo keeping world, this is one not to be missed!
Your participation will also help contribute to Zoos Victoria's work to fight wildlife extinction.
You will be working with Zoo Keepers as they perform their daily tasks, which often change depending on the needs of the animals in their care. We are unable to provide a full itinerary ahead of time, but tasks will include food prepping, cleaning and training.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to request to see particular animals
You will need to wear comfortable attire that you won’t mind getting a little dirty and some comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes. Be sure to bring along a water bottle which you can refill at our water stations at Melbourne Zoo.
Yes, we have safe and secure bag storage available at Melbourne Zoo Reception. Please let your zoo host know upon arrival, this will also be made available to during your briefing.
Please give us a call if you have any concerns about fitness or mobility. Unfortunately, this experience is not wheelchair accessible due to the nature of the tasks participants will be undertaking.
This is not classified as a volunteering position, but an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a Zoo Keeper at Melbourne Zoo. The day will include various animal keeping tasks, like habitat servicing (yes, including picking up animal poo), diet prep, welfare checks and supplying animal enrichment.
If you are interested in becoming a Zoos Victoria volunteer, please visit our volunteer page online to apply: https://www.zoo.org.au/about-us/volunteer/
The Zoo Keeper Experience will give you a chance to experience an example of a day in the role of a Zoo Keeper. Zoos Victoria also have a separate work experience program available for Year 10 students, or alternatively follow the below link to discover and learn about different avenues and qualifications needed to become a Zoo Keeper.
Why not ask your Keeper on the day what avenue they took to become a qualified Zoo Keeper?
https://www.zoo.org.au/about-us/careers/becoming-a-zoo-keeper/
There are a maximum of four spaces available daily, so if you book one or two spaces, the other places may be booked by other participants. Why not book on the same session with a group of friends? Or if you would like a private experience, you will need to purchase all four spaces on the day.
Unfortunately, this experience is only available for participants aged 15+ years.
Our Zoo Keepers work with the animals every day, rain, hail or shine and on some Melbourne days we get all three! This experience will go ahead in all types of weather, except in the case of extreme conditions and we will advise in advance of any cancellations due to weather.
If you have a cough, cold, flu or measles symptoms you will NOT be able to participate. We require at least 24 hours’ notice of sickness to reschedule the experience, but please give us as much notice as you can. Unfortunately, as participants will potentially working with species susceptible to catching common colds, if you arrive showing any of these signs, you will also be unable to participate.
Mobile Phone: Yes, Cameras: No.
Photography is not permitted in some working areas of the Zoo. Your host will let you know when there are opportunities for photography. Unfortunately, medium to large cameras are not allowed on this experience.
All participants will be given a $10 voucher for morning tea to use at one of our food outlets.
If you have any further questions regarding The Zoo Keeper Experience, please contact our friendly Customer Engagement Team on 1300 966 784.