Keeper Educational Exchange Programme - KEEP

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Keeper Educational Exchange Programme - KEEP

Keeper Educational Exchange Programme - KEEP A tool for zookeepers to gain and share knowledge in the pursuit of optimal animal welfare.

20/02/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉 - EDUCATOR EDITION!

Our partners at BIAZA are trialling a new programme of education placements and exchanges, using the KEEP model for animal keeper exchanges and we are the keeper EDUCATIONAL exchange after all!

There are 2 different trial placements for 2 different educators on offer;
- 1 day working with the education team at Shepreth Wildlife Park
- 2 days working with the Learning and Discovery Team at Knowsley Safari.

Shepreth say:
"Join us in the delivery of our school workshop sessions or on one of our home education workshop days. There may also be an opportunity to join us delivering a sleepover for Scouting / Guiding groups. You will also get to shadow our keepers during the delivery of their talks."

Knowsley say:
"Join the schools team as they deliver workshops in one of our 3 purpose built classrooms or join them on tour of the safari on coaches and support the Engagement team as they deliver award winning wellbeing sessions or support SEND students develop job skills.
There may also be the opportunity to support on talks and guest engagement with the general public.
Ideal for someone starting out wanting to get a broad flavour of conservation education."

*Please note these opportunities are open to educators based at BIAZA members only.

Deadline for Shepreth application: 16/3/2025 - https://biaza.org.uk/jobs/detail/5186
To apply please send a CV and cover letter of interest to; [email protected]

Deadline for Knowsley application: 28/2/2025 - https://biaza.org.uk/jobs/detail/5185
To apply please send a CV and cover letter of interest to;
[email protected]

19/02/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉 - LESS THAN A WEEK TO APPLY!!

ZSL London Zoo are offering an amazing opportunity to work with their evidence-based animal care team!
The KEEP placement will consist of two days of shadowing expert officers in different disciplines, gaining an insight into the holistic approach to benefiting animal care and conservation, with work having potential to cover all taxa maintained at London Zoo.
Tasks may include (but are not limited to) observing animal training sessions, participating in behaviour workflow/enrichment plans, observing process for zoo research and animal welfare assessment, and nutrition and diet evaluation (Body Condition Scoring, Intake studies etc.).
The ZSL EAC (Evidence-based Animal Care) Team generate relevant scientific knowledge and apply scientific principles, to inform best-practice in modern zoo practice. Working across both ZSL conservation zoos (London and Whipsnade); and with expertise in animal behaviour management, nutrition, welfare and zoo research – the team predominantly focus on work that supports providing optimum animal care.

This placement is ideal for a keeper looking to gain experience with evidence based animal care that they can in turn share and apply at their own collection.

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.

To assist with the costs of getting to London - KEEP are offering a £30 stipend to the successful applicant.

Deadline for application: 25/2/2025
Placement dates: 25/3/2025-26/3/205
https://www.keeperexchange.org/.../evidence-based-animal...

17/02/2025

🎉NEW OPPORTUNITY ALERT🎉

We are excited to announce that San Diego Zoo are offering two incredible opportunities to work with both their bird and mammal departments!

The KEEP placement will consist of two weeks for two successful candidates with one shadowing the team on the bird department and one shadowing the mammal department and learning all about how they look after a massive range of species! From hummingbirds to California condors and sifakas to giant pandas!

A fantastic opportunity to learn from a world-leading conservation organisation, share ideas across continents and take part in a wide range of husbandry practices!
The wonderfully generous people at Hose2Habitat have kindly provided us with funding for both successful applicants which can be used towards flights/accommodation/esta etc!

https://www.hose2habitat.org/ – for all your firehose enrichment needs!

To apply and get the chance to work with these fantastic animals and learn from their dedicated and experienced keepers, get registered as a keeper on the KEEP website – www.keeperexchange.org

Applicants are required to include:
• A CV
• A covering letter of interest – PLEASE SPECIFY IN YOUR APPLICATION THE PREFERRED DATES (IN MAY 2025), PREFERRED DEPARTMENT (BIRDS OR MAMMALS) AND SPECIES YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN
• A letter of recommendation from your current employers
• Applicants must also be eligible to travel to the USA.

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full-time animal keeping experience in the UK and Ireland. *
Deadline for application: 18/3/2025
Successful candidates will be selected by: 28/3/2025
Placement dates: Flexible for 2 weeks within May 2025

https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/san-diego-zoo-international-placement

15/02/2025

This week we exchanged Alice with New Zealand as she attended the 2025 International Congress of Zookeepers meeting at Wellington Zoo! 🇳🇿🥳

A fantastic opportunity to talk all things KEEP with keepers ranging far and wide from Australia to Uganda and everywhere in between!

Meetings such as this one are fantastic opportunities to network, share ideas on animal care and conservation and inspire each other.

We hope this can lead to more KEEP opportunities far and wide in the near future!

06/02/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉

ZSL London Zoo are offering an amazing opportunity to work with their evidence-based animal care team!

The KEEP placement will consist of two days of shadowing expert officers in different disciplines, gaining an insight into the holistic approach to benefiting animal care and conservation, with work having potential to cover all taxa maintained at London Zoo.

Tasks may include (but are not limited to) observing animal training sessions, participating in behaviour workflow/enrichment plans, observing process for zoo research and animal welfare assessment, and nutrition and diet evaluation (Body Condition Scoring, Intake studies etc.).

The ZSL EAC (Evidence-based Animal Care) Team generate relevant scientific knowledge and apply scientific principles, to inform best-practice in modern zoo practice. Working across both ZSL conservation zoos (London and Whipsnade); and with expertise in animal behaviour management, nutrition, welfare and zoo research – the team predominantly focus on work that supports providing optimum animal care.

This placement is ideal for a keeper looking to gain experience with evidence based animal care that they can in turn share and apply at their own collection.

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.

Deadline for application: 25/2/2025
Placement dates: 25/3/2025-26/3/205
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/evidence-based-animal-care-zoo-science

05/02/2025

🎉KEEP NEEDS ZOO!🎉

Do you have some great practices you want to show off? Particularly proud of your breeding success? Want others to be enriched by enrichment?

Then this is for you! We're looking for new collections and placements both far and wide and we would LOVE to hear from you!

If you want to get involved with a global keeper exchange and welcome keepers both from the UK and beyond to your zoo (we're not limited to UK keepers), to learn from each other and network far and wide to promote best animal care practices then this is your time!

Then please speak to your collection about signing up for KEEP!
We are opening our doors to zoos from across Europe as we expand our horizons (thanks for bearing with us 🐻)

If you think you'd be able to take part or are keen to learn more about what is involved please email us at [email protected] or drop us a Facebook message - whichever is easier! Then we can proceed from there 😃

30/01/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉

Twycross Zoo are offering an exciting opportunity to work with their mammals team! They are offering an exciting 3 day placement with chance to work with an exciting diversity of species including black rhino, Sumatran tiger, snow leopard, giraffe and mitschie's tufted deer!

This placement is ideal for a keeper looking to gain experience with carnivores and/or ungulates whilst experiencing a range of husbandry practices from cleaning to enrichment.

To get the chance to work with these amazing animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in - please remember to attach your cv and a covering letter to explain why you want to take part!

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.
🦒🐯🦏
Deadline for application: 1/3/2025
Placement dates: 3/6/2025-6/6/205
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/large-mammal-section-3-day-placement

29/01/2025

🥳 KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS!🥳

Ghislaine from Howletts Wildlife Park took part in an exchange with the carnivore team at Chester Zoo where she got the amazing chance to work with their wide range of carnivore species from sun bears to jaguars!

Ghislaine said; "I had a great time, I saw lots of interesting things on section. I’ve learnt a lot from the team who were really lovely and answered all my questions. Thank you to the carnivore team and to KEEP for creating the opportunity!"

We want to say a huge thank you to the team at Chester Zoo for being such fantastic hosts, and to Ghislaine for taking part and getting stuck in! 🤩

Don't forget, if you're currently a Zookeeper with over a year's paid experience, you're eligible for the programme! To register now, head to www.keeperexchange.org - you never know where you may end up!

21/01/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉

New Forest Wildlife Park are offering a brilliant opportunity to work with their carnivore team! They are offering an exciting 1 day placement with chance to work with an awesome range of small carnivores including 4(!!) species of otter, Scottish wild cat and pine marten!

This placement is ideal for a keeper looking to gain experience with a range of small carnivores including breeding groups of smooth-coated and giant otters!

Husbandry duties and day to day tasks will be on the menu as well as diets/ training and seeing how a small and dynamic team works in a small zoo setting.

To get the chance to work with these amazing animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in - please remember to attach your cv and a covering letter to explain why you want to take part!

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.
🦦🦦🦦

Deadline for application: 07/03/2025
Placement date: 22/5/2025
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/mixed-taxa-small-carnivore-mustelids-keeper

20/01/2025

🥳 KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS!🥳

Tippi from Hertfordshire Zoo took part in an exchange with the Discovery Trail team at West Midlands Safari Park where she got the amazing chance to work with their team caring for a massive range of species from snakes to sea lions!

Tippi said; "I’ve always been so interested in the KEEP placements and I was thrilled to be able to take part on the Discovery Trail at West Midlands!

It’s so interesting to be able to experience how other collections are managed and explore new species. There were various animals that I hadn’t yet worked with in my career, but since working with I have found a new love for! I was particularly interested in the training programmes they had in place and the team were more than happy to answer all the questions I had.
The team were so lovely and welcoming. They’re very knowledgeable of their animals and their passion for them was evident! It was such a great experience and I really enjoyed my time there. I would 100% recommend to apply for a KEEP placement!"

We want to say a huge thank you to the team at West Midlands Safari Park for being such fantastic hosts, and to Tippi for taking part and getting stuck in! 🤩

Don't forget, if you're currently a Zookeeper with over a year's paid experience, you're eligible for the programme! To register now, head to www.keeperexchange.org - you never know where you may end up!

18/01/2025

🎉NEW PLACEMENT ALERT🎉

Tropical World (Leeds) are offering a brilliant opportunity to work with their amazing and diverse zoo team! They are offering an exciting 2 day placement with chance to work with an awesome range of species including mammals, reptiles and birds!

This placement is ideal for a keeper looking to gain new experience with a wide variety of taxonomic groups whilst taking part in a range of husbandry practices, training, enrichment, diet and education efforts within a small zoo environment.

To get the chance to work with these amazing animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in - please remember to attach your cv and a covering letter to explain why you want to take part!

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.
🦎🐒🦜
Placement dates are flexible to 2 consecutive days between 3-31st of March 2025 to allow for staff and candidate availability.

Deadline for application: 28/2/2025

https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/animal-keeper-mixed-taxa-3

15/01/2025

🥳 Anniversary Giveaway Winners!! 🥳

In honour of KEEP's 2nd birthday since going live, we decided to have a giveaway to celebrate the brilliant bunch of animal keepers and zoos that make KEEP work!

So with no further ado... the winner of the main prize for keepers is...
Jennifer Partington from Pili Palas in Anglesey! Congratulations to Jennifer you have bagged yourself a leatherman multitool!

We also have 2 runner ups (because we're feeling generous) and they are...
Kieron Marshall from Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Conservation Park and Ella Cozens from Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens !

Which brings us onto the winning collection/team of this giveaway which is...
The Deep in Hull!

Congratulations to all of you, we'll be in touch to sort your prizes!

Thanks to all of our registered animal keepers and zoos, we can't do this without you so thank you for your continued support and participation!

14/01/2025

🥳 KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS!🥳

Luke from West Midlands Safari Park took part in an exchange with the large ungulate team at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo where he got the amazing chance to work with their team caring for a wide range of hoof-stock species!

"I had the best time partaking in my exchange on the large ungulates team. The team were fantastic, extremely welcoming and made sure to answer all my questions throughout the placement. The team were extremely passionate about there animals and that showed in the level of care which was provided.

It was extremely interesting to learn about the management of certain species and to compare from my personal experience with those select animals. I also got the opportunity to work with some dream bucket list animals including Mountain Bongo, Pygmy Hippo, European bison and Gemsbok!

I would recommended this to every keeper! Thank you again to KEEP for this amazing opportunity!"

We want to say a huge thank you to the team at ZSL Whipsnade for being such incredible hosts, and to Luke for taking part and getting stuck in! 🤩

Don't forget, if you're currently a Zookeeper with over a year's paid experience, you're eligible for the programme! To register now, head to www.keeperexchange.org - you never know where you may end up!

12/01/2025

Exciting opportunity for chimp fans to help a wonderful cause! 👀🦍

Our friends at Tacugama chimpanzee sanctuary in Sierra Leone are looking for some help with their record keeping for their large troop of rescued and rehabilitated chimpanzees.

They have recently conducted health checks on 70 (!!) chimpanzees and took a range of notes for the benefit of managing their health over time. This has been a massive undertaking and as a result the team find themselves with their hands full and not the strongest internet connection!

Tacugama needs people with experience with using ZIMS to help input these notes onto the ZIMS database which will be invaluable to both the keepers and veterinary team to help monitor these animals’ health over time.

This is an opportunity for keepers of all levels to get involved and really help a great cause for animal welfare and conservation from the comfort of your own home without spending a penny!

If you have some time to spare and take part, it would be greatly appreciated and the Tacugama team can provide you with more info and support should you wish to take part although we sadly aren’t in a position to get each of you to Sierra Leone just yet!
To apply we ask that you send a CV & Brief cover letter explaining your experience and reasons for wanting to assist to [email protected].

Deadline for application: 15/02/2025 (although no rush on completing the work itself!)

Address

Trumpington

Website

http://www.keeperexchange.org/

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Videos

Happy New Year from the KEEP team! 💫🎉🐒 This year has been a busy one, thanks for all the continued and new support from keepers, collections, partners, donors, friends, colleagues and of course..animals! We're proud of what we've achieved collectively this year and can't wait to see where we're at this time next year! Wishing everyone all the best for 2025

🐘🥳KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS🥳🐘 Our very first KEEP placement video review! Thanks to Judith from Banham Zoo for filming her exchange with the excellent elephant team at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm and what its like to work with the UKs only bachelor elephant herd! If this looks like fun to you get registering and applying for KEEP opportunities today at https://www.keeperexchange.org/ - for opportunities from elephants to ants and most things in between!