Work Experience


Keeping Work Experience - General Information  

At Blackpool Zoo we receive a high volume of requests for work experience placements on our keeping section.  Priority is given to students who require placements to fulfill course criteria, or to those who require animal based experience to apply for an animal course.  

All candidates must be aged 18 or over at the start of their placement to apply.  If you are under 18 please refer to the Blackpool Zoo Keeper Academy. 

We offer two types of work experience placements: Block and Daily 

Block placements :

Applicants must commit to at least one month of work experience at the zoo. Hours are 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.These placements run throughout the year.  

Daily placements:

Applicants must commit to working one set day a week for a minimum of three months. Hours are 8am to 4pm Monday to Sunday.  Depending on the section these placements run in term-time or throughout the year. 

Work experience is not paid and we do not offer any onsite accommodation to successful applicants.  

Work experience in other departments

We also offer work experience placements in other zoo departments, listed below.  Placement lengths can vary from one day upwards, depending on the department.  The departments include:

Education: Ages 18+

Research: Ages 18+

Retail : Ages 16+

Catering: Ages 16+

Graphics: 18+     

Selection of Species from Each Keeping Section

The responsibility for caring for the animals in the zoo is divided up into four keeping sections. The following is a selection of animals from each section. 

Primates:Western lowland gorilla, Bornean orang-utan, ring-tailed lemur, pygmy marmoset, debrazza monkey, saki monkey, cotton top tamarin, silvery marmoset, geoffroy’s marmoset, agouti,pileated gibbon, brown-headed spider monkey, howler monkey, king colobus monkey, squirrel monkey, red ruffed lemur and red fronted lemur. 

Large Mammals:Brazillian tapir, giraffes, reindeer, vicuna, bactrian camel, Californian sea lion, zebra, ostrich, bongo, sitatunga, llama, rhea, markhor goat, kangaroo, red river hog, wallaby, emu, black swan, miniature donkey, rabbit, guinea pig and gazelle. 

Birds, Reptiles & Small Mammals: Flamingo, pelican, spoonbill, macaw, white stork, ibis, galah, crane, caiman, sail fin lizard, rattlesnake, giant tortoise, boa constrictor, blue tongued skink, tiger salamander, Yemen chameleon, chicken, lovebird, cockatiel, Timneh grey parrot, Asian short claw otter, red panda, tree porcupine, ground cuscus and long nosed potoroo. 

Elephants & Cats: Asian elephant, African lion, amur tiger and meerkat

*Please note this section is only for those with previous large mammal care experience.  Block placement only.

 

Current availability

Block: Large mammals section 4/10/10 to 12/11/10

           Primates section 1/11/10 to 26/11/10

          Elephants/big cats 2/8/10 to 3/8/10 and 6/12/10 - 11/02/11

 

Daily: Current spaces on bird and primate section starting Sept 2010. 

EVENTS STAFF: A place is currently available for a work experience student who has an interest in becoming part of our bird display team from July 2010.  Duties will involve assisting the events staff with general care and display of species including parrots and birds of prey.  Previous experience with birds is desirable, but not essential.  Successful applicants will be expected to attend an interview.  Interested applicants can fill in the forms below, but please label clearly that they are for the events position.  

Important Information 

Our staff are more than happy to pass on their unique skills but we have found that some of the students arrive here without knowing quite what they have let themselves in for!  Here is a brief description of the daily duties of a zoo keeper. Your placement will reflect what is described below.  

A big part of the job involves cleaning; this includes both cleaning out the animal beds, enclosures and other outside areas. Each keeper is responsible for a variety of different animals and their enclosures. Each house has to be cleaned out thoroughly everyday.

Second to cleaning comes food preparation. Most of the animals in the zoo have a specialised diet therefore a lot of time is devoted to preparing the correct feeds which must be done quickly. These two components make up the majority of the job.

However there are other important aspects to the job including providing enrichment, conducting animal observations, enclosure renovations, feeding the animals and letting them in and out of their houses.  

ABOVE ALL: Please be aware that a zoo keeper’s job is very intensive manual work and you will be expected to work hard whilst you are on placement whatever the weather. It also means an early start each day too; if your application is accepted, work starts at 8:00am everyday.  Before applying for a placement you must research how you will get to the zoo on time and if you will be able to afford transport costs throughout your placement. 

 Please remember, this is work experience.  You will be expected to behave just as you would in any paid job.  Due to the high demand for placements, if you repeatedly arrive late or miss several days of your placement, your placement will be terminated and given to someone else.   

 

How to apply

The profile for each type of placement can be downloaded below, as can the application forms.  Please fill the form out clearly, especially your start and end dates.  The more flexible you are with dates and sections, the better your chances are of getting a placement.

Email applications to Lisa@blackpoolzoo.org.uk or post to Work Experience Coordinator, Blackpool Zoo, Eastpark Drive, FY3 8PP.

To download Daily Work Placement profile, please click here

To download Daily Application Form, please click here

To download Block Work Placement profile, please click here

To download Block Application Form, please click here