Unique Work Experiences
APPLICATIONS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE
Our next applications will open on 1st September 2026 and close on 31st October 2026 for places in 2027.
Applications for 2026 are now closed.
We allocate 8 places a year to students who are aged 18 or over at the time that they take up their work experience with the Sanctuary. Trainees shadow qualified and experienced carers in some of our animal sections and learn skills in basic animal husbandry. Please note that we cannot guarantee that you will work with any particular species. The trainee will undertake the following key tasks:
- Cleaning and maintaining animal habitats
- Preparing food for the animals
- Some feeding of the animals
The work is physically demanding, so trainees will need to be fit and healthy. Competition for places is high, so we also apply the following selection criteria when short-listing applicants. Please read the criteria bulleted below very carefully as you must be able to answer ‘yes’ to each before submitting your application for work experience at the Sanctuary.
- Candidates must be 18 years old (minimum age) at the time that they undertake their work experience here at the Sanctuary.
- Candidates must be available for a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 3 weeks en-block during a calendar month. Note: we take work experience students from February through to the end of September.
- Work Experience placements are offered only to those engaged in biological or animal-related courses, or enrolled in such a course. Individuals should be seriously considering a career in the field of Zoology, zoo keeping or animal husbandry.
- Priority is given to candidates for whom work experience is a compulsory part of their course.
- Financial assistance is not available from the Sanctuary to work experience students. All travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses must be borne by the student.
- Candidates will be required to wear their own suitable clothing, including footwear with steel toe protection, whilst undertaking work experience at the Sanctuary.
Application Forms will be uploaded here in September 2026.
| Experience | Summary | Full Job Description | Closing Date |
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