A ‘Zookeeper for a Day’ experience at Hanwell Zoo is giving budding wildlife enthusiasts a chance to test their skills this summer.

Previously called Brent Lodge Animal Centre, the zoo at ‘the Bunny Park’, has been around for more than 40 years.

Over the past few years the zoo has been renovated.

There are still familiar favourites, but the zoo has expanded its collection to include meerkats, lemurs, flamingos and alpacas.

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And now you can get close to them with the ‘Zookeeper for a Day’ experience.

“Our zookeeper for the day programme is open to children under 16 and it’s two hours to get an idea of what being a zookeeper is like,” said Hanwell Zoo manager Jim Gregory.   

The day will include learning about their requirements, prepare their diets, clean out the enclosures and feed them lunch.

The day is set out as follows:

  1. First, you will meet with staff in the staff room.
  2. The staff will then outline and go through the jobs that will need completing
  3. You will then start preparing food for the animals
  4. After, you will go into the animal enclosures and feed them their meals.
  5. Post lunch - the enclosure will need cleaning.
  6. Then there will be Enrichment where the animals such as the Meerkats and Emperor Tamarins will be fed using small bags and puzzle feeders.
  7. Then you will check up on the young animals such as the chicks.
  8. Then after it is time to go home!   

There are segments of either two or six hours.

Each experience will vary and the zoo can not guarantee that your favourite animal will be available on the day but organisers add that it is worth visitors mentioning your favourites when booking to help tailor your experience.

This experience may not be suitable for some, but special arrangements might be able to be made to suit specific needs.

Please call Hanwell Zoo beforehand.

A day entry is priced at £2.50 for adults and £1 for children over three, with children under three able to visit free-of-charge.

A year-long season ticket costs £15 for adults, £10 for senior citizens, people registered as disabled and children over three.