Zoo placements
Every year our students get the opportunity to develop practical zoo-keeping and animal management skills within a professional zoological setting.
Our students work alongside experienced keepers across multiple animal sections, supporting daily husbandry, welfare, enrichment, and visitor engagement activities.
Zoo placements are ideal for students interested in zoo biology, animal science, and conservation careers, and provides real-world insight into the operational and welfare standards required in modern zoos.
What they work on:
Fiona spent approx. 10 months working at Northumberland Zoo.
Northumberland Zoo is a family-run, non-profit zoo in the North-East of England. Originally established as a small farm park, it has grown over the past 20+ years into an EAZA-accredited collection with a diverse range of species — from domestic animals and small mammals to carnivores including lynx and snow leopards.
The zoo places strong emphasis on conservation and sustainability. It contributes to breeding programmes for native and non-native species, including harvest mice, white-clawed crayfish, and Livingstone’s fruit bats, and integrates renewable energy and sustainable practices into its operations.
Students join the animal care team in a keeper support role, rotating across multiple sections of the zoo. They contribute to daily husbandry routines and assist with additional tasks such as enrichment, enclosure development, and public engagement.
This rotation-based model ensures broad exposure to different taxa, enclosure types, and management approaches, helping students build transferable practical skills across animal collections.
Working at Northumberland Zoo was an amazing opportunity and confirmed to me that I definitely want to pursue a career in the animal industry. I gained so much valuable knowledge and experience and loved getting to spend time with the animals and learn from the keepers every single day.
Fiona Davison, final year, BSc (Hons) Zoo Biology
Zoo-based activities
Activities students often do in zoo placements include:
- Supporting daily animal husbandry, including feeding and enclosure cleaning
- Preparing and delivering species-specific diets
- Assisting with enclosure maintenance and improvements
- Helping set up or refurbish habitats
- Preparing and delivering enrichment
- Supporting basic animal training and weighing procedures
- Contributing to visitor engagement and keeper talks
- Assisting with observational data collection and welfare-focused tasks
All work is carried out under staff supervision, with increasing responsibility as competence and confidence develop.
Skills and knowledge gained
Working in a zoo supports the development of key industry skills, including:
- Practical animal husbandry techniques
- Species-specific and transferable care knowledge
- Enrichment design and behavioural awareness
- Animal handling awareness and safe working practices
- Enclosure management and maintenance understanding
- Research and data collection skills
- Communication and public engagement confidence
- Professional teamwork and workplace practice
- Time management and adaptability in a live animal care environment.
Learning and support
Students work directly with experienced keepers and animal care professionals in zoo placements. Day-to-day mentoring and informal feedback are provided throughout the placement, creating a supportive learning environment and encouraging professional development.
My favourite parts of the day were when we got to spend time with the animals but I gained a lot from spending time with the keepers by asking them about their experiences and areas of interest.
Fiona Davison, final year, BSc (Hons) Zoo Biology
Animal, Equine and Veterinary Sciences at NTU
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