13 - 17 years
Become A Real Life Animal Keeper
Have you ever wanted to find out what it is like to be a wild animal keeper? Now you can at the Keeper Academy at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent.
The Keeper Academy offers young people aged between 13 & 17 the chance to become a trainee keeper for a day in a hands-on and educational experience.
Here's What You'll Learn
A typical day will involve studying animal observation, cleaning out animals, food preparation and feeding, learning the principles of enclosure design and enrichment, captive breeding and conservation with our expert keeping staff.
Conservation
Animal behaviour
Enclosure Design & Enrichment
Food for thought
Get your hands dirty!
Conservation
A brief history of the park will give you an insight into the vital conservation work we do and how you can get involved in saving endangered animals.
Animal behaviour
Observe animal behaviour and find out why different animals behave in different ways.
Enclosure Design & Enrichment
Discover why it is important for enclosure designs to reflect the animals' natural habitats and how enrichment helps promote normal behaviour.
Food for thought
Find out how we meet the nutritional needs of different animals at Howletts.
Get your hands dirty!
Find out what it's really like to be a keeper and get stuck in with some mucking out!
Your Day
- Meet your guide at the entrance for a 9am start
- Go behind the scenes with the elephant keepers
- Meet the rhinos and discover their adaptations
- Learn about designing an enclosure for the largest apes; the gorillas
- Lunch (not included) is around 12.15pm
- Get stuck into cleaning a primate bedroom
- Spend the afternoon looking at feeds, nutrition and enrichment
- Your day ends around 4pm.
Howletts Wild Animal Park
Holly Connelly
I had a great time and would definitely do it again.
Howletts Wild Animal Park
Hannah Quinn
I really enjoyed the day as it gave me loads of experience.
Prices & Booking
The day costs just £175 per person. Includes a keeper academy hooded sweatshirt and a certificate (lunch is not included).
The price of this experience DOES NOT include entry to Howletts Wild Animal Park UNLESS you are an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve OR a Member or Howletts season ticket holder. If you are not an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve or a Member/Howletts Season Ticket Holder then a valid day entry ticket will also need to be purchased either on arrival at the gatehouse or click the 'continue shopping' button from your basket when you book your experience online.
For more information or to book please call 01303 264647 or book online.
Important Things To Note
Keeper Academy is offered to young people aged between 13 and 17 and is a practical and academic insight into the role of the zoo Keeper.
The itinerary is subject to change and the animals that the students will be working with may differ from the published itinerary.
We would also like to stress that we will be working very closely with wild animals and the students' good behaviour is of paramount importance. Any students expressing undesirable behaviour will be asked to leave the course. The Health and safety of our students is of highest concern.
Our students will be subject to "messy" situations so suitable clothing and footwear is required.
Available on selected dates only.
Please note this is a group experience and up to 5 individuals may be booked onto a Keeper Academy day.
Each participant will receive a personalised Keeper Academy certificate and souvenir hoodie.
Also available at our sister park, Port Lympne Reserve, Nr Ashford.
Please see full terms & conditions.
