Keeper Educational Exchange Programme - KEEP, Trumpington (2025)

23/08/2025

😁Appreciation Post 😁

We would like to thank the amazing team at Kiezebrink UK Ltd who are really generous sponsors of KEEP!

With the help of Kiezebrink's generosity we will be able to increase opportunities for keepers across the board to attend placements far and wide by being able to offer subsidies and grants! Ultimately we want to make KEEP accessible for as many as possible and Kiezebrink's support will go a long way to facilitate this!

https://www.kiezebrink.co.uk/
🐒🦒🐦

We are a not-for profit organisation and every penny goes into helping facilitate keeper exchanges and animal welfare! We have 4 levels of sponsorship if your organisation/company would be interested supporting KEEP and helping to facilitate keeper exchanges and improving animal welfare!
All support is appreciated both financially and also by hosting placements/sending keepers on placements!
If you are a collection interested in supporting us in either way please don't hesitate to get in touch as we'd love to hear from you!

https://www.keeperexchange.org/ [email protected]

22/08/2025

The KEEP team assembled in Scotland (with Sam joining by video link) last weekend for our annual in person meeting!

Lots of things were discussed from websites to world domination, so we have lots of exciting things in the pipeline coming up we can't wait to share with you all!
👀👀👀

Plus what's a KEEP meeting without a zoo trip or two?!
😁

17/08/2025

We're excited to announce the launch of our new Instagram account!
One of our animals had run off with the login details for our old account and so we're starting again from scratch!
If you're on Instagram please give us a follow and keep up to date with all that we're up to! More exciting content coming soon... 👀
https://www.instagram.com/keepexchangeprogramme?igsh=NXBhYWxzdnlybGlh

14/08/2025

🥳 KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS!🥳

Jessica from Banham Zoo took part in an exchange with the brilliant gorilla team at Howletts Wild Animal Park where she got chance to work with so many amazing gorillas!

Jessica said; "I had the most amazing time with the Howletts gorilla team. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. I learnt so much about great ape behaviour and husbandry. The keepers were really enthusiastic about the gorillas and teaching me about their individual personalities and needs. I can't speak highly enough about my time there or the experience overall"

We want to say a huge thank you to the team at Howletts for being brilliant hosts, and to Jessica for taking part and getting stuck in! 🤩

Don't forget, if you're currently a Zookeeper with over a year's paid experience, you're eligible for the programme! To register now, head to www.keeperexchange.org - you never know where you may end up!

13/08/2025

📣NEW PLACEMENT ALERT! 📣 - LESS THAN A WEEK TO APPLY!

Howletts Wild Animal Park are offering a 2 to 3 day placement with their amazing elephant team!
The Elephant team look after a herd of 13(!) African Elephants, the biggest in the UK.
The successful applicant may get to observe: elephant medical training and treatment; mixing of different groupings of elephants; crate training and trunk wash training.
There will also be opportunities to participate in routine elephant care such as cleaning, feeding, browse cutting, paddock maintenance and enrichment.
The team has a strong focus on elephant nutrition and cut a lot of their own browse on site, so the placement may suit someone interested in tree, shrub and wildflower identification. There will also be opportunities to observe the herd at play, so a candidate with an interest in African elephant behaviour and herd dynamics may benefit from this placement.
To get the chance to work with these fantastic animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in.
* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.
🐘🐘🐘
Deadline for application is: 18/08/2025
Placement dates: 23rd-25th September 2025
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/elephant-keeper-3/

07/08/2025

🚨 KEEP Is Looking for a Volunteer Finance & Fundraising Officer! 👀 - TIMES RUNNING OUT TO APPLY!!

Are you a zookeeper (past or present) who’s organised, got a bit of financial common sense, or just wants to give back to the community? This could be your moment to help KEEP grow and continue supporting keepers 🦁🛠️
KEEP has come a long way in the short time we have been running, and we are continuing to grow with very exciting plans in the pipeline! We are now looking for a new team member to take on the vital role of Finance and Fundraising Officer within KEEP.
💰 The Role:🤝
- Overseeing KEEP’s finances - Keeping a log of what's coming in and going out.
- Managing and approving payments (e.g. website and email services, stipends, travel refunds, giveaways)
- Helping us plan budgets for new ideas or community projects.
- Approaching zoos, businesses, or suppliers to find sponsors or donors
- Helping us fund KEEP placement grants and running costs
- Finding cool opportunities for member giveaways (e.g. merch, tickets, experiences)
- Building relationships with sponsors and saying thank-you properly!
- Keeping an eye out for grant opportunities or other funding sources
- Working with us on fundraising campaigns or drives
💬 What we’re looking for:
A current or former zookeeper (or someone with the right skills who loves what KEEP stands for)
No spreadsheet wizardry needed (but always appreciated), just organised and trustworthy.
Friendly and reliable, with decent communication skills
Comfortable approaching businesses or collections
No fixed time commitment – totally flexible around your schedule
Bonus if you’re already familiar with KEEP and want to help shape where we go next 💚
This is a volunteer role, but a seriously important one. Whether you’ve got fundraising experience, just love a good spreadsheet, or want to support the people who support keepers – we’d love to hear from you.
📮 Interested? Drop us a message or email [email protected]

06/08/2025

😁Appreciation Post 😁

We would like to thank the amazing team at Waterhouse Feeds who are really generous sponsors of KEEP!

With the help of Waterhouse's generosity we will be able to increase opportunities for keepers across the board to attend placements far and wide by being able to offer subsidies and grants! Ultimately we want to make KEEP accessible for as many as possible and Waterhouse's support will go a long way to facilitate this!

https://www.waterhousefeeds.com/
🐒🦒🦘

We are a not-for profit organisation and every penny goes into helping facilitate keeper exchanges and animal welfare! We have 4 levels of sponsorship if your organisation/company would be interested supporting KEEP and helping to facilitate keeper exchanges and improving animal welfare!

All support is appreciated both financially and also by hosting placements/sending keepers on placements!
If you are a collection interested in supporting us in either way please don't hesitate to get in touch as we'd love to hear from you!
https://www.keeperexchange.org/ [email protected]

02/08/2025

🥳 KEEP PLACEMENT SUCCESS!🥳

Zoe from Port Lympne Reserve took part in an exchange with the terrific team at Whipsnade Zoo where she got chance to work with their fantastic large hoof-stock team!
Zoe said; "I had an excellent time with the hoof-stock team! They have a great range of species, I learnt a lot and can't wait to take home some of their ideas to our rhinos!"

We want to say a huge thank you to the team at Whipsnade Zoo for being brilliant hosts, and to Zoe for taking part and getting stuck in! 🤩
Don't forget, if you're currently a Zookeeper with over a year's paid experience, you're eligible for the programme! To register now, head to www.keeperexchange.org - you never know where you may end up!

28/07/2025

📣NEW PLACEMENT ALERT! 📣
Howletts Wild Animal Park are offering a 2 to 3 day placement with their amazing elephant team!

The Elephant team look after a herd of 13(!) African Elephants, the biggest in the UK.
The successful applicant may get to observe: elephant medical training and treatment; mixing of different groupings of elephants; crate training and trunk wash training.
There will also be opportunities to participate in routine elephant care such as cleaning, feeding, browse cutting, paddock maintenance and enrichment.
The team has a strong focus on elephant nutrition and cut a lot of their own browse on site, so the placement may suit someone interested in tree, shrub and wildflower identification. There will also be opportunities to observe the herd at play, so a candidate with an interest in African elephant behaviour and herd dynamics may benefit from this placement.

To get the chance to work with these fantastic animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in.
* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience.

🐘🐘🐘

Deadline for application is: 18/08/2025
Placement dates: 23rd-25th September 2025
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/elephant-keeper-3/

26/07/2025

📣NEW PLACEMENT ALERT! 📣

Colchester Zoo is offering an awesome 2 day placement with their primate team!
The team cares for a wide range of species, including three species of lemur, black headed spider monkeys, buffy headed capuchin, cherry crowned mangabeys, chimpanzees and Bornean orangutan!

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to help with a range of husbandry tasks including cleaning and maintaining enclosures, preparation and distribution of diets and assisting in the provision of enrichment, with the ability to thoroughly discuss enrichment on section. There will also be the chance to observe some of the positive reinforcement training carried out with the species on section.

* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience. *
Deadline for application is 31/08/2025
Placement dates: 09/10/2025 - 10/10/2025
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/primate-keeper-6/
🐒🐻🦥

24/07/2025

🥳Happy National Zookeeper Week! 🥳

KEEP is run by zookeepers for zookeepers to help pursue and share the best possible standards of animal care!
We wouldn't exist if not for passionate zookeepers always looking to make the lives of the animals in their care better. Whether you're on a KEEP placement learning from experienced keepers who've seen it all, to sharing ideas with innovative younger keepers trying and succeeding with new ideas or eagerly awaiting the right KEEP opportunity for you, we can't do this without you!
We are so proud to be part of this community of dedicated people and cannot wait to be able to share some of the things we have lined up both short and long term!

KEEP up the great work keepers! 😉🥁

24/07/2025

📣NEW PLACEMENT ALERT! 📣
Hertfordshire Zoo is offering an exciting 2 day placement with their primates, small mammals and sun bear team!
Home to a wide range of species from binturongs to pygmy marmosets to gibbons!
To get the chance to work with these fantastic animals whilst working with their dedicated and experienced keepers, register with us and get your application in.
* Minimum experience requirement is 1 year of full time animal keeping experience. *
Deadline for application is 31/08/2025
Placement dates: 23/09/2025 - 24/09/2025
https://www.keeperexchange.org/vacancy/mammals-primates-small-mammals-sun-bears/
🐒🐻🦥

Keeper Educational Exchange Programme - KEEP

23/08/2025

22/08/2025

17/08/2025

14/08/2025

13/08/2025

07/08/2025

06/08/2025

02/08/2025

28/07/2025

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24/07/2025

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