08/10/2026
This week we are celebrating our Zookeepers! š¾
With Sunday celebrating the official International Zookeeper Day. This is a day which was set up by the International Congress of Zookeepers as a day to reflect on the massive contribution that zookeepers make to the care of all species and to promote the important role that keepers play in wildlife conservation.
Here at Sparsholt we have a dedicated team of staff who care for the huge variety of animals who reside at the Animal Health, Welfare and Research Centre. From our cats, rabbits, rats, chickens and ducks to the alpaca, reptiles, lemurs, hornbills, red pandas, miniature zebu and amphibians and invertebrates.
There are a lot of misconceptions about animal keepersā¦that itās just picking up poo or cuddling animals all day and that itās not necessary to have many qualifications to become one.
Being a keeper is not just about completing the day-to-day husbandry tasks for our animals, it involves, creating enrichment, training, enclosure maintenance as well as ensuring our animals welfare by monitoring their health and administrating medications, record keeping and assisting with vet visits.
Our keepers are also involved with breeding programmes for species such as the red pandas and conservation projects such as the breeding and releasing of Heathland Tiger beetles.
Our animal team are not only committed to providing the best possible care for the animals but also to teaching the next generation of zookeepers and animal carers to help contribute to the survival of species across the world large or small.
Thank you for everything you do! š
