Zoo keeper for the day.

[Gingerbread Man]

Has anyone ever done one of those 'Zoo keeper for a day' experiences or having brought one for someone else?

My birds birthday is just around the corner and I think she'd like the day if it was good. But I could see there being a slight chance that the attendee not get as hands on as hoped and ending up thinking it was a bit lame.

So, experiences.

Our local one would be Marwell.

[Kiltie]

A few years ago, I arranged for my wife to do the Carnivore Keeper for the Day programme at the Highland Wildlife Park.

She had a really good time.

Here are a couple pics.





Cheers,

Eric

Edited to add ...

• That "Carnivore Keeper for the Day" programme doesn't seem to exist anymore but there's a "Keeper for a Day" one.

• The first pic with the tiger looks a bit staged but, as I understand it, this is a daily procedure to check out the pussy cat's underside and paws.

Edited by Kiltie on Tuesday 26th March 09:46

[longshot]

Well that's my birthday present taken care of.
I didn't know these existed.

[Gingerbread Man]

My only issue is that it is quite a few £££.

[essayer]

Kiltie said:

• That "Carnivore Keeper for the Day" programme doesn't seem to exist anymore but there's a "Keeper for a Day" one.

I bet Health and Safety or insurance premiums saw that one off

[bint]

We bought this for a friends 40th birthday, she went to London zoo and loved it. Also have a look at longleat safari for a day with certain animals or a VIP tour.

[vx220]

Just did this last week for mums bday

After initially worrying she would be swimming with sharks(!) she loved it

Was at London

Only thing was huge food prices for us who went to watch, but her lunch was included

[Grey Ghost]

If you are happy to travel a little further

http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/experie...

Howletts is a great zoo and well worth a visit anyway, especially the gorilla houses

[jd1994]

My sister actually did this on the 16th of march , she thoroughly enjoyed it , included feeding lions bits of meat but her favourite part was hand feeding the aardvarks , they behave just like dogs apparently

[CarCluster]

Did exactly this at Marwell in 2009 - one of the BEST days EVER. They give you a camera and take pics of you with the animals. You get to go behind the first barrier of a lot of carnivores so plenty of photo opportunities where there are no bits of fence in the way. Feeding (smelly) penguins - and taking the fish up to the males who may be guarding the nest so don't come down for the free for all. I wasn't a big fan of primates, but having marmosets, lemurs and other monkeys taking a chunk of guava out of your hand and their cute little faces looking up at you is really smashing!

[Art0ir]

I had no idea this existed. Awesome.

Sadly neither Dublin or Belfast seem to run it.