work experience

Student Work Experience Placements

Durrell is delighted to be able to offer a limited number of student work experience placements. Placements are offered for a minimum two month period throughout the year by application. A typical placement will see the student assisting with routine tasks on section such as food preparation, enclosure cleaning, animal feeding, behavioural observations, animal handling, enclosure maintenance and assisting with veterinary procedures. There are opportunities to learn practical captive husbandry skills (nutritional requirements, environmental requirements, normal behaviour, reproductive management etc). Students will also learn about the species biology and conservation issues relating to each species worked.

 There are also placements available in both the Landscape and Maintenance departments.

The landscape department provides an opportunity for students to learn landscape design within the grounds, pruning techniques, lawn care and the managing of our tropical exhibit. There is also the Organic Farm where students will be involved with both planting and harvesting of crops for the animals using organic farming methods. Students must prove a keenness to learn horticulture or organic farming in order to be given a placement within this diverse department.

Durrell’s Maintenance Department provide placements for students who are interested in acquiring painting skills, basic carpentry and building techniques within a unique setting both inside the grounds and at the Durrell workshop.

To see if you are suitable to apply for a placement please review the following guidelines.

Students must be: 

• a minimum of 18 years of age 
• able to stay for a minimum of 2 months 
• studying a University degree related to animals for example zoology or animal behaviour 
• completely self funding 
• must find their own accommodation, Durrell can only provide a list of suitable places.
• If students will be conducting project work as part of the placement it must be approved by Durrell in advance.
• Students must be self-starters and the project work must be completed without too much assistance from Durrell staff members.

If you are interested in further details or finding out about the application process please contact Catherine Burrows at Catherine.Burrows@durrell.org  for further information.