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Volunteer

Volunteering opportunities at Dartmoor Zoo

As a charity, volunteers provide vital support and contribute to the success of our zoo. There are many rewarding volunteer roles at Dartmoor Zoo, offering you a unique opportunity to work alongside a variety of animals and join our enthusiastic team.

Roles range from helping us to provide an involved and exciting experience for all of our guests, through to helping with the groundskeeping and maintenance, or helping out the animal husbandry teams.

Public Engagement Team

If you are a confident and outgoing individual with a passion for conservation and education, then this is the role for you!

  • Delivering talks to guests at animal feed time
  • Talking to and engaging with visitors to ensure they get the most out of their day
  • Helping with kids crafts, workshops and raising awareness of campaigns

You must be aged 16 or over to volunteer with the Education Department.

Public Engagement Team Application Form

We do not review applications as soon as they come in, so please be aware that there may be a short wait until we get round to processing your application. This could be up to 6 weeks.


Animal Department

The Animal Team, one of our most popular volunteer roles, are looking for individuals who are keen to get their hands dirty and help out our keepers with their daily routine.

Daily tasks include:

  • Assisting with morning rounds
  • Carrying out food preparation
  • Helping with enclosure maintenance and care
  • Helping to design, build and install animal enrichment

This is one of the more physically demanding roles and requires confident, sensible individuals with a real passion for animals. If you think you could be one of our hard working team come rain or shine, then this is the role for you.

You must be aged 18 or over to volunteer with the Animal Department.

Animal Department Application Form

We do not review applications as soon as they come in, so please be aware that there may be a short wait until we get round to processing your application. This could be up to 6 weeks.


Maintenance and Grounds Keeping Team

Our Maintenance Team are responsible for everything from designing and installing brand new enclosures to mowing the lawns! Volunteers with experience in construction are very welcome but it is by no means compulsory.

Even if you just love weeding, or pruning back the edges of our wild areas, your efforts will make a huge difference! If you are aged over 18 and don’t mind a physical day, you’ll be very welcome.

Maintenance Department Application Form

We do not review applications as soon as they come in, so please be aware that there may be a short wait until we get round to processing your application. This could be up to 6 weeks.


Research Department

Volunteering with the Research Department is ideal for self-motivated individuals. You will be helping the team with day-to-day research which could include enclosure design for new animals, dietary studies, or green initiatives.

Please note that most of the volunteer roles we offer prefer a commitment of at least one day a week for six months in order to ensure time for adequate training.

Applications for placement positions during the 2024-25 university year are now closed.


Have another role in mind?

Get in touch – you never know which skills may be helpful to the zoo!

Next step

If you’re interested in getting involved, need advice or have any questions about our volunteering opportunities at Dartmoor Zoo, please get in touch with us. 

Email us or call 01752 837645.