As Volunteers’ Week unfolds, we’re taking a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and passion to Dartmoor Zoo. We are so fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers who play a vital role in every aspect of zoo life, from caring for our animals and engaging with visitors, to keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Their commitment and love for wildlife and conservation helps make everything we do possible.
We’re also grateful to the corporate groups who have joined us for team-building and away days, volunteering their time to support the development of the zoo and contribute to our ongoing projects.
This week, we’re proud to celebrate these heroes who make a real difference every single day. In this blog, we’ll be highlighting five of our amazing volunteers, sharing their stories, and showcasing the unique contributions they make to our zoo family.
Shirley – Administration Volunteer
‘I have been volunteering at Dartmoor Zoo for the past 3 years. I volunteer in Admin assisting the Head of Compliance and Resources with Health and Safety and general administration tasks, looking after the humans rather than the animals.
Unlike most people I enjoy Health and Safety, so this is an ideal role for me. I also assist the Maintenance Team and the Keepers with admin. I love being retired but I missed using my little grey cells. At the zoo I find each day is different with a myriad of different tasks and projects which keeps me on my toes and makes me use my brain. I have done a lot of volunteering, but this is definitely my favourite. I feel very lucky that I found this very special place with very special people, it keeps me young (well youngish!) and keeps me smiling!’
Phil – Maintenance Volunteer
‘I’ve been volunteering as a carpenter at Dartmoor Zoo for almost two years as part of the maintenance team. I enjoy working outside on the animal enclosures and have helped improve and extend some, whilst also building brand new enclosures. I also enjoy working on internal areas such as the Jaguar restaurant and improvement to the ticket offices. I love animals and the work I do not only provides me with opportunities to get close to them but also benefits the animals’ care and conservation. My volunteer work has improved my own wellbeing and made me feel part of a worthwhile team. My biggest achievement to date was being nominated for Volunteer of the Year when I had only been there for twelve months.‘
Charlotte – Public Engagement Volunteer
I’ve been a volunteer at Dartmoor zoo on the public engagement and education team for 2 years. I volunteer because I have a massive passion for animals, conservation efforts, and I want to help educate people about what they can do to help different species. I enjoy connecting with guests and sharing my passion for conservation with others. I also enjoy giving talks about the animals I love, answering questions and sparking curiosity about wildlife and the environment. Volunteering here has allowed me to gain so much confidence talking to people, improved my mental health and has also allowed me to gain some lifelong friendships.
Emily – Keeper Volunteer
‘I’ve been volunteering for nearly 4 years at Dartmoor Zoo, doing 4 to 5 days a week. I started volunteering with the public engagement team before I moved onto the keeper team. My role here is to help look after the animals from all different species. I help with the cleans, feed prep, and wellbeing checks.
Some of my favourite animals to work with here are Red the peacock, Sydney the potoroo and our tapirs. The tapirs are my favourite animal to work with at Dartmoor Zoo, they are so affectionate and lovely to be around.
I enjoying being here as it’s a very calm place to be, and the staff and other volunteers are all so lovely. The animals are my therapy here and everyday is different. Living with autism has been hard for me, and I never thought I’d get to where I am now. Being here as a volunteer keeper has been incredible.’
Al – Public Engagement Volunteer
As we’ve seen through the inspiring stories of our volunteers, each person brings something unique and valuable to Dartmoor Zoo. From animal care and public engagement to admin support and maintenance, our volunteers play an essential role in every part of zoo life.
If you’ve been inspired by what you’ve read and would like to be part of our incredible volunteer community, we’d love to hear from you. There are so many ways to get involved, no matter your background, skills, or availability.