LIKE most Islanders, I’ve wandered through Jersey Zoo more times than I can count – first as an animal-obsessed child, pressing my face to the fences and imagining what it would be like to care for the animals myself.
Back then, I was certain that working at the Zoo – feeding and cuddling fluffy animals – must be the best job in the world.
Decades later, I had the chance to find out for myself.
To mark International Zookeeper Day, I went behind the scenes to spend a day with the people who keep the 66-year-old organisation running.
And it didn’t take long to realise that the reality is far more complex than I imagined as a five-year-old staring through the wire.
Keepers are scientists, dietitians, gardeners and architects all in one. They measure out precise diets, recreate habitats to match temperature and humidity, and work with zoos across the world to share research, track genetics, and manage breeding programmes.
Jersey Zoo was still quiet when I met bird keeper Simon James in the Jewels of the Forest aviary, which houses critically endangered Southeast Asian songbirds and other Asian species.
It was a cold, bright autumn morning, but inside the walk-through, the air was warm and damp.
After sweeping bird poo off the path, I helped prepare breakfast – a mix of chopped seeds, pulses, vegetables and fruit that – to my vegetarian eyes – looked exactly like tabbouleh.
Other bowls contained mealworms, which I found less appealing.
The aviary holds around 13 different species – including pink-footed robins, hornbills and partridges – and a total of 65 birds, which all had to be carefully counted that morning.
Then came the maintenance work, checking the water filter and so on.
A quick inspection of the electric fence – designed to keep rats out – revealed the problem of the morning.
It wasn’t working because a “barbecued” slug stuck to the wire had stopped the current from flowing. Once the casualty was removed, the line buzzed back to life.
Mr James explained how Durrell works with other zoos as part of a global network to protect rare species. Birds bred in Jersey might move to other zoos to be paired with partners chosen through international databases that track bloodlines to prevent inbreeding.
Since Brexit, he added, sending birds overseas had become harder because of new paperwork and transport rules, so most swaps now happen within the UK.
By mid-morning, I was in the 17th-century Manor House with chief executive Rebecca Brewer.
Her office, lined with Gerald Durrell’s own books, overlooks a floral installation marking what would have been the founder’s 100th birthday.
Over coffee, she reflected on a tough year – rising costs, fewer donations and delayed projects – but her focus was firmly on recovery.
Ms Brewer, who was the subject of last weekend’s Saturday Interview, urged Islanders to “get behind” the zoo as it works to “move forward positively”.
She said her priorities were completing capital projects, diversifying income streams and making cost efficiencies, all while keeping the mission of saving species from extinction on track – and reminding Islanders that, as she put it, “we are more than a zoo.”
Next, I was walking the site with commercial director Ian Osborne, who outlined how the zoo is adjusting its approach to encourage new and returning visitors.
After income from shops, restaurants and accommodation fell by more than £500,000 last year, Mr Osborne said the zoo is introducing new ticket options, offers and events to help recover from its £4.8m deficit and make the attraction more accessible to Islanders.
Recent offers have included £1 entry in March to mark the zoo’s anniversary, as well as family and group discounts and a half-term two-for-one promotion for children.
“We’ve benchmarked our admission prices against UK zoos, and we’re at the lower end of that price point,” he added. “We feel it’s appropriate, but we can offer more choice to encourage people to visit and understand the value of a membership.”
Alongside new pricing, the zoo’s events programme has expanded, with family-focused trails and exhibitions aimed at increasing engagement throughout the year.
Events like the Trick or Treat Trail at half-term and exhibitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year have helped keep attendance steady, he said.
We stopped at the charity shop near the zoo’s entrance – which, in my opinion, is one of the best in the Island. It’s bright, well-laid-out, and everything is neatly hung. You can actually see what you’re looking at rather than digging through boxes.
Since opening in 2021, it’s sold more than 1.5 million donated items – and judging by how busy it always is, I’m clearly not the only one who loves it.
At the new gorilla house, curator of mammals Ben Matthews explained how the new enclosure – currently under construction and due for completion in December – will give the troop ten times more space than before.
First launched in 2019 through the Go Wild Gorillas trail and auction, which raised £1.14m, the multi-million-pound project has also been supported by donations and a £980,000 government grant.
Delayed for several years after rising steel prices increased costs by about 20%, work finally restarted last summer and is now in the “finishing touches stage”.
Together we scattered leeks – a favourite treat – across the floor for Badongo, Bahasha, Hlala Kahilli and little Amari, who ambled over one by one to collect them.
Nearby, the giant otters were already attracting a crowd. They’re recent arrivals from Yorkshire Wildlife Park – incredibly cute and almost dog-like but highly territorial.
Keepers feed them around three kilos of fish a day, and explained that giant otters are highly endangered, with as few as 1,000 left in the wild.
In their natural habitat, they live in tight family groups and are bold enough to fend off jaguars and caiman.
Behind the scenes of the reptile house, I was shown two small invertebrate rooms filled with trays of crickets, cockroaches and beetles at every stage of life.
The insects are bred to feed the reptiles, each raised on a balanced diet of fruit and fish flakes so that what the reptiles eat is as nutritious as possible.
The sound of crickets filled the air as I dropped mango, paypaya and figs into a cockroach tray and watched them scuttle forward.
I then helped feed the lizards fruit flies dusted in calcium, before plating up a mix of formula and figs for the Vietnamese box turtles.
At midday, I joined the education team, whose work is underpinned by the belief that knowledge leads to love and care for animals and the environment.
So far this year, they’ve reached about 4,400 students through structured lessons and 7,500 through informal family activities.
Here, young people can handle artefacts like skulls and skins – a tangible way to connect with wildlife, the team explained.
On the organic farm, Nick Morgan showed me rows of greens, fruits and herbs grown using compost made from “zoo poo” and plant material.
He explained that animal waste feeds the soil, the soil feeds the crops, and the crops are fed back to the animals.
I even had the chance to try fresh goji berries, figs and guava, which were all delicious.
Finally, I met maintenance worker Charlie Tromans at the ibis enclosure.
The old aviary was torn apart by Storm Ciarán two years ago and is being rebuilt with stronger timbers and stainless-steel netting that mice can’t chew through.
Mr Tromans told me how varied his work can be – from designing and building enclosures to handling animal transport crates and, occasionally, unblocking toilets.
But it is clear that he readily face whatever each day brings.
“We really take pride in what we do, knowing that what we’re working on is going to benefit the animals,” he said.
“Hopefully, it encourages children to care about conservation and maybe come into this field themselves.”
By mid-afternoon, I was exhausted which gave me a new respect for the energy these teams have.
The message I took away was that it’s incredibly rewarding work – something I felt privileged to experience for a day – but it’s also demanding.
While the zoo has faced challenges over the last few years, what came through during my visit was enthusiasm, teamwork and a shared love for the job.
