Elephant Keeper

Salary is national minimum/living wage up to £19,000 per annum DOE

plus a living out allowance of £2,600 per annum (pro rata), if on-site accommodation is not required or available.

Howletts Wild Animal Park supports numerous overseas projects through the conservation organisation, The Aspinall Foundation. It helps manager two reserves protecting numerous forest elephants in West Africa. Howletts Wild Animal Park is home to the largest breeding herd of elephants in the UK, including three calves. In 2022, we are undertaking our biggest project to date, relocating our herd of 13 African elephants from our park in Kent to a protected reserve in Kenya.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team in preparing the elephants for their move to Africa, which will involve assistant in the crate training of the entire herd, as well as providing first class husbandry to ensure the herd remains in peak health prior to transport.

The Role:

Applicants should preferably have:

· A minimum of a years’ experience with large exotic species, preferably elephants

· An understanding of Protected Contact elephant management

· A genuinely flexible attitude to work

· Broad knowledge of elephant conservation, behaviour, and welfare

· A full manual driving licence

· The right to work in the UK

This is a physically demanding job. Duties will include heavy lifting and strenuous cleaning, as well as enclosure maintenance, browse cutting, grass strimming and operation of vehicles such as tractors and dumper trucks.

The Person:

You will be a team player with good communication skills. Ideally, you will have gained the DMZAA (or an equivalent qualification) or be prepared to undertake this which the company will support; or have substantial practical experience. We provide extensive staff training and will offer the opportunity to develop your professional skills and abilities. It is essential that applicants are physically fit and able to undertake cleaning duties, indoors and out, in all weather conditions.