3 July 2026
Spotlight on our Volunteers
Volunteers are at the heart of our organisation, contributing across almost every area of our work. From supporting the day-to-day running of our conservation Zoos and enhancing the visitor experience, to assisting with UK-based and international fieldwork and scientific research, their impact is invaluable.
Over the past year, 1085 volunteers have supported us at London and Whipsnade Zoos, contributing a remarkable 112,500 hours of their time, and many more have volunteered as citizen scientists for our fieldwork projects.
National Volunteers Week takes place annually from the 1st-7th June however due to the significant number of volunteers at ZSL we celebrate our volunteers throughout June. We are proud to shine a spotlight on just some of the incredible individuals who make our work possible. We are deeply grateful to every one of our volunteers—quite simply, we couldn’t do what we do without them.
Dave Ectotherms Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
I love volunteering alongside some amazing and highly skilled people who are incredibly supportive and have helped me build my own skills. It's also a privilege to volunteer with such incredible animals and to play a small part in supporting their conservation.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
Volunteering alongside such knowledgeable and passionate people has shaped my volunteering experience. They've helped me develop my skills and confidence, and being able to contribute, to ZSL's conservation work while helping visitors connect with wildlife has made every shift rewarding.
Sabrina Ectotherms Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
My favourite animals are reptiles, so I really enjoy volunteering with the Ectotherms team helping look after the collection at London Zoo. I’ve learned a lot and every day is different. It’s really rewarding to interact directly with the animals Over time I’ve been able to see more of their behaviour and personalities which is really interesting. The keeper team are really lovely - it’s been great volunteering alongside them.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
Volunteering with the female carpet python was certainly memorable - dealing with her curiosity and persistence could be challenging but led to some funny stories.
Bella Visitor Welcome Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
Volunteering at the Zoo is amazing and I love it. I love the people and the animals, and I like showing the different visitors where the animals are. When I have finished my shift, I love taking photos of the animals.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
The thing I love the most at the Zoo is connecting people and animals.
Alvin Visitor Welcome Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
Volunteering at ZSL gives me a unique chance to support wildlife conservation while connecting with the community. It is incredibly rewarding to see visitors light up when I share fun facts about the animals they are visiting.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
In the rainforest enclosure, there was one day the sloth climbed actively and walked from one side of the wall to the other side, the visitors were very happy and excited and it was definitely a great and enjoyable moment for all of us
Amir Field Based Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
What I enjoy most is being part of meaningful conservation work that contributes directly to wildlife protection in the UK. Volunteering on field-based projects such as the Badger camera trap survey and currently the HogWatch hedgehog monitoring project has been incredibly rewarding for me
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience?
What makes volunteering truly special for me is meeting people who share the same mindset and passion for wildlife, conservation, and protecting nature. It has created a strong sense of connection, and I am lucky to make some very close friends through this experience. These experiences have not only strengthened my commitment to conservation work but also made me feel part of a community that genuinely cares about the natural world.
Amanda Conservation Learning Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
I love talking with the school children about the animals, especially in the rainforest walkthrough, because it gives the children an opportunity to not just see an animal but to really look at the animals and think about something like “conservation” as an action and not just a term they learn about from books.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
When talking to children it highlights how surprising it can be for children to see an animal in real life that they’ve only seen and admired them as something from a book or on tv. I am extremely lucky to be able to give them the time and space to be heard, and encourage them to wonder more.
Emily Biobanking Volunteer
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ZSL?
What I appreciate most is being surrounded by so many knowledgeable people who are passionate about science and conservation. The Biobanking team that I volunteer with has a variety of projects running across the world, so there is always something new to learn, simply by listening to people's ideas and hearing how they overcome challenges to make a difference. I am proud to be part of an organisation that encourages multidisciplinary collaboration and values the contributions of volunteers.
Is there a particular highlight that has shaped your volunteering experience at ZSL?
I attended some tours organised by the library team at ZSL. On one occasion, they were showcasing some fascinating items from their collection, including a copy of the first edition of ‘On the Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin. I cannot fully describe how I felt, but that moment took me back to my childhood in Ecuador, where I first fell in love with nature and dreamed that one day I would dedicate my life to biodiversity conservation.