Keeper Experience FAQs

Our keepers are very passionate to share their knowledge with you and will tell you all about the animals, answering your questions whatever your age, knowledge, or ability. Due to the nature of our animals and their individual requirements, close contact or touching of most animals is not permitted.

Closer contact with some of our smaller residents’ animals such as a deer, owl, ferret, or hedgehog may be possible at the keeper’s discretion.

Maximum of 2 participants per experience. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (adult is not included as part of the 2 participants)

Admission is included in the price of the experience for participant/s and accompanying adult/s (if participant under 18).

Accompanying adults are there to support the child(ren) and although they watch experience, they do not take part in feeding/ enrichment making etc.

Experiences still take place in the rain (unless particularly heavy in which case your experience can be re-arranged).

Keeper experiences are done on a one-to-one basis with a friendly animal keeper.

Parts of the Keeper Experiences are visible to other wildlife park visitors as you will be working with our keeper team around the park.

Our animal kitchen does have a lot of food preparation for carnivores and birds of prey such as meat chunks, fish, rodents, and chicken – the animal keeper will be willing to support however involved you wish to be in food preparation and will always offer disposable gloves if necessary.

Specific requirements should be provided when booking.

Our Bronze Keeper Experiences start from age 5, Silver age 10 and Gold age 15.

You will work with at least 2 species that you choose when booking.

You will receive a certificate pack at the end of your experience which includes a voucher that can be redeemed for 50% off an adoption.

Please give us a call on 02380 292408 to discuss.

Please give us a call on 02380 292408 to discuss

The experience is non-transferable.

Experiences are not-refundable except in exceptional circumstance - illness, injury, pregnancy, bereavement, or jury service. This is at the discretion of the New Forest Wildlife Park and evidence may be requested.

Should a refund be agreed there will be a £20.00 fee incurred.

Should the participant inform us 14 days before the experience we will endeavour to re-schedule.

Should the New Forest Wildlife Park have to cancel the experience due to unforeseen occurrences  we will re-schedule or offer a full refund.

All animal experiences are subject to change - should circumstances dictate - bad weather or a particular animal being unwell or not available. We may have to change your activity without notice. We will do our best to offer an acceptable alternative.