Blog: My journey into zoos - From curious beginner to Senior Team Leader & DMZAA student

In this week's blog, Billie Aslett (Tilgate Zoo) writes about the fulfilling path to becoming a zookeeper, and the benefits of a DMZAA qualification: 

Working in zoos was, without sounding cheesy or cliché, always a goal of mine. My childhood genuinely involved trips to local zoos, watching wildlife programmes, and building miniature “zoos” in my bedroom using stuffed animals and storage boxes. My parents always encouraged me to follow whatever career path made me happy, while also being realistic about the fact that finances can be tight in the zoo industry. And although I may not be rich in wealth, I have found a richness in life by working in a job that brings me immense joy.

At 17, while studying my A‑levels, I saw an advert to volunteer at a zoo. I hadn’t yet passed my driving test, but I applied anyway—and the day after I passed, Drusillas Zoo Park was the very first place I drove to. I volunteered there for four years before securing my first trainee zookeeper position, followed by a Senior Keeper role. While at Drusillas, I enrolled on the DMZAA (Diploma in the Management of Zoos and Aquaria) through the National Zoo Academy at Sparsholt College.

After several years, I saw an opportunity to move to Tilgate Zoo as a Section Lead and felt it was the right time to learn from a different collection. Shortly after starting in this role, I graduated with my DMZAA qualification, achieving a distinction and, to my surprise, receiving the BIAZA Award for Best Overall Performance on the course. This was a huge moment for me. I often lack confidence in my abilities, so I felt incredibly proud—and very humbled—to receive that recognition.

I love looking back at old photographs of myself visiting both Drusillas and Tilgate as a child, and now having worked, or currently working, in both collections. I also recognise how fortunate I am to have been one of those people who knew exactly what they wanted to do and was able to achieve it. At Tilgate Zoo, I have since stepped into the role of Lead Keeper. I originally applied for the position around a year earlier and was disappointed (if not gutted) to find out I was second choice. Taking that on the chin, I kept my head down, continued learning, and when the role became available again, I applied—and this time I was successful.

Stepping into this position has certainly not been smooth sailing. I’ve had to learn a great deal, and very quickly, but I genuinely love every minute of it and remain extremely grateful that this is my job. My role now involves contributing to the running and management of the zoo, overseeing animal health screening, acting as the zoo registrar, helping to manage a small team, and being involved in writing new policies to ensure the zoo is well prepared for the forthcoming licensing changes in 2027.

One of the things I’ve most enjoyed at Tilgate is the opportunity to lead projects within a small but highly motivated team. Having a level of autonomy has allowed me to develop initiatives that improve both animal welfare and keeper practice. My projects so far have included revamping the indoor areas of the ring‑tailed lemur enclosure using recycled site materials—repurposing old bench tops into shelving and cargo netting into hammocks, alongside creating a more natural, planted environment.

I also spearheaded the launch of our capybara encounter, which began in October last year. This involved gradually building the animals’ confidence, desensitising them to the presence of multiple people, and encouraging relaxed behaviours such as hand‑feeding and tactile interactions like scratching.

One of the projects I am most proud of, however, involves our naked mole rats. When I started at Tilgate Zoo, I knew very little about the species but quickly became captivated by them. At the time, we had 11 individuals and had never successfully bred. I made it something of a personal mission to better understand their biology, social structure, and husbandry requirements. I’m incredibly proud that we now have a colony of over 40 individuals, have been approached by other collections for advice, and have been involved in a research project, with hopes to help develop husbandry guidelines for the species.

More recently, I applied for an ABWAK Small Zoos Grant to redevelop the naked mole rat exhibit, aiming to create a more naturalistic environment, enhance welfare, and improve visibility and educational value for visitors. I was fortunate to be awarded £500, and I’m currently in the process of building the new exhibit—something I’m very excited about.

There have certainly been times when this journey has felt daunting and overwhelming, but having supportive people around you makes all the difference. My Zoo Manager, Sam Whitbread, is probably one of the most patient people I know and has an incredible breadth of knowledge—working with him truly is a school day, every day. Equally, the DMZAA course has played a huge role in developing my skills, knowledge, and confidence, particularly through the support of Shelby Brereton. Shelby’s enthusiasm is infectious, and she genuinely wants everyone on the course to succeed.

The DMZAA covers a broad range of topics—from zoo history and nutrition to husbandry and research—and also opens up invaluable networking opportunities, bringing keepers together from across the country. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone considering the course to pursue it. In fact, my experience has been so positive that I have now become a DMZAA mentor myself, and we have just welcomed our first CMZAA student (the certificate course for volunteers) to Tilgate Zoo this month.

Every day in this career feels like a privilege. From early mornings to late‑night lock‑ups, and from major milestones to the smallest changes that improve an animal’s quality of life, this work truly matters. I am grateful for every step of the journey that has brought me here.

- Billie Aslett, Tilgate Zoo

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not necessarily a reflection of BIAZA's position