Have you considered taking your Veterinary Nursing career in the route of a Zoo Nurse? Being one of the most competitive jobs within our field it is not always the easiest to get in to.
Today we have a really interesting discussion with Zoo Vet Nurse Ashley Pounder about her journey in Veterinary Nursing so far. We discuss how she obtained her current roles, the struggles and using her skills around the world in conversation.
Interested in a career outside of domestic animals? You will also want to read our interview with RVN Gemma Crowley on being a Wildlife nurse.
Working as a Veterinary Nurse in a Zoo with Ashley Pounder RVN
Can you tell us a little about your Veterinary Nursing career so far?
I qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2019, and since then I’ve had a varied and fulfilling career with a strong focus on wildlife, exotic, and zoological species. My background includes small animal practice and wildlife care, with experience in exotic animal handling and husbandry before I began my nursing training.
In 2022, I was thrilled to join the veterinary team at Chester Zoo, where I currently work. It’s a unique and rewarding environment that allows me to use my skills to care for a broad range of species, while also contributing to conservation efforts both in the UK and internationally.
Outside of my day-to-day role, I’ve been fortunate to volunteer overseas with various projects. One of the most meaningful has been my ongoing work with Dogs of Chernobyl, providing veterinary support to animals still affected by the aftermath of the 1986 disaster.
Here in the UK, I also volunteer for the Bat Conservation Trust, assisting with bat rescue and rehabilitation. Whether in clinical practice or through voluntary work, I’m committed to improving the lives of animals and supporting conservation efforts wherever possible.
Why did you decide you wanted to take the route you are on now?
For me, it was a very organic process. I had already gained experience with exotic and wildlife species before qualifying, and those early opportunities really shaped my interests and career goals. I found myself naturally drawn to more specialist areas of nursing, and I knew quite early on that staying in general practice long-term wasn’t the right fit for me, as I had already worked in first opinion for several years prior to my nurse training.
I wanted to work in a role where I could continue developing my skills with a wider range of species and contribute more directly to conservation and welfare work. Pursuing additional qualifications and volunteering experiences in wildlife, exotic, and zoological nursing gave me the foundation to do that, and from there, opportunities started to open up that aligned with my passion for working with animals in more specialised and often challenging environments.
It’s a path that’s felt like the right progression at every step, and I’m incredibly grateful to now be in a role that allows me to combine veterinary nursing with my commitment to conservation.
Did you need to undertake any further training or qualifications to get into the role of a Zoo Veterinary Nurse?
In short, no formal additional qualifications were strictly required for the role. I did complete an advanced diploma in Wildlife, Exotic, and Zoological Nursing, which gave me useful theoretical knowledge and showed my commitment to this area—but what made the biggest difference was practical experience in real-world settings.
I gained a lot from working in a high-volume spay/neuter environment, even though it involved dogs and cats rather than zoo species. It taught me how to work dynamically under pressure, adapt quickly, problem-solve with limited resources, and collaborate as part of a team—skills that are directly transferable to zoo nursing. While the species may be different, the ability to stay calm, work safely, and think critically is universal.
Overseas volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and can teach you a lot, especially in terms of resilience and working with limited resources. However, it’s important not to be disheartened if you can’t afford to travel abroad. My first trip to Ukraine with Dogs of Chernobyl cost me less than £200—it was an affordable and accessible way to gain meaningful experience and volunteer my time. That said, zoo nursing comes with its own unique challenges, and international work doesn’t always translate directly.
Any qualification or volunteer work that helps develop your nursing skills is beneficial, but it’s important to remember that charity starts at home. Here in the UK, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of native wildlife regularly presented to veterinary practices, and getting involved with wildlife rescue or rehabilitation locally can offer relevant and accessible experience. Zoological species that most frequent our clinic here daily is birds, small mammals and reptiles.
Ultimately, while further training and certificates are great, it’s your practical skills, mindset, and ability to work safely and effectively as part of a team—often in challenging or high-risk situations—that count most.
Can you tell us a little bit about some of the Veterinary work you have undertaken abroad? Do you feel it has supported the role you are in now?
Absolutely. I’ve been lucky to be involved in several overseas projects that have been incredibly meaningful to me, even if they weren’t always directly linked to zoo or wildlife work. I’ve been involved for several years with Dogs of Chernobyl, a project I’m still actively part of when I can, which provides ongoing veterinary care to the dogs and cats living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
More recently, I also travelled to the Marshall Islands, located in the North Pacific Ocean, for a month with Visiting Vets International and Greenpeace to support a similar campaign.
Although these projects were focused on domestic animals, I believe they absolutely support the work I do now. Providing better veterinary care and population control for dogs and cats is a crucial part of the wider conservation picture—healthy domestic animals mean less risk to wildlife through predation, disease transmission, or competition. Improving the lives of animals in any context helps create more balanced, sustainable environments for all species.
I’ve also had the chance to do some volunteer work in Peru, which was more aligned with my current role. That involved working with both domestic and wildlife species in a rural setting. In addition, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to other zoological collections through my role at Chester Zoo, which has allowed me to exchange knowledge and learn from colleagues working in similar settings.
All of these experiences—whether directly related to zoo nursing or not—have helped develop my clinical skills, adaptability, and perspective as a veterinary nurse. They’ve strengthened my commitment to animal welfare and reinforced the idea that meaningful impact can come from many angles, not just within the zoo itself.
What does an average day as a Zoo Vet Nurse look like for you?
One of the best (and most challenging) parts of being a Zoo Veterinary Nurse is that no two days are the same. I work from 8am to 5pm, but what happens during that time (and in between) can vary hugely depending on the needs of the animals and the priorities of the veterinary and animal care teams.
We usually start the day with a team briefing to review ongoing cases, plan scheduled procedures, and address any new concerns raised by the keepers. After that, the day can involve anything from assisting with anaesthesia and radiographs, to performing routine health checks or preparing and administering treatments.
A typical day for nurses might include supporting a vet with a procedure on a primate, helping immobilise a large ungulate for diagnostics, or carrying out clinical lab work behind the scenes. There’s also a lot of collaboration with the keepers and curators to coordinate preventative health care such as parasite control, vaccinations, and contraception.
In between hands-on cases, we spend time maintaining equipment, managing drug stocks, updating medical records, inputting results and prepping kits for upcoming procedures. We also must be constantly aware of the safety considerations that come with working around dangerous animals, which adds another level of planning and precision to everything we do.
This week alone we have anaesthetised a Cheetah, performed orthopaedic surgery on a 41g passerine bird, taken bloods from several of our Rodriguez fruit bats and much more.
What do you enjoy most about your job now? And are there any downsides?
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to work with such a diverse range of species. The level of skill, communication, and trust required to safely work with these animals is something I find incredibly rewarding. I also feel proud to work for an organisation that’s actively contributing to global conservation efforts — it gives real purpose to what we do on a daily basis.
Of course, there are downsides too. One of the hardest aspects of any role within the veterinary profession is euthanasia. In a zoo setting, the animals in our care are not domestic pets, and the treatment approaches we might use in general practice aren’t always appropriate or effective for zoological species. Sometimes, due to welfare concerns, public safety, or the unique needs of the species, euthanasia can be the most responsible and humane option — but it’s never easy.
There’s also a significant administrative workload, Chester Zoo is home to over 37,000 animals from over 500 species and our team is comprised of just 4 vets, 3 nurses, a laboratory technician and quarantine officer. With fewer staff and limited resources, it can be a challenge to juggle clinical responsibilities with record-keeping, stock management, and planning. As a charitable organisation, our facilities aren’t always state-of-the-art, which adds to the complexity — but we adapt and make the best of what we have.
Has moving into this role opened any further doors for you?
Definitely. Working as a veterinary nurse in a zoo has expanded my career in ways I hadn’t imagined. It’s given me the opportunity to work alongside specialists in exotic and wildlife medicine, and I’ve developed skills that go far beyond what’s typical in small animal practice.
I’ve also had the chance to get involved in conservation projects, research, and education, which has opened doors to networking with professionals from around the world. It’s a role that’s constantly evolving, and it’s given me a platform to grow not only as a nurse but also as a contributor to wildlife health and welfare on a much larger scale.
What advice would you give to any RVNs looking to move their career in the direction of working with exotics and Zoo animals?
My biggest piece of advice is to focus on building a broad base of experience and not to overlook how transferable your existing skills can be. You don’t need to go straight into zoo work — in fact, most people don’t. General practice, wildlife rehab, charity clinics, and even farm or equine work can all develop the core nursing skills you’ll rely on in a zoological setting: adaptability, calmness under pressure, strong teamwork, and practical problem-solving.
If you’re interested in exotics, speak up in practice when those patients come in. Offer to assist, learn, and observe. Get involved with wildlife that comes into practice, local rescues, or rehabilitation centres — anything that allows you to handle a wider range of species and build confidence with unfamiliar cases.
Further study can help, whether it’s an exotic nursing certificate, a diploma, or relevant CPD courses. Volunteer if you can — even locally, reach out to zoos, wildlife centres, or exotic and large animal practices to ask if you can observe or see practice.
Overseas work can be fantastic, but don’t be discouraged if travel isn’t accessible to you. Some of the most valuable experience I’ve gained has been close to home.
Finally, be patient. Zoo roles are competitive, and opportunities are limited. Be proactive, network, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to follow an unconventional route. The right combination of skills and attitude can open doors, even in a competitive field like this one. It’s often the combination of varied experience, practical skills, and the right mindset that gets you through the door.
Finally, as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, what are your current or future career goals or aspirations?
I have a few things I’m hoping to work towards, but I also tend to take a fairly laid-back, go-with-the-flow approach — in this field, something exciting always seems to come up when you least expect it!
That said, I’d really like to obtain a bat survey licence to better support the work I do in bat rehabilitation, especially as I continue to be involved with the Bat Conservation Trust. I’m also looking into the Advanced Veterinary Nursing Certificate in Exotics, Zoo and Wildlife at Harper Adams, which would allow me to build on my current qualifications and deepen my knowledge in those areas.
Next year, I’m hopefully heading to Costa Rica through work, where I plan to volunteer my veterinary nursing skills at a sloth rescue and rehabilitation centre — something I’m really excited about. It’s a great opportunity to contribute to international conservation efforts while continuing to grow as a nurse.
Overall, I just want to keep learning, stay open to new experiences, and find meaningful ways to contribute — whether that’s through clinical work, conservation, education, or a combination of all three.
