Chester Zoo is currently hiring someone to look after its lions, tigers, and bears, and you can get your applications in the for role now.
If you’re after a career change in 2024, then it surely can’t get much better than this?
The UK’s biggest charity zoo currently has a vacancy open for a Keeper to join the Carnivores department on a part-time permanent basis, and according to the job description on its website, this post offers animal lovers a “fantastic opportunity” to work with a wide variety of carnivore species – not just the famous ‘lions, and tigers, and bears’.
Chester Zoo is responsible for one of Europe’s largest and most-diverse Carnivore collections, and this is your chance to be a part of what makes it so special.
For this part-time role, the zoo is looking for a “dedicated and hardworking individual” with knowledge and a proven track-record in delivering high standards of modern zoo animal husbandry.
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Chester Zoo is hiring a new keeper to look after its lions, tigers, and bears / Credit: Chester Zoo
The role will require the successful applicant to maintain the health and welfare of a wide variety of species, all of which have specialised needs and requirements, and will involve responsibilities such as training, restraining, and capturing animals, and assisting veterinary staff with procedures and administering medication with relevant after-care.
You’ll also need to keep and update daily records of your teams’ animals, ensure and contribute to risk assessments, and make sure that safe operating procedures are adhered to when working with all animals.
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The ideal candidate will have “proven experience” in the care and management of a variety of carnivore species in a zoo or safari park setting, a HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science, and must be competent in the use of computers and basic software packages.
The job description also emphasises the need for “outstanding observational skills” and “excellent attention to detail”.
The zoo needs a “dedicated and hardworking individual” for the role / Credit: Chester Zoo
The role of ‘Keeper – Carnivores’ is 24 hours per week, with the working week split over three days and including every other weekend, and the salary being £16,021.69 per annum pro rata.
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Working at Chester Zoo comes with an “excellent benefits package” and loads of perks too, including a generous pension scheme, 33 days paid holidays per year, a healthcare plan, pension scheme, a staff pass so that you can visit the zoo for free, and complimentary tickets for friends and family.
You’ll even get a load of discounts on gym memberships, cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops, and so much more.
The closing date for applications is this Thursday (22 August 2024), and you can find out more and apply for the role here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
20th August 2024 
