Hi, I’m Rosie and I am a large hoofstock keeper at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, looking after rhinos, giraffes, hippos, zebras, bison and some of the antelope. I’ve been a keeper for nearly 20 years now, starting my career at Whipsnade, moving to another zoo for a few years in the middle before returning and making Whipsnade Zoo my work home for the last 10 years.

ZSL has been a big part of my life going right back to visiting as a child and now I bring my own family. So, I’ve decided to do a fundraiser. I will be walking from London Zoo to Whipsnade Zoo. It’s roughly 35 miles and will take around 11-12 hours to complete, to arrive at Whipsnade before closing time.

This year, on the 23rd of May, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will be celebrating its 90th birthday. So, what better day to complete the challenge and raise some much needed funds for the place my family and countless others love and enjoy so much. I will have a walking partner but who that will be depends on the restrictions at the time, I will add updates on this page as I go!

ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos need to get their 22000 amazing animals fed and cared for throughout the COVID 19 crisis. Zookeepers, vets, and all priority staff are working hard every day to care for them. ZSL has lost £20 million of income in 2020 and this has continued during the closure this year too. As a charity ZSL relies on funds from supporters and visitors. A vital income that has been lost throughout the 3 times both zoos have had to close. This is ZSL’s biggest challenge in its nearly 200 year history!

You can help keep this fantastic work going by donating. Every generous gift, no matter how large or small, really does make a difference to the animals and all the research and conservation projects ZSL is involved in worldwide. £5 could buy a box of cabbages (our greater one horned rhinos munch through around 1400 cabbages a year!), £50 could pay for local field staff to work on gorilla or tiger conservation projects.

Please sponsor me if you can, and share this page with other people, it would be massively appreciated. Your support means so much to everyone at ZSL, thank you so much for being part of this.

Rosie