General Volunteers
General Volunteers help with a number of activities throughout the zoo. Anyone 16 years and over is welcome to apply. To find out how to become a general volunteer, please call 323/644-4703 or send an email to volunteers@lazoo.org. Or you can click here to fill out an application online.
- Muriel’s Ranch (contact yard): One of the most popular attractions at the Zoo is Muriel’s Ranch, our contact yard. This is one of the few places visitors get that chance to touch and interact with animals. Goats, sheep, pigs, donkey and a miniature horse roam the yard and volunteers play liaison between the animals and the patrons. It’s a great opportunity to learn about animals and interact with the public.
- World of Birds Show assistant is a long standing attraction at the Zoo, for good reason! It’s a great show! Volunteers assist audience members find their seats and with audience participation.
- California Condor Rescue Zone: “Education through play.” When our young zoo visitors enter this room, they can choose whether they’d like be a condor or play the role of a biologist of veterinarian helping our California condors. Volunteers play along with the kids pointing out some fun key elements of the room.
- Special Events: The Zoo hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including Big Bunny's Spring Fling and Boo at the Zoo. Volunteers assist Zoo visitors with themed crafts, give-aways, photo opportunities, and directional assistance.
- Food Prep is available to volunteers who have passed the 30-hour introductory period and are at least 18 years of age. Volunteers assist Keepers with preparing animal diets such as cutting up fruits, vegetables, chunk meat, and divvying out mealworms and crickets.
- Enrichment is available to Volunteers who have passed the 30-hour introductory period and are at least 18 years of age. Volunteers help create feeder and play devices as well as exhibit adaptations.
- Research is available to volunteers, 18 and over, who have completed the Observing Animals: Behavioral Studies in Zoos UCLA Extension course taught on Zoo grounds. The fall class teaches observational techniques and is a non-invasive study on behavior. For more information, please call 323/644-4236.
