Comedian Abi Clarke has just become a zookeeper in training. She’s trading the comedy circuit, for the Komodo Dragon habitat, as she attempts to become Chester Zoo’s newest recruit.

This is a wildlife podcast like no other. Forget emotional montages and dramatic music. And enter one frazzled comedian working it out, one day at a time.

Abi has just six weeks to prove that she has what it takes to become the zoo’s next hire. Armed with bundles of enthusiasm, and very little skill, Abi is learning the ropes from the real-life zookeepers, vets and animals that make Chester Zoo the best in the UK.

From facing her fears of crocodiles, to training a sloth to get an xray, Abi is getting fully immersed in zookeeper life.

New episodes every week. Follow @traineezookeeper on TikTok and Instagram for behind-the-scenes videos.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Abi Clarke is stepping out of the comedy spotlight and into some steel-capped boots, because she is officially Chester Zoo’s newest Zookeeper in Training.

In her first week on the job, Abi is thrown straight into the deep end. And by the deep end, we mean a close encounter with some very vocal giant otters, a relocation mission involving 107 greater flamingos and helping a herd of giraffes settle into their brand-new home.

But there’s no time for imposter syndrome, when you’re joining the team at the UK’s best zoo.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

New episodes every week.

Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Week 2 and it's time to turn things up a notch.

First stop: Sloth training with Keeper Sophie. Move over Dua Lipa, Rico's training season is just getting started. And he's doing it at his own pace.

Then, Keeper Zoe introduces us to a huge bird that could probably win a fight against a dinosaur, provided the dinosaur didn't distract it with grapes. And finally, Adam is meeting us in a car park to show us how some converted caravans are saving species globally.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

New episodes every week.

Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 3 and it's time to meet the unexpected icons of the zoo. The underdogs. The animals you didn't have on your bingo card.

Abi kicks things off by meeting the Brad Pitt of Komodo Dragons. And traumatising some children in the process.

Then it's back to Keeper Jonathan from the bird team who's on hand to introduce some of Chester's most fabulous feathered residents.

Plus, Abi meets a tortoise who's made more headlines than most celebs. And quite frankly, deserves every one of them.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

New episodes every week.

Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop the press. We've found a chameleon wearing a waistcoat. And he's ready for the catwalk.

While this fashionable reptile steals the show with his very stylish choices, on the other side of the zoo, there's some big news about some HUGE new arrivals.

And we take a visit to the vet, to hear about STDs, haemorrhoids and a group of chimpanzees using their babies as shields.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

New episodes every week.

Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the team asked Abi if there were any animals she was scared of, she said “Crocodile, obviously.” So today… she’s meeting one. Kind of. Maybe. It’s complicated. Is it a crocodile? A gharial? A false gharial? You’ll have to listen to find out.

But that's just the start. Until now, Abi’s had it pretty easy. Otters, sloths, and casually lobbing grapes at a cassowary. But the real work is about to begin.

She’s elbow-deep in rhino poo and scrambling up cliffs for ibis eggs, all under the watchful eye of a vulture called Ethyl.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

New episodes every week.

Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Abi Clarke done enough to earn her stripes as Chester Zoo’s newest zookeeper? She’s survived six weeks of rhino poo, crocodile encounters, and relocating flamingos. But the finish line isn’t quite in sight yet.

Before she graduates there’s a pregnant sifaka on the brink of giving birth, some freshly hatched chicks that need weighing and it's time to enter the bat cave.

Because nothing tests your zookeeper potential like hundreds of flying mammals and the smell of bat wee.

See some of Abi’s adventures at Chester Zoo on Instagram and TikTok.

Find out more about the incredible work at Chester Zoo, here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.