‘This is a magical place and the impact it had on me as a ten-year-old has stayed with me’
Josh Cook has started work as an educator at the 175-acre Yorkshire Wildlife Park(Image: Yorkshire Wildlife Park)
A dream day at the zoo has turned into a career for a young educator, almost 12 years after he first visited the animal park. Josh Cook was just 10 when he spent a day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
He revelled in a Ranger for a Day session, learning how the park works while getting close to some of its animals and mucking out wallaby huts and flamingo pens. That childhood treat has come full circle for Josh, 22, who is now teaching a new generation about care for rare and endangered species.
He just started work as an educator at the 175-acre park which welcomes in thousands of visitors from across the region every year.
He said: “It’s been a real full-circle moment. I remember my first visit to the park and thinking ‘It would be amazing to work here’. I never thought it would happen, but fast-forward more than a decade, and here I am.”
Josh remembers how his day as a ranger ignited a passion for wildlife and the environment. He is now back as a Seasonal Education Assistant working on the park’s acclaimed education programme.
He said: “I loved visiting and learning at the park, discovering more about the various species and real-world problems with endangered animals. Now I’m excited to pass on this passion, teaching kids about adaptation and the animals’ habitats. It’s a great time to inspire them, and hopefully they’ll go away expressing interest to their parents and want to pursue a career in caring for animals.
“The highlight for me as a ten-year-old was seeing the tiger Tschuna rolling around on her back just a few metres away and then seeing leopards doing the same thing. It felt unreal being so close to these creatures. I’ve loved animals ever since I was a young kid and visited countless zoos and wildlife parks across the country, but Yorkshire Wildlife Park is different and always has been a special place for me. It is a unique and amazing place with large enclosures and the opportunity to get so close to so many wonderful animals.”
Josh works in an education team that handles school and college visits, expedition days and evenings and the Ranger Academy, which runs week-long courses for students aged 15 to 17-years-old who are interested in careers working with animals. The courses mix theory and practical hands-on learning with insights into the wildlife sector – and a valuable boost to CVs and future employment.
The park, which is home to more than 400 animals from 70 species, also offers a Real Ranger Experience for 18+ students with unrivalled behind-the-scenes access and experience across three days in various sections of the park. The Rookie Ranger Academy is a two-day course for aspiring animal enthusiasts aged 11 to 14, running on 21-22 July and 23-24 July.
The week-long Ranger Academy is designed for students aged 15 to 17 who are considering a career working with animals. Courses run 10-14 August, 17-21 August, and 26-30 October.
Josh added: “This is a magical place and the impact it had on me as a ten-year-old has stayed with me, and I’m delighted to help play my part in helping inspire new visitors.”
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