The Veterinary Department
Howletts and Port Lympne have their own veterinary team working on site across both wild animal parks in Kent, and also overseeing the veterinary work for The Aspinall Foundation, our partner charity's projects. The team cares for all our animals, which includes just over 1200 individuals, with over 120 different species.
The vet team are passionate about animal welfare, and are responsible for all our veterinary care; including preventative healthcare schemes, to ensure all individuals are kept in the best condition, as well as responding to emergencies managing critical care whenever required.
The team also play a big part in The Aspinall Foundation's international reintroduction projects by overseeing all the projects’ veterinary work, and undertaking disease risk analysis for each species intended for reintroduction.
Meet the Team
Director of Veterinary Services
Dr Jane Hopper
MA VetMB CertZooMed MRCVS
Senior Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Ellen Holding
BVetMed MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Ashley Clayton
BVSc CertAVP MRCVS
Head Registered Veterinary Nurse
Brogan Krook
BSc Hons FdSc DipVNZS APVN(Zoo) RVN
Veterinary Work Experience
The vet department run EMS and veterinary nurse experience weeks.
Booking for each year opens the January prior. So, for a 2026 placement please ensure you have submitted the below application from the 1st January 2025 (Applications submitted before the 1st January, will not be considered, as we do not keep a wait list).
Placements are allocated first come first serve pending a successful application.
Do you meet the criteria?
- Passionate about wildlife and conservation medicine
AND A:
- Qualified Veterinary Surgeon MRCVS* (please note that you will only be allowed to carry out student level tasks, with direct and continuous supervision by our vets)
- Current veterinary student enrolled on a recognised veterinary medicine course* (in your last 2 clinical years)
- Qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse** (please note that you will only be allowed to carry out student level tasks, with direct and continuous supervision by our vet nurse)
- Current veterinary nurse student on a recognised veterinary nurse course** (in your final year)
* Maximum 2 week placement possible
** Maximum 1 week placement possible
Booking now open for 2026 placements, please complete the relevant application form.
FAQs
I am interested in becoming a vet/nurse but not yet enrolled onto a degree/course, can I still apply?
Will there be hands on experience with the animals?
What hours will I work during my veterinary placement?
What should I wear during my veterinary placement?
What should I bring with me on my veterinary placement?
Where should I park each day of my veterinary placement?
Where should I go on my first day of veterinary placement?
Do you provide accommodation during my veterinary placement?
I am interested in becoming a vet/nurse but not yet enrolled onto a degree/course, can I still apply?
Unfortunately not, due to the dangerous nature of our work with wild animals we are only able to take students that have an established understanding of the safety and relevant legislation within the veterinary industry which is taught on veterinary medicine/nursing courses.
Will there be hands on experience with the animals?
Whilst we will try to get applicants involved with all aspects of the roles of the veterinary team here, we cannot guarantee any hands on situations, as understandably our work is unpredictable working with wild animals.
What hours will I work during my veterinary placement?
Applicants are expected to work the same hours as the veterinary team which is Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.
Applicants will not work nights/weekends.
Of course, as with all veterinary based jobs there may be some emergencies that overrun time wise, applicants should take this into consideration.
What should I wear during my veterinary placement?
There is no specific dress code, please dress sensibly and smartly. Please ensure you have warm and waterproof clothing. Boots or shoes must have closed toes and be suitable for use in footbaths (walking boots or steel-toecapped boots are advisable). If it’s wet, wellies may be useful.
What should I bring with me on my veterinary placement?
Please bring a laptop with you if possible. Any food/drink you need for the day (there are a couple of outlets on site, but they may be shut at times, and we cannot guarantee what times you will be having lunch due to any veterinary emergencies).
Where should I park each day of my veterinary placement?
Please park in the main visitor carpark.
Where should I go on my first day of veterinary placement?
Please head straight to Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve gate house for 9am (up the ramp and over the bridge – the first building you see in front of you), and alert the gatehouse staff you have arrived, and they will contact us.
Do you provide accommodation during my veterinary placement?
We do not provide accommodation, previous students have used local holiday park lets, and Airbnb, we are not affiliated with any of these.
There is a hotel at Port Lympne, however this would need to be booked via the ‘short breaks’ section on the website and is completely separate from the vet department.
