Inspiring Malaysia’s future wildlife guardians

Classroom without walls: KeeperKu programme participants feeding animals in their enclosure. The programme offers an invaluable opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. – AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

AT Zoo Negara, young Malaysians are discovering what it means to care for animals. Through the KeeperKu programme, students and young adults work alongside professionals, learning about animal husbandry, preparing diets, cleaning enclosures and understanding how zoos contribute to species conservation.

Launched as part of Zoo Negara’s mission to engage the community in wildlife conservation, the programme offers individuals aged 16 and above the rare chance to experience life as a zookeeper. What makes KeeperKu special is that it is cultivating a new generation of conservation-minded Malaysians.