East Kilbride Shopping Centre | ZooLab Case Study | East Kilbride, EK, is Scotland's biggest undercover shopping centre. It has an eclectic mix of high street retailers and smaller, independent shops. They asked ZooLab to help attract families to the shopping centre by providing engaging and interactive entertainment. ZooLab Adventure Trails - perfect for every season. Let your guests go WILD as they discover our ZooLab characters. Find out more! EK Shopping Centre EK is Scotland's biggest undercover shopping centre and forms a vital part of local community. As part of their 'Summer Adventures' programme they asked ZooLab to help attract families to the shopping centre by providing engaging and interactive entertainment. Over the course of the summer we provided several bespoke sessions which incorporated EK's Summer Adventures themes and helped drive family traffic from the local community. BOOK NOW Our exotic animals allowed families to get up-close and hands-on with nature. With several workshops spanning over 3 separate dates during the summer, hundreds of children got to experience the amazing animal encounters ZooLab has to offer. The general scripts used in the sessions were easy to follow and allowed anyone of any age to enjoy and participate in the show. Out of gallery EK Shopping Centre footfall increased We performed several scheduled shows throughout the day which were all fully booked. We also had drop-in sessions where families could come and interact with our animals on a one-to-one basis. The feedback has been amazing! The public who attended the shows at EK Shopping Centre rated the experience as ‘excellent’ on feedback forms. They stated that ZooLab's exotic animal handling was the perfect addition to a day out for all the family. Meet the gang! Our ZooLab characters are excited to meet you! Meet the animals Get in the know before getting up-close and hands-on Check out our workshops Our educational workshops hit curriculum outcomes Meet the Rangers We've got the best bunch! Which Ranger will visit you? Looking for something different? Check out our workshops Book now!

Meet the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica), a mollusc that can grow to 20cm. Discover snail facts for kids such as diet, habitat, & lifespan with ZooLab. Giant African land snail Achatina fulica Classification: Gastropod Largest snail in the world. They can live 5-10 years, grow up to 20cm long and weigh up to a kilo. Chomp chomp! They have more teeth than any other animal - up to 20,000 microscopic teeth in their mouths. The fountain of beauty. Snail slime is good for your skin. It is used in lots of moisturisers and anti-wrinkle creams! Lifespan: 6-10 years Threats: Hermit crab, coconut crab and some bird species Distribution: East Africa Habitat: Forest floor Appearance: Giant African land snails can grow up to 12cm in length and weigh up to 600g. They can be identified by their mottled brown, conical-shaped shells which have vertical stripes and a yellow foot Diet & Feeding: Leaf litter Social Behaviour: Giant African land snails are nocturnal, moving around at night to feed. With the exception of mating, snails spend much of their time alone Males and females: The giant African land snails are hermaphrodite which means that they have both male and female reproduction organs Number of young: They lay about 200 eggs Giant African land snails can drastically reduce its metabolism and survive for a few months or even a few years without food

Looking for animal experiences in North Shields? Meet ZooLab Ranger Elizabeth and her animal team. She is on hand to deliver curriculum based workshops for schools and attend events near you. Elizabeth Stephenson ZooLab Ranger License Number: 26/0533/EXHIB Elizabeth joined ZooLab in 2026. She works in North Shields and the surrounding areas. Elizabeth has a BSc in Marine Zoology and worked as a professional scuba diving instructor, as well as a tour guide/spotter on whale watching boats in Australia. ZooLab combines her love for animals and helping people learn new things, while she continues to learn herself. “My favourite thing about working for ZooLab is watching people's perceptions of these animals change when they meet them, and seeing people who were hesitant or scared at first get really involved and interested in the animals by the end of the session.” Make a splash Elizabeth has swam with humpback whales in Australia. Amazing! Adrenaline rush! Elizabeth has some extreme hobbies. She likes bouldering and is currently learning to surf! Costa Rica Elizabeth has volunteered in an animal sanctuary in Costa Rica looking after sloths. "My favourite ZooLab animal is my corn snake Ron. He's only little but he's so sweet and has a deep orange pattern which people love!” BOOK NOW

Looking for animal experiences in Fife? Meet ZooLab Ranger Ronan - drama graduate, animal expert and confidence builder. Hands-on workshops for schools and care homes across Fife. Ronan Henderson ZooLab Ranger License Number: - Ronan joined ZooLab in 2026. He works in Fife and the surrounding areas. Ronan has a Drama degree and has been animal mad since he was a child. He also has over a decade's experience working with animals. He's worked in aquariums, pet shops and for an emergency vet. "I was drawn to ZooLab as it felt like it was made for me, it combines all of the best parts of all the jobs I've had before - and who doesn't want to play with their pets all day?" Reducing Fear R onan's favourite part of the job is seeing people's excitement and confidence grow as their fears shrink! Taking a Dook! He has swum in Scotland's 3 largest lochs and also swam with sharks, dolphins, stingrays and turtles! 2nd in the World Ronan holds #2 in the world in a speedrun category in his favourite game! He is also a huge fan of spooky movies and video games. “My favourite ZooLab animals are my Madagascar hissing cockroaches, I find them endlessly fascinating. I actually think they're really cute and they are always on their best behaviour too!” BOOK NOW

Meet animals in Cornwall! ZooLab Ranger Emily is on hand to deliver animal workshops in schools, care homes and more throughout the South West. Emily Lethbridge ZooLab Ranger Licence Number: LI24_006013 Emily joined ZooLab in 2022. She works in Cornwall and the surrounding areas. Emily has a BSc Zoology degree and gained hands on experience whilst at uni though volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries. She also used to be a rock climbing instructor, so has got teaching experience working with people of all ages! "I love working for ZooLab because I get to do two things I love - teaching and animals. It's all about education, spreading the word about the importance of these animals." Emily is an artist! Emily is a dab hand with the brushes. Her favourite subject to paint is wildlife and pet portraits. South Africa Emily volunteered at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in South Africa, helping save endangered rhinos. Life's a beach It's a balancing act! Emily's recently moved to the Cornish coast and taken up surfing. "My favourite ZooLab animals are the snails. Their eyes droop when they are happy and I think it's really cute." BOOK NOW

Looking for traveling zoo in Lancashire? Meet ZooLab Ranger Oli and discover hands-on animal workshops for schools and events near you. Oliver Greenwood ZooLab Ranger Licence Number: AWL0058 Oliver joined ZooLab in 2024. He works in Preston and the surrounding areas. Oliver has a Bsc degree in Zoological Conservation and worked as part of a zoo education team. He looks forward to teaching the next generation and inspiring them to look after the animals on the planet whilst we can. "I love all the weird and wonderful facts about the animals that I get to share with the public. I love seeing their reactions when they learn something new." Going to the zoo Oli picked up lots of weird animal facts during his time as a Wildlife Learning Officer at a zoo. Reptile Man Worked with and owned varying amounts of beginner and challenging exotics for over 8 years. Animal Advocate Oli is passionate about changing people's minds on the weird and wonderful creatures he works with. "I love my cockroaches. I love teaching people the crazy facts about them and seeing their reactions." BOOK NOW

Meet the Asian forest scorpion (Heterometrus Spinifer), an arachnid that glows under UV light. Discover scorpion facts for kids such as lifespan , adaptations, & habitats with ZooLab. Asian Forest Scorpion Heterometrus Spinifer Classification: Arachnid They're well-travelled. They prefer hot areas but can even be found in strange locations such as the Alps . They glow in the dark! Under UV light, these scorpions fluoresce, glowing a bright turquoise. Scientists don't know why. Let's grow old. They usually live until they're about 20 years old. Some even live 30 years! Lifespan: 6 - 8 years, though some live for 20 years Threats: Loss of habitat. Some species of spiders, birds, bats, parasitic wasps, centipedes, lizards and even other scorpions Distribution: India to Malaysia Habitat: Rainforest Appearance: Dark blue or bright black colour with some areas in brown and a gritty texture Diet & Feeding: Feeds on insects, arthropods, and small invertebrates Social Behaviour: The Asian forest scorpion does not live socially Males and females: Differences between male and females are often extremely subtle Number of young: 15 - 40 Pain-wise, it’s sting has been likened to that of a bee and some people may have an allergic reaction to the venom

Looking for animal experiences in London? Meet ZooLab Ranger Sarah and her animal team. Discover hands-on education workshops for schools and events near you. Sarah Ford ZooLab Ranger License Number: LN/000018877 Sarah joined ZooLab in 2025. She works in London and the surrounding areas. Sarah has worked in childcare settings and is interested in the benefits of meditation. She has always loved animals and was excited to join ZooLab and our animal team. Sarah loves to engage with the community and make a real difference for children and adults alike. Coming soon! “I’m so grateful to be a part of the ZooLab team. Everyone is very kind, helpful, and understanding. It really is the best job I've ever had!” Level Up! Sarah has loads of cool hobbies! She loves singing, listening to music, and playing video games. Time to log off Sarah doesn’t have any social media accounts and prefers a quiet life. Sounds nice! Breathe in... breathe out Sarah enjoys meditating. She practices Pranic Healing, an energy-based therapy. "Growing up, my parents always had exotic animals, so it really felt like working for ZooLab was meant for me.” BOOK NOW

Looking for animal experiences in East London? Meet ZooLab Ranger Ben - passionate about inspiring a new generation to care for the amazing animals that share our world. Book now! Ben Potts ZooLab Ranger License Number: - Ben joined ZooLab in 2026. He works in East London and the surrounding areas. Ben is an actor with extensive experience working with the public as a tour guide, teaching people about London while going up and down the Thames on a boat. As an animal lover, he says ZooLab is the perfect combination of acting and teaching people about our amazing animals. "I’m looking forward to learning about these amazing animals and teaching everyone I meet about how incredible and important they are to us. Hopefully, I can inspire a new generation to take care of the animals that live alongside us." Goal! Ben loves football; he has played since he was 4 and can't remember ever not watching his favourite team. Chopsticks at the Ready Chinese food is his favourite meal - he thinks it's the best food on the planet. XYAB In his free time, Ben loves to play on his Xbox with his friends. "My favourite animal are the tree frogs; they are super friendly and extremely cute. They have great personalities and are really funny as well." BOOK NOW

Looking for an animal handling experience in Bedfordshire? Book ZooLab Ranger Charlie and discover hands-on animal workshops for schools, nurseries and care homes tailored to you. Charlie Sterling ZooLab Ranger Licence Number: CB/LANW/24/004074 Charlie joined ZooLab in 2024. She works in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. Charlie has 10 years experience in the zoo industry. Before ZooLab, she spent her time animal training and presenting shows to the public with free flying parrots and birds of prey, and doing sea lion shows. "I really loved getting to work with cows and pigs. I love working for ZooLab as I believe environmental education will have a big impact on how we treat the world in the future." Who's a pretty boy? Charlie is mad about birds. She even fosters and consults with a parrot charity. Charlie wants a cracker! She's knowledgeable Charlie has a DMZAA, BSc Animal Science and a registered ABTC animal trainer through BIAZA. Who needs a hoover? Charlie has two chickens, Ozzy and Sharon who "clean up" any crumbs left on the ground. "I've spent years building trust and bonds and there is nothing quite like the feeling of an animal choosing to be with you." BOOK NOW

Meet Slo-Mo, ZooLab's snail who loves science. They always try their best. Discover Slo-Mo in ZooLab's interactive animal story workshops for nurseries. I'm Slo Mo! Giant African land snails are one of the largest snails in the world! My pronouns are ‘they/them’. Giant African land snails are neither male nor female. I love science. Snail slime is good for you, it's used in anti-wrinkle cream! I’m big & clumsy. It is one of the largest snails in the world! They have a “muscular foot” that helps them move. It releases slime to help it slide about. They live on the forest floor and in damp places. I’m always hungry. The giant African land snail eats everything from flowers to seaweed and sometimes even other snails! I love science. Snail slime offers a great result when used on human skin because it moisturises the face and keeps it rejuvenated.

Meet ZooLab's animal team. Get in the know before getting up-close and hands-on Hello Little Explorers! Visit our YouTube channel to see this week's video. Watch now! Meet Our Amazing Animals The UK's #1 for ethical animal encounters. Inspiring curiosity, building confidence. Creating unforgettable experiences. From fascinating reptiles and amphibians to friendly mammals and incredible invertebrates. Our animals help children connect, learn and fall in love with wildlife. BOOK NOW Why We Choose Our Animals Every animal is carefully selected for safe, hands-on learning and the highest standards of welfare. Ethical Animal Welfare We follow strict welfare guidelines and work only with licensed, responsible providers. Safe Hands-On Learning Our animals are calm, handled safely and perfect for engaging educational encounters. Inspiring Curiosity We ignite a love of nature and help children build confidence, empathy and understanding. Meet Our Animals Discover the incredible animals you could meet at a ZooLab experience. Corn snake Gerbil Giant African millipede Leopard gecko Chilean rose tarantula White's tree frog Giant African land snail Madagascar hissing cockroach Indian stick insect Asian Forest Scorpion Animal spotlight A little peek at our animal team! Animal Welfare Always Comes First We go above and beyond to ensure the best possible care for every animal. Licensed Professionals Our team is fully trained, DBS checked and experienced in animal handling and welfare. Enriched Habitats Our animals live in spacious, enriched enclosures that meet their physical and mental needs. Expert Care Regular health checks, specialist diets and enrichment ensure happy, healthy animals. Learning Through Animal Encounters Our animals help bring key curriculum topics to life. Adaptations Habitats Classification Conservation Biodiversity Ready to Book an Unforgettable Experience? Interactive animal experiences for schools, care homes, events and wellbeing programmes, delivered by expert ZooLab Rangers. BOOK NOW