Volunteers are needed to help look after animals in three exhibits at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

About 40 extra volunteers are needed to help in the new Explorers' Creek exhibit, as well as in the Butterfly Forest and the lemur walk-through garden.

Work would involve helping feed the parrots as well as talking to visitors about tropical butterflies and moths and manning the red-ruffed lemur exhibit.

During a shift, volunteers will rotate around the three sections in response to demand, but ideally get a chance to volunteer on each of the exhibits for at least an hour.

Ann Lovell, Bristol Zoo's volunteer services manager, said: "It's not often you get the chance to help out alongside tropical wildlife.

"This is a great opportunity for confident people, who enjoy talking to the public, to come forward and help answer visitor questions and make sure the visitors and the animals are behaving themselves.

"It is also a great chance to learn about lorikeets, butterflies and lemurs.

"Volunteers are an integral part of the day to day running of Bristol Zoo – we couldn't do it without them."

The zoo has 250 volunteers who help in various ways, from face painting and brass rubbing in the activity centre to helping the gardens department or giving animal encounters.

Volunteers are required to help at the zoo for at least half a day each week. No experience is necessary as full training will be given.

Volunteers must be over 18 for most roles but there is no upper limit. There are some seasonal or holiday volunteers too.

Visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/people/volunteering or call 974 7363 for more details.