Close Encounters of the Crawly Kind: Residents at TLC Kailash Manor Spend Time with the Zoolab Team and Their ‘Anipals’

There’s never a dull moment at TLC Kailash Manor Care Home, especially when you get the opportunity to host a unique group of visitors for the afternoon. The home welcomed the Zoolab team and their cohort of animal friends for an ethical Animal Handling Workshop where residents were able to get up close and friendly with exotic reptiles and creepy crawlies.

The bistro was converted into a makeshift zoo drawing in curious minds, cautious touches and courageous encounters. Residents took on the role of novice zoologists learning from Zoolab ‘Ranger’ Stephen who gave brief introductions to each animal including their countries of origin, natural habitats and fun facts about each creature. After this briefing, residents were able to hold and pet a range of wildlife including Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches, Leopard Geckos, Corn Snakes and for the very brave, the Chilean Rose Tarantula. The care team also had the chance to take part in the workshop, some leaping at the chance to get involved and some leaping away at the sight of the multi-legged beasties.

Wellbeing Team Lead, Sneha Patel commented “The Zoolab Team were great and so attentive to our residents making sure everyone felt comfortable but also encouraging them to participate showing them that they are braver than they think. Some of our residents were nervous at first but quickly became confident and even initiated holding and stroking the animals’
“I myself held the tarantula, something I thought I would never do, so I’m really quite proud of myself. It was a fantastic afternoon with Stephen and his ‘anipals’, our residents are still sharing stories of their animal encounters!’

Manjula Patel, a resident, recalled how she used to play with Leopard Geckos during her childhood in Gujarat, India: “They move very fast, as children we would try to catch them with our hands but they always outran us. I never thought I would see a gecko in London.”

Stephen, ZooLab Ranger, added: “We enjoyed our afternoon with the residents and team at Kailash Manor. Beyond education and raising awareness of the importance of conservation efforts, we also believe animal encounters are therapeutic and offer an easy and tangible way to boost mental wellbeing among the elderly. Particularly for residents who are unable to access the community, we bring the outside and its bountiful wildlife to them.”

“We hope that experiences like these serve to connect people to our planet and all the animal friends that we share it with.”