Zookeeper Course

Lesson 1 • Ethics and Animal Welfare Principles

Introduces the Five Domains model and ethical frameworks guiding captive animal care. Provides the moral foundation for every husbandry decision made throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Accreditation Landscape

Surveys licensing requirements, accreditation bodies, and animal welfare regulations affecting zoo operations. Prepares keepers to work within compliant institutional environments.

Lesson 3 • Roles and Responsibilities of Zookeepers

Defines daily duties, chain of command, and interdepartmental collaboration. Connects keeper tasks to broader institutional goals and animal welfare outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Taxonomy and Classification Systems

Covers binomial nomenclature and major taxonomic ranks used in zoo records and species management. Enables accurate species identification and communication with colleagues.

Lesson 2 • Invertebrate and Exotic Species Overview

Introduces arthropods, molluscs, and other invertebrates increasingly featured in zoo collections. Highlights unique care challenges distinct from vertebrate husbandry.

Lesson 3 • Vertebrate Groups in Zoo Collections

Surveys mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish commonly held in zoos. Links each group's physiology to specific husbandry requirements covered in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Nutrition and Digestive Physiology

Explains herbivore, carnivore and omnivore digestive systems and their nutritional requirements. Directly informs diet formulation and feeding protocols taught in the next chapter.

Lesson 1 • Enclosure Cleaning and Sanitation

Details cleaning schedules, disinfectant selection, and waste management for varied enclosure types. Establishes sanitation as a primary disease-prevention tool in daily keeper work.

Lesson 2 • Feeding Protocols and Diet Preparation

Covers diet formulation, food safety, and species-specific feeding schedules. Connects nutritional science from the previous chapter to hands-on food preparation procedures.

Lesson 3 • Keeper Shift Handover and Communication

Covers shift report writing, verbal handover protocols, and urgent escalation procedures. Ensures continuity of care and accurate information transfer between keeper teams.

Lesson 4 • Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat Maintenance

Teaches water testing, filtration management, and aquatic enclosure upkeep for fish, amphibians and semi-aquatic mammals. Builds competency in a specialised husbandry area.

Lesson 1 • Social Housing and Group Management

Covers compatible grouping, introduction protocols, and management of social dynamics in multi-animal enclosures. Directly impacts welfare and behavioural health of collection animals.

Lesson 2 • Safety Systems and Keeper Protocols

Details protected contact barriers, shift systems, and lockout procedures that keep keepers safe. Establishes non-negotiable safety standards before hands-on animal work is introduced.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Naturalistic Enclosure Design

Examines how wild habitat features are translated into safe, functional zoo enclosures. Grounds design decisions in species biology and behavioural needs established earlier.

Lesson 4 • Enrichment Theory and Categories

Introduces the five enrichment categories and the science linking enrichment to positive welfare outcomes. Provides the conceptual framework for designing effective enrichment items.

Lesson 1 • Learning Theory and Operant Conditioning

Explains reinforcement, punishment, and extinction within the four quadrants of operant conditioning. Provides the scientific foundation for all training techniques taught in this chapter.

Lesson 2 • Training Records and Programme Evaluation

Covers session data collection, graphing progress, and evaluating training programme outcomes. Ensures training is evidence-based and continuously improved over time.

Lesson 3 • Bridging Signals and Reinforcer Selection

Teaches how to condition a bridge signal and identify effective primary and secondary reinforcers. Bridges theory to practical training sessions with real animals.

Lesson 4 • Husbandry Training Applications

Applies training skills to target, station, crate, and medical cooperation behaviours. Directly reduces animal stress during routine care and veterinary procedures.

Lesson 1 • Assisting with Veterinary Procedures

Prepares keepers to safely restrain animals, prepare equipment, and support clinical procedures. Strengthens keeper-veterinarian teamwork for efficient and low-stress interventions.

Lesson 2 • Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Prevention

Identifies common zoonotic diseases, transmission routes, and keeper protection strategies. Protects both keeper health and animal welfare through informed risk management.

Lesson 3 • Preventive Health and Biosecurity Protocols

Covers vaccination schedules, parasite control, quarantine procedures, and biosecurity measures. Establishes proactive health management as a core keeper responsibility.

Lesson 4 • Recognising Signs of Illness and Injury

Trains systematic assessment of physical and behavioural illness indicators across taxa. Builds on daily observation skills to enable timely veterinary referrals.

Lesson 1 • Studbooks and Population Management

Introduces regional and global studbooks, genetic diversity metrics, and population viability analysis. Provides keepers with context for breeding recommendations they receive.

Lesson 2 • Animal Transfers and Transport Logistics

Covers crate conditioning, transport documentation, and inter-institutional transfer protocols. Ensures animals arrive at receiving institutions in good health and minimal stress.

Lesson 3 • Reproductive Biology and Breeding Management

Covers reproductive cycles, gestation periods, and breeding condition assessment across taxa. Enables keepers to recognise and support natural breeding events effectively.

Lesson 4 • Role of Zoos in Species Conservation

Examines ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategies and how zoo collections support both. Motivates keepers by linking their work to measurable conservation impact.

Lesson 1 • Keeper Talks and Demonstration Programmes

Teaches structure, delivery, and evaluation of keeper talks and animal demonstration programmes. Builds public speaking confidence and educational effectiveness in keepers.

Lesson 2 • Visitor Safety and Crowd Management

Addresses barrier standards, visitor behaviour management, and emergency response near animal exhibits. Protects visitors and animals from preventable incidents.

Lesson 3 • Animal Ambassador Programmes

Covers selection criteria, training requirements, and welfare monitoring for ambassador animals. Ensures ambassador programmes meet both educational goals and animal welfare standards.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Informal Science Education

Introduces how visitors learn in zoo settings and the principles of effective informal education. Grounds keeper-led programmes in evidence-based educational practice.