History of zoos: what is a zoo, zoo timeline from early menagerie to modern zoological collection

Welfare of animals in zoos: enclosure design, size of enclosures, naturalisation of enclosures, normal, abnormal and stereotypical behaviour, reproductive success, habituation to humans, measuring welfare and stress, enrichment, social groupings, population management, euthanasia, animal escapes

Legislation: legislation changes throughout history, national, regional, international, Zoo Licencing Act, SSSMZP, firearms, inspection, enforcement

Zoological society: BIAZA, EAZA, WAZA, small population management, stud books, studbooks keepers, zoo registrars, European stud books (ESB’s), (EAZA Ex situ Programmes (EEP’s), species committees, Species Advisory Groups (SAGs) and Taxonomic Working Groups (TWGs), Regional Collection Plans (RCPs)

Biodiversity and threats to species: Vulnerability to extinction (high trophic level, body size, specialist diet/habitat, restricted range, dispersal difficulties), pollution, climate change, habitat destruction/fragmentation

Population and Community: Demographics, density dependant/independent regulation, population structure and growth, growth curves, effects of interactions, predator/prey dynamics, distributions, survivorship. Community structure, diversity, richness, evenness, keystone species, effects of interactions, relation to successional processes.

Role of zoos in conservation: Captive Animal management, Translocation Biology, small population biology, conservation education, The World Zoo and Aquarium conservation strategy, ways of delivering conservation, regional conservation, sustainability and commercialisation

Social pressures: animal welfare and rights groups, news, propaganda, social media

Students will be assessed in two ways:

Assessment 1 will require students to produce an essay that examines the history and future of zoological collections and the impact of how knowledge and understanding of species has influenced legislation, key organisations and improvements to animal welfare and may drive the future design and ethos of zoos in the UK (50%) LO 1.

Assessment 2 will include students carrying out a case study on a named UK zoological collection evaluating and justifying their impact on conservation projects for endangered species (50%) LO’s 2 and 3.

The module will also involve a range of formative assessment techniques to assess learning and progress throughout the module including self, peer and tutor evaluation, targeted questioning and critical analysis of techniques and skills.

Although this intended as a face to face delivery module, there is opportunity and expectation that there is flexibility in the delivery of the theory elements and use of online and remote learning will be available as required

This module will be delivered via classroom sessions (60 hrs over 1 semester) that will deliver theory via a range of methods such as traditional lectures, group activities, guest speakers, individual tasks, questioning, role play, modelling, kinaesthetic activities, short research tasks and tutorials and seminars to develop underpinning knowledge and understanding.

On top of this it is expected that students will partake in at least 140 hours of independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions (20hrs), extending classroom notes via extended reading and research (50 hrs), completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks (30hrs) and researching, planning and producing assignments (40 hrs).

Technology enhanced learning: All module material will be made available electronically on a Microsoft Teams based virtual learning environment. This will include the ability for students to access some lectures remotely - either live or via asynchronous delivery of voiced over slides, screen capture demonstrations or in house produced training videos. This will also allow formative tasks and in class exercises to be completed and reviewed live. It will allow the linking of technology based supplementary material including, but not limited to, journal links, live seminars and conferences, you tube videos, animal live webcams at zoos and wild areas, online software such as Google Map layers and MINITAB. Use of collaborative learning platforms (e.g. Google whiteboard), Quizizz and other interactive learning, progress and assessment tools and the internet in general will also be used to enhance learning. The college has bookable laptops for student use in all teaching blocks for students that do not have their own hardware to access this material in classroom based sessions. Students will also have their own ProPortal page that can be used to monitor and track their pastoral and academic progress, career development and personal targets and is managed by the tutor through ProMonitor.
Work placements are logged and tracked through Grofar, within which, students, tutors and placement mentors can communicate and track learning.

1. Analyse past, current and future development of zoological collections in relation to animal welfare.
Knowledge and understanding
Enquiry

2. Critically review conservation projects for endangered species and analyse their success.

Analysis
Problem solving

3. Evaluate and justify the role of zoos in the protection and conservation of endangered species.
Knowledge and understanding
Application

ITC Facilities with internet access
Staffordshire University Library
Well-equipped classroom facilities
Rodbaston Animal Zone
~150 hectare managed college owned estate of mixed arable and livestock farmland, ancient woodland, wetlands, ponds, pools and grasslands
Appropriately equipped laboratory
Virtual Learning Environment
Learning Support Centre
Industry Links

Essential Reading:
Hosey, G., Melfi, V. and Pankhurst, S. (2013). Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management, and Welfare. Oxford. OUP
Fa, Funk and O’Connell (2011) Zoo Conservation Biology. Cambridge University Press

Recommended Reading:
Appleby, M.C. (2018) Animal Welfare. 3rd Ed. Cabi Publishing
Dawkins, M. (2021) The Science of Animal Welfare: Understanding what animals want. Oxford. OUP
Butterworth, A. (2018) Animal welfare in a changing world. Cabi Publishing
Maple, T. (2015). Zoo Animal Welfare. Springer
Sutherland, W. J (Ed) Brotherton, P., Davies, Z., Ockendon, N., Pettorelli, N. & Vickery, J.(2020) Conservation Research, Policy and Practice (Ecological Reviews). Cambridge University Press

Journals
Conservation Biology
Zoology
Zoo Biology
International Zoo Yearbook
Behavioural Ecology
Animal Behaviour
The UFAW Journal – Animal Welfare