Zoo Legislation: Zoo licensing Act 1981, Secretary of States’ Standards for Modern Zoo Practice, role of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), Balai directive, the Control of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and relevance to transportation and other current legislation.

Zoo Record Keeping: Animal identification methods, need for record keeping and systems (Animal Record Keeping Systems (ARKS), Medical Animal Record Keeping System (MEDARKS), Zoo Information Management System (ZIMS) and ZIMS Full Medical)

Health and Safety: Risk assessing, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other relevant legislation

Reproduction and breeding: reproductive anatomy and spermatogenesis, genetics and heredity, selection of breeding stock and role of the stud book, requirements for breeding and conditioning, sexing sexually monomorphic species, artificial breeding technology, management during gestation or gravidity and parturition, dealing with surplus stock, breeding prevention

Advanced Zoo Nutrition: digestive anatomy (monogastric, ruminant, hind gut fermenter), components of diets, supplements, compromises of captive diets, principles of food storage, nutritional disorders, management of live food, role of visitors in feeding animals

Health planning: role of zoo veterinarian, health record keeping, prophylactic calendars, case management (history, clinical assessment, post mortem policy,

Professional Standards: prioritising tasks and time management, professional expectations of pace and quality of performance, managing expectations of the public, reporting procedures, sharing best practice.

Practical competence - Species specific husbandry requirements – reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates

Practical Animal Husbandry Skill development - Experience of working with invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals (inc. Domestic, agricultural and exotic examples)

Students will be assessed via three elements:

In the first assessment (30%) the students will carry out a mock zoo inspection on the Animal Zone (or other suitable collection) utilising official zoo inspection paperwork (LO1).

In the second element (40%) the students will produce a Species Specific Dietary and Breeding Plan. They will prepare a detailed dietary plan for a named species to include digestive anatomy, diet formulation for a group of individuals at various life stages, details of supplementation, practical feeding issues and nutritional disorders. In addition students will prepare a detailed breeding plan for a group of one species to include reproductive anatomy, genetic considerations, potential use of technology, breeding prevention, selection and conditioning of breeding stock, management during gestation, and parturition, care of young (LO2).

In the third element (30%) the students will be assessed by the tutor carrying out a range of zoo management tasks during 3 x 30 minute practical sessions. Each session to be with a different taxa and will be measured against industry standard led marking criteria. Though students are to be expected to work under assessment conditions for the whole time, actual 1:1 assessment will not be for the full 30 minutes of the session (LO3).

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 hours over 2 semesters) 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 and practical sessions (60 hours over two semesters or as full time week blocks) involving a wide range of animal husbandry skills and experiences on our Animal Zone.

On top of this it is expected that students will partake in at least 280 hours of independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions (60hrs), extending classroom notes via extended reading and research (60 hrs), completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks (80hrs) and research, planning and completion of final assessment pieces (80hrs)

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.Critically appraise a named animal collection in accordance with relevant legislation and record keeping protocols.

Knowledge and understanding
Learning

2. Develop a detailed dietary plan and breeding plan for a named zoo species.

Problem solving
Application

3. Competently demonstrate a range of zoo animal husbandry skills to professional expectations.
Knowledge and understanding
Application
Reflection

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
Employer Links for Work Experience opportunities

Essential Reading

Hosey, G, Melfi, V and Pankhurst, S (2013) Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare. Oxford University Press 2nd Ed

Recommended Reading

Edited by Kleiman, D.G, Thompsom K.V, Baer, C.K., Wild Mammals In Captivity: Principles and Techniques for Zoo Management, 2nd Edition (2010), University of Chicago Press.

Kaoud, H, Feeding Zoo Animals (2019) Independently Published

Hynd, P, Animal Nutrition: from Theory to Practice (2019), CABI Publishing

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