Managing a zoo requires balancing the provision of excellent animal management and care with an optimal visitor experience and quality customer service. In addition to standard business management practices, zoos also need to consider the extra element of collection planning. Although high level management tasks are not part of a zookeeper’s role, their work is directly influenced by zoo management decisions. Zoo management should promote organisational unity through a shared mission, goals, and organisational values. The zookeeper position is a key part of a zoo’s staffing structure, and it is good practice for zookeepers to have an overview of the management that takes place at higher levels of their organisation.
List of The Best Zoo Management Online Courses
1. Zoo Keeping
Study Zoo Keeping and gain the foundation knowledge and skills you will need to start your career in captive animal management. This course suits those already working with captive animals or those wishing to enter this competitive area. Students will learn about Animal Welfare, Animal Care, Diet and Nutrition, Enrichment – Environmental and Feeding and so on…
Course Highlights:
- Describe the nature and scope of zoos as a source of education and conservation
- Develop appropriate procedures for managing occupational health and safety in a zoo, with a view to minimising risk to staff, animals and visitors
- Describe the nutritional requirements and feeding preferences of animals within zoos
- Determine health management measures required for a range of different captive zoo animals
- Describe the management of breeding in zoos
- Determine appropriate ways to manage a range of different wild animals in zoos
- Explain procedures and techniques used to manage human-animal interactions in zoos
Course Duration: 100 hours
2. Advanced Certificate in Zoo Keeping Online Course
Studying online courses in Zoo Keeping is an excellent idea for anyone wanting to get into zoo keeping or to build on your existing knowledge and skills.
This online course is designed for students who want to learn a wide range of skills and knowledge about Zoo Keeping. This course covers not only zoo keeping, but also animal behaviour, and animal health care. Students may choose one elective from the following modules: Primatology, Herpetology, Ornithology, Vertebrate Zoology, Marine Studies A (Or Aquarium Management), Wildlife Mgt or Diagnosing Animal Diseases.
Course Highlights:
- This course will introduce you to the various aspects of working in zoological gardens and safari parks and general captive animal management
- This introductory course is designed to give you practical understanding of common veterinary nursing procedures
- Learn to understand difficult behavior and techniques to deal with animals behaviour
Course Duration: 24 months
3. Zoo Keeping
This home study Zoo Keeping Online Course will provide you with flexible learning experiences that will help start you on your way to a career in zoos and safari parks. Although apprenticeships may be available, where you start off at the bottom and work your way up, zoos will often ask that you have hands-on experience in working with animals, possibly as a volunteer in a safari park, zoo or animal shelter. They may also require you to have A levels or their equivalent in animal care and/or animal science disciplines.
Course Highlights:
- The preparation of food, plus the feeding of your assigned animal
- Maintaining cleanliness of the pen or cage and checking for any damage or wear and tear
- Changing bedding
- Ensuring that the animals’s enclosure is as near to it’s natural living conditions as it can be
- Making sure that the animal looks well and is disease free
- Caring for the animal when it is sick
- Ensuring that the cage or pen is at the right temperature and correct humidity
- Maintaining written and/or computerised records where necessary
Course Duration: Self Paced
4. Introduction to Animal Care And Welfare- Alison
This course sensitises you to your responsibilities in terms of providing appropriate care and treatment to animals. We explain how to provide animals with the necessary food and shelter while ensuring that their physical and mental needs are met. We show you how to administer medication and select a pet-sitting service to provide optimal animal health care in order to ensure good health and better lives for the living things in your care.
Course Highlights:
- Explain the principles of animal care
- Identify various animal illnesses and their treatment options
- Outline the purpose of pet microchipping
- Summarise the procedures involved in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on animals
- Compare various types of animal foods and their nutritional values
- List and explain the different feeding methods for pets
- Explain the purpose and advantages of pet-sitting and walking service
Course Duration: 1.5-3 hours
5. Animal And Zoo Management
From 2023 the T Level in Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care will be available at Sparsholt College, with Specialist Pathways available in Agriculture, Land Management and Production.
The T Level in Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care provides a unique opportunity to undertake a qualification that is supplemented by experiences within the industry. You will undertake core content such as Sustainability, Business, Communication, Health and Safety and Finance all important theory that underpins knowledge and understanding of the wider Agricultural sector. Following this, occupational specialism units will allow you to specialise in Livestock Production, Crop Production, Land-based Engineering, Trees and Woodland Management and Maintenance or Ornamental Horticulture. Your work placement throughout the two years will then enable you to put into practice your knowledge and understanding.
Course Highlights:
- Sustainability, including environmental legislation, sustainable development, climate change and waste management principles
- The principles of biosecurity
- Employment rights and responsibilities and progression opportunities within the sector
- Ethical principles
- The supply chain and principles of stock management
- Business organisations, enterprise skills and project management
- Characteristics protected by equality legislation
- Communication
- Principles of customer care
Course Duration: 2 years
6. Careers in The Veterinary Industry
When considering a career in animal care, the many avenues and organisations available can make it difficult to know where to start.
This course from Learning Lounge will help inform your future career choices in the animal care sector. You’ll gain an overview of animal facilities, with a specific focus on veterinary care, and examine a variety of roles available within them.
Course Highlights:
- Identify the different types of animal facilities.
- Describe the different types of veterinary practices.
- Discuss the daily tasks in a veterinary clinic.
- Explain the process of euthanasia.
- Summarise the importance of stock and equipment maintenance.
- Identify the different roles within the veterinary practice.
- Describe housing guidelines in veterinary clinics.
Course Duration: 2 weeks (2 hours/week)
7.MSc Zoo Management and Conservation
This is an advanced course for students who want to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Zoo Management and Conservation following degree-level study in a related subject. The MSc programme in Zoo Management and Conservation is open to applicants who are due to graduate or have graduated in a related subject area. Alternatively, you may be employed within the industry with significant experience and would like to develop higher level skills relating to animal wildlife conservation.
Course Highlights:
- Develop higher level skills relating to animal wildlife conservation
- Gain skills to critically assess the role of management, infrastructure, income generation, stock and visitors in zoo environments
- Analyse ecosystems and produce solutions to complex ecological models
- Develop advanced knowledge and expertise necessary to help conserve habitats, species and preserve biodiversity
Course Duration: 2 years
8. FdSc Zoo Management
The course includes career-focused modules such as captive breeding and record keeping, zoo animal training and animal health and disease, plus you will have extensive access to our wide range of exotic species including primates, small carnivores, reptiles, amphibians and birds
of prey.
Course Highlights:
- Directly transferable skills such as exotic animal husbandry, zoo nutrition, conservation education and use of the ZIMS (Zoological Information Management Systems) software
- Combination of academic study with practical learning opportunities to develop a range of academic and professional skills specific to the zoo industry, with knowledge of exotic captive animal management
- The opportunity to engage in overseas field courses to a range of localities including southern Africa, South America and Europe
- Develop essential knowledge and skills in animal husbandry & handling, animal biology, principles of disease, and the role of zoos in species conservation
Course Duration: 2 years
9. Essential Animal First Aid
If you are starting out in a career in this rewarding industry, animal first aid is your essential starting point. By learning important first aid skills and techniques you will be equipped to react calmly and confidently in an emergency situation. A skill is valuable to both employers and pet owners alike. In addition to learning essential first aid, you will be introduced to common health issues in domestic pets and learn how to monitor and respond to different animal behaviours. This is the perfect course choice for those embarking on a career working with animals with no prior experience.
Course Highlights:
- Common Health Issues in Domestic Pets
- Basic First Aid for Animals
- Routine Health Care for Animals
- Rehabilitation of Domestic Animals
- Maintain and Monitor Animal Health and Well-being
Course Duration: 50 hours
10. Zookeeping – BEN208
This online course will teach and introduce you to some of the major aspects that go into working in zoos, wildlife parks and safari parks. This course is helpful in excelling you into a career of working with animals.
Course Highlights:
- Animal Welfare
- Animal Care
- Diet and Nutrition
- Forms of Enrichment to enhance wellbeing
- Captive Breeding
- Enclosure Design
- Research, Education and Conservation in Zoos
Course Duration: Self Paced
11. Zoo Management- University Centre Reaseheath
The programme provides a unique combination of academic study with hands-on training and experience in the management of zoo animals. The course includes specialist modules and practical experience with a range of exotic species – mammals, amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles and birds of prey. Students are taught throughout the programme utilising the zoo licensed facilities on campus. Work in the field will expand your knowledge of wild animal and captive behaviour and conservation
Course Highlights:
- Student will have the opportunity to engage in overseas field courses to a range of localities including southern Africa, South America and Europe
- Centre houses over 1,000 animals and 125 species inc:
- Mammals: serval cats, tapirs, ring-tailed lemurs, porcupines, tamarin monkeys, otters, capybara, meerkats, mara and wallabies, among others
- Birds: birds of prey, chickens, ducks, finches, cockatiels, cockatoos, and budgerigars
- Reptiles: snakes, bearded dragons, tortoises and chameleons
Course Duration: 2 years
12. Zoo Husbandry And Management (Hadlow), FdSc
The programme is aimed to equip students with a range of skills needed by the industry such as aquatic species management, native species management, project management, horticultural practices as well as direct practical animal management skills on a wide range of species.
The range of modules ensures that students are able to apply for a range of job roles after completion. This includes private collections, zoos, wildlife parks, education establishments and charities.
Course Highlights:
- The programme is primarily delivered at Hadlow College, in a multi-million pound, state-of-the-art Animal Management Centre
- Membership and use of Zoo Information Management System (ZIMS)
- Four consecutive Grade 1 outstanding OFSTED Inspections
- Students have the option of completing a Top up degree on any of the Animal Management HE courses at Hadlow College.
Course Duration: 2 years
