Zoo Keeping
Are you interested in working with animals? Our Online Courses Australia Zoo Keeping course will introduce you to animal welfare, nutrition, health and many more areas that ensure successful conservation and nurturing of animals. You will learn about the importance of maintaining a high level of health and hygiene within a captive environment as well as the need for captive breeding. Through observations and interactions you will build an understanding as to why we need to conserve the animal kingdom.
Become a Zookeeper and let your understanding of animals contribute to ensure that they remain on this planet for future generations to enjoy.
Students will learn about:
- Animal welfare.
- Animal care.
- Diet and nutrition.
- Enrichment - environmental and feeding.
- Captive breeding.
- Optimum enclosure design.
- Research and conservation.
- Educating the public.
Career Prospects
- Zoo manager.
- Zookeeper.
- Curator.
- Veterinarian.
- Wildlife inspector.
- Zoologist.
- Employment at an animal theme park, aquarium, reptile centre or zoo.
Course Delivery
This course is delivered 100% online. Upon enrolment students are issued with a login and password, providing access to OCA's e-learning centre. For a full demo of the OCA student experience from enrolment to graduation click here.
Recognition and Accreditation
Upon successful completion of this course you will receive an OCA Certificate of Achievement in Zoo Keeping. There are no pre-requisites to this course.
Units of Study
This course has 9 units of study.
Click here for more details
1. The Nature and Scope of Zoos
- What is a zoo?
- The evolution of zoos.
- Change in zoo design.
- Modern zoos and sanctuaries.
- Legislation.
- Codes of practice.
- Animal welfare.
- Enrichment.
- Record keeping.
- Identification tags.
- Animal taxonomy.
- Phylums and classes of the animal kingdom.
- The function of zoos.
- Research and zoos.
- Education in zoos.
2. Occupational Health and Safety in Zoos
- Workplace health and safety.
- Legislation.
- Health and safety management in zoos.
- Zoonoses.
- Legionnaires' disease.
- Other safety issues.
- Risk management.
3. Captive Husbandry - Nutrition and Feeding
- Animal nutrition.
- The effect of poor nutrition on animal behaviour.
- Water requirements.
- Essential dietary components.
- Vitamins and minerals.
- Food storage and preparation.
- Presentation of food.
4. Captive Husbandry - Health
- Monitoring health.
- Maintaining health.
- Diseases.
- Quarantine.
- Record keeping and animal transfer data.
- Enrichment data transfer form.
5. Captive Husbandry - Reproduction
- The need for captive breeding.
- Captive breeding in zoos.
- Goals of captive breeding.
- Issues with captive breeding.
- Inbreeding risks.
- Captive breeding programs.
- Monitoring the reproductive status of zoo animals.
- Assisted reproduction.
- Stud books.
- Birth control and separation.
6. Captive Husbandry - Behaviour and Enrichment
- Ethology.
- Behaviour.
- Types of behaviour.
- Behaviours in captive animals.
- Learned behaviour.
- The flight or fight response.
- Animal behaviours.
- Animal welfare indicators.
- Environmental influence on behaviour.
- Behaviour management.
- Environmental enrichment.
7. Human-Animal Interactions
- Keeper-animal interactions.
- Visitor animal interactions.
- Dealing with dangerous animals.
- Flight distance of animals.
- Handling animals.
- Visitor animal interactions.
- Stress reduction.
8. Enclosure Design and Maintenance
- Optimum enclosure design.
- The perfect enclosure?
- Replicating nature.
- Providing stimulating environments.
- Physical enrichment.
- Feeding enrichment.
- Sensory enrichment.
- Social enrichment.
9. Problem-based Learning Project - Environmental Enrichment
- Introduction to and definition of problem-based learning (PBL).
- Problem definition.
- Team structure and interaction.
- Discussion.
- Resources.
- Guidelines.
How Long Does The Course Take?
This short course should take approximately 100 hours.
Each unit should take approximately 10-12 hours. Maximum six months access to this online course.
Course Costs
Purchase this course online and complete it at your own pace in your own time.
Pay Now
To purchase this course, simply click on add to cart.
Save at least 15% if paid in full
Pay Now Cost$499
Payment Plan
You may pay for this course via a flexible payment plan. To do so simply select this option and click on add to cart.
$50 Deposit
$50/Week for 12 Weeks
Total Payment Plan Cost $650
