Zoo Academy highlights importance of animal welfare and legislation in Zoo UK zoos

Zoo Academy highlights importance of animal welfare and legislation in Zoo UK zoos

JMICAWE’s Heather Bacon recently visited Sparsholt College to participate in the launch of the new ‘Zoo Academy’ as well as to deliver animal welfare and ethics teaching to UK zookeepers enrolled on the Diploma in the management of zoo and aquarium animals (DMZAA).

As a DEFRA-appointed zoo inspector and the course organiser of the welfare and ethics teaching for the DMZAA, Heather was pleased to celebrate progress in education on animal welfare and legislative protection of zoo animals in the UK. The newly-founded Zoo Academy, headed by Andy Beer, will incorporate training of a range of zoo professionals including zookeepers and zoo inspectors in the legislative, welfare and ethical responsibilities of zoos.

Heather said “We’ve recently seen increased momentum in the recognition of the importance of animal welfare across the UK zoo community, and the development of the Sparsholt Zoo Academy brings that into focus by recognising the increasing specialisation and need for training of professionals across the zoo community.”

Photo L-R: top row: Tim Jackson - Sparsholt Principal, Heather Bacon - JMICAWE, Douglas Richardson - RZSS and independent zoo consultant, Andy Beer - RZSS and programme director of the DMZAA, others - zookeeper students on the DMZAA