New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management – Zookeeping

• Animal care and husbandry: Learn how to provide high-quality daily and lifelong care for a wide range of zoo and wild animals, including their feeding, nutrition, cleaning, environment, housing and safe handling and presence with a variety of species.
• Animal health: Develop an understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, recognise signs of good and ill health, and learn how to respond appropriately to health issues and emergencies.
• Animal behaviour and welfare: Understand animal natural behaviours, life histories and welfare needs, and learn how to support positive welfare in animals in human care. Learn and observe animal behaviour and recognise changes in health or wellbeing.
• The Five Domains of Animal Welfare: Learn about the Five Domains model and how it is applied and integrated in zoos to assess and promote positive animal welfare, considering nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental state. Students learn how these areas work together to support animals to experience positive welfare and thrive in human care.
• Enrichment, animal training and natural behaviours: Learn how to use enrichment in appropriate environments to encourage natural behaviours and cooperative care training to improve the wellbeing of zoo animals.
• Health and safety: Develop safe working practices for working around wild animals, including hygiene, risk management, animal containment and keeper safety.
• Biodiversity and conservation: Explore biodiversity, conservation and the important role zoos and wildlife facilities play in local and global conservation.
• The zoo profession: Learn about how zoos operate, the history and changing role of zoos, and the responsibilities of modern zoo professionals.
• Visitor education and communication: Develop skills relevant to educating zoo visitors and communicating information about animals, conservation, welfare and action-based conservation to ensure a positive visitor experience.
• Professional workplace skills: Build the professional skills, competencies and personal attributes needed to work effectively in the zoo and wildlife industry.
• Practical zookeeping experience: Apply your theory learning in a real zoo environment through industry work experience, developing practical skills across different animal groups.
• Work-ready skills – Graduate with the practical knowledge and skills needed to apply for entry level employment as a zookeeper or animal carer in a zoo, wildlife park or sanctuary.

Highlights

• Only zookeeper qualification in Aotearoa. All main zoos in Aotearoa, New Zealand, recognise this programme as the entry-level qualification to work as a zookeeper in the industry. 
• A mixture of on and off-campus learning. You’ll be required to attend three compulsory block courses (5 days) at our Mt Albert campus, where you’ll gain applied knowledge and skills to help you through your work experience. It’s also a chance to meet students from other zoos nationwide and attend field trips to Auckland Zoo and Hamilton Zoo. 
• Lots of work experience. You’ll complete 280 hours at an approved zoological facility where you can apply the knowledge and skills you’ve learned to the practical management of a wide range of species. 

Blended learning

This study option is full-time (off-campus and online), and you’ll be required to attend three compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus.

To study from a distance, you must be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. You must attend all block courses, exams, practical assessments, and work experience and complete your self-directed study (research, reading, and revision) and assessment writing.

You’ll also need consistent access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and appropriate office software, e.g., Microsoft Office, which we’ll provide once you‘re enrolled.

Practical Work Experience at a Zoo

• At least 40 hours must be with invertebrates, fish, amphibians or reptiles
• At least 40 hours must be with birds
• At least 80 hours must be with mammals, with a minimum of 16 hours with at least one dangerous animal

Interested in working at Auckland Zoo?

Unitec assists with the arrangement of the Auckland Zoo placements as part of your application. If you plan on applying for a placement at Auckland Zoo, follow the instructions below (please do not contact them directly).

Where to next?

If you’re interested in continuing your studies, this programme will give you the academic admission requirements for the Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Animal Management and Welfare or Biodiversity Management.