New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management – Zookeeping

Programme overview

Please note: To join this programme, you'll need to have a zoo placement confirmed. If you'd like to conduct your work experience with Auckland Zoo, applications will come to us and then be forwarded to Auckland Zoo for consideration. If you prefer a placement at another facility in Aotearoa you will need to apply directly to the zoo you intend to gain work experience with. All contact details for all the zoos that support the programme can be found on this page. You will require a confirmed placement at a zoo to complete enrolment to the programme.

Imagine a job where you work with some of the world's most majestic and vulnerable wild animals. Studying to become a zookeeper will support turning that dream into a reality so you can make a meaningful contribution to the welfare, care, and conservation of wild animals in Aotearoa and globally.

In this programme, you'll equip yourself with the skills, knowledge, and attributes needed to ensure the positive management, welfare, and care of wild animals in a zoo environment.

Here's what you'll learn:

• 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.