Professional Development Resources

Photo: Jolene Westerling


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Webinars

ZAA offers weekly webinars. If you are interested in viewing past webinars, you can join ZAA today.

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Provision of Browse for Exotic Herbivores

October 8, 2025 at 6pm ET | Registration Link

Panelist: Mike Maslanka

Beyond agriculture crops used for zoo animal forage, browse (leafy tree and shrub material) is a valuable addition to many herbivore diets. That said, many is not “all,” and it is important to consider the natural history and foraging strategy of the herbivore in question to determine whether browse is needed within a diet. Given the resource investment in browse procurement (whether growing, locating, harvesting, transporting, or all of those), it is important to focus its use to where it is necessary. In this webinar with Mike Maslanka we’ll chat about necessary use and integration into diets, browse safety, and any questions you might have about browse use with your own animals.

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Beyond Basic Care: Elevating Animal Welfare Through Enrichment

October 15, 2025 at 6pm ET | Registration Link

Panelist: Allison Malkowski

Providing daily care is just the beginning of responsible zookeeping. To truly enhance the lives of the animals in our care, we must go beyond routine tasks and strive to understand both the species-specific needs and the individual personalities of each animal we work with. By doing so, we can make a measurable impact on their overall well-being. Enrichment is a powerful tool in enhancing animal welfare. In this webinar, you'll discover the real value of enrichment and explore practical, meaningful ways to integrate it into your daily routines.

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Enrichment Chat with Zoo Enrichment Lab

October 29, 2025 at 6pm ET | Registration Link

Panelist: Sarah Feliciano

Do you ever wonder what makes enrichment “good”? Or how to get a team full of conflicting ideas pushing towards the same behavioral goal? Or do you know a troublemaker who needs just a bit more enriching than the rest of the family group? Send your questions to Tatiana at [email protected] ahead of time, or bring them to the live session, as we dive into all things enrichment with Sarah from Zoo Enrichment Lab!

Webinar Spotlight

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Animal Management Programs - What they are and why they work

Watch the recording here to learn more about AMPs: https://youtu.be/_EtzwM844U0

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Advanced Animal Training Strategies

Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/GFhNKzj8UBI

Magazine

Would you like to access previous issues of the ZAA Journal?

Join ZAA to view the journal archives for ZAA professional development webinar archives, and more.

Inside the September 2025 Issue

Notes:

Advocate | AAZK and ZAA Working Together: Facilitating Growth in the Animal Care Profession

Educate | 2025 ZAA Scholarship Recipients

Conserve | ZAA’s Newest Animal Management Program: Aardwolves 

Behavior Buzz | Bridging the Communication Gap: Plain Language vs. Technical Jargon in Animal Training

Wild About Welfare | 2026 Welfare Workshop Series!

Bonus Article - Advocate: An Invitation to the Zoo Community: Help Care for Cheetahs in Somaliland

Bonus Article - Educate: Training Raptors with Protected Contact: Building Trust and Effective Strategies

Bonus Article - Conserve: 2025 ZAA Conservation Initiatives Grant Recipients

Bonus Article - Educate: Four Flamingo Chicks Hatched at Montgomery Zoo

Bonus Article - Conserve: First Camera Trap Evidence of Chinese Pangolins in Nepal’s Community Forests

Advertise in the ZAA Magazine

Click here to learn more about our ad rates.

If you would like to advertise in the quarterly ZAA Magazine, email [email protected].

Submission deadlines:

1st of March, June, September, December

Animal Training

OPTIMIZING ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGH TRAINING

Training plays a vital role in promoting the well-being of animals in managed care. The ZAA’s Animal Training Committee champions integrating evidence-based animal training practices as an essential component of comprehensive animal care alongside factors like nutrition, veterinary care, enrichment, and appropriate habitats.

THE BENEFITS OF ANIMAL TRAINING

Contemporary animal training transcends simple behavior change. By employing a combination of behavior analysis, ethology, phylogeny, and extensive practical application, today’s animal training fosters a deeper understanding of animal behavior, allowing for the development of training programs tailored to an animal’s individual needs and specific contexts. These programs provide numerous benefits for animals in managed care, including the following:

Enhanced Animal Welfare: Training facilitates cooperation in medical care, allows for the implementation of enriching activities, supports day-to-day care, and promotes overall well-being.

Conservation Support: Training can be instrumental in learning about a species, preparing animals for reintroduction programs, and teaching behaviors that contribute to conservation efforts.

Guest Engagement: Well-trained animals can serve as effective ambassadors for their wild counterparts, inspiring guests to become advocates for wildlife conservation.

Interested in Learning More about The Animal Training Committee? View their factsheet below!

Photo: Jolene Westerling

Events

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Elephant Managers Association (EMA) Conference

October 5-8, 2025 | Fresno, CA

Click here for more information.

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American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) Conference

October 5-9, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ

Click here for more information.

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Private Owner Giraffe Workshop

October 12-15, 2025 | Colorado Springs, CO

Click here for more information.

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Leadership Base Camp

October 12-16, 2025 | Ace Adventure Resort, West Virginia

Hosted by C The Future and Elev8

Click here for more information.

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Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop - The Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center (NEI TEC)

November 8-13, 2025 | Winter Haven, Florida

Click here for more information.

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Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group 2025 Conference - Field trip will be to Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park

November 19-21, 2025 | Mesa, AZ

Click here for more information.

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DRCTI Professional Animal Trainer (PAT) program

November 30- December 6, 2025 | Grassy Key, FL

Click here for more information.

Contact: [email protected]

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International Elephant Foundation's 21st International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium

December 5-8, 2025 | Fort Worth Zoo

Click here for more information.

Disclaimer: The events and workshops listed on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement or imply affiliation by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA).