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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Snake envenomation management in zoo and exotic animals

May 21, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

This lecture with Cory Woliver and Rachel Turner will go into the basics of treating snake envenomations, specifically in zoologic settings. We will discuss pathophysiology of snake bites, proper management, pain control, and some nuances with non traditional animals. We will also discuss some of the current literature of treating snake bites in zoo animals.

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Zookeepers: Boots on the Ground Wildlife Conservationists

June 4, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

Join Dr. Kelly George as she explores the connections between zoos (ex-situ) and field conservation (in-situ), specifically how zookeepers play a pivotal role in wildlife conservation. This webinar is open to all with the goals of identifying key overlapping job duties and requirements, and to hopefully inspire keepers, educators, and zoo management to better understand and communicate our story.

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AAZK's Conservation Initiatives and how you can be involved

June 11, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

Join us for an engaging presentation on how the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) champions wildlife conservation through impactful programs like Bowling for Rhinos, Trees for You and Me, and the AAZK Conservation Committee. Learn how these initiatives raise critical funds, support global and local conservation efforts, and promote environmental stewardship. We'll also highlight how AAZK connects its members to these programs and builds strong relationships with conservation partners, empowering keepers and supporters alike to make a real difference for wildlife and wild places.

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Animal Management Programs - What They Are And Why They Work

June 18, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

ZAA/AMPs are building, growing and are successful with the participation of membership. The benefit of the programs will assist in managing species across our organization. A quick overview of the programs and my experience as a studbook keeper and species manager. In building programs and adding species, our organization is looking for interested members to champion species to grow the number of species represented in the AMPs.

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Contingency Planning: Preparing for Storm Season

July 2, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

This webinar will walk participants through the foundations of contingency planning with a focus on building plans that are both actionable and adaptable. While having a written plan is essential, real-world disasters rarely follow the script. We’ll explore how to identify critical roles and responsibilities, scale planning to your facility’s capacity, and make decisions under pressure when the original plan begins to fall apart. Through practical tools, real case examples, and lessons learned from field deployments, ZDR3 and ZAHP will highlight how strong planning creates the flexibility needed to pivot in the face of the unexpected.

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Wildland Fire Readiness and Response: Lessons from the Field

July 9, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

As wildland fire seasons grow longer and more intense, readiness and response strategies are critical for zoological facilities in regions at risk from wildland fires. In this webinar, ZDR3 brings together a panel of seasoned professionals from facilities with wildfire experience to share their insights, best practices, and real-world lessons learned. From developing pre-fire mitigation plans to managing active threats and post-fire recovery, this session will offer practical guidance for facilities. Whether you're updating your emergency response plan or starting from scratch, this is an opportunity to learn directly from peers who have navigated wildfire events. ZDR3 will moderate the session and provide additional context based on our deployment and support experience during wildfire events.

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What Happens When You Call ZDR3: Understanding the Support Process

July 16, 2025 6pm ET | Click Here to Register

Ever wondered what happens behind-the scenes when ZDR3 is contacted for assistance during a disaster? This webinar walks through the process, from the moment a request comes in to the coordination and mobilization of support teams. We will explain how ZDR3 communicates with impacted facilities, how potential responder teams are identified and contacted, what kinds of support can be provided, and what it is like to have ZDR3 Responders at your facility. This session is ideal for both new and existing partners who want a better understanding of how ZDR3 facilitates safe, appropriate, and collaborative deployments when it matters most.

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

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 March 2025 Issue

Advocate | ZAA Washington, D.C. Fly-In

Educate | Award Winning Teddy Bear Hospital

Conserve | ZAA’s Newest Animal Management Programs: Clouded Leopards

Behavior Buzz | Manners Matter

Benefits of Training Foundation Behaviors for Long-Term Successes in Training

Wild About Welfare | If You Build It, Will They Come?

Bonus Article - Advocate: Supporting Zoos and Animal Experience Operators Through Innovation and Collaboration

Bonus Article - Educate: Seeing Stripes: Grevy’s Zebra Births at Texas Zoofari Park

Bonus Article - Educate: A Lifesaving Training: Why We’re Teaching Dogs to Fear Snakes

Bonus Article - Conserve: A Recipe for “Saving Rhinos”

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

Events

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Virtual 4-Week Course: Ambassador Animal Training and Welfare - The Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center (NEI TEC)

Thursdays: May 8, 15, 22, 29, 2025 | Online

Click here for more information.

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MAZA Conference

June 17-19, 2025 | Dakota Zoo

Click here for more information.

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57th Annual Conference of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV)

August 23–29, 2025 | Kansas City, Mo

We will be offering both in-person event registration and a virtual, on demand registration for this event. Both events offer a possible 20.5 hours of accredited CE. 

Click here for more information.

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Elephant Managers Association (EMA) Conference

October 5-8, 2025 | Fresno, CA

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]

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).