This Week's Headline Highlights

2025 ZAA Semi-Annual Meeting and Professional Development Workshops (Mid-Year Conference)

Registration is Now Open for the 2025 ZAA Semi-Annual Meeting and Professional Development Workshops! Click here to register.

Join us February 11–14, 2025, in Issaquah, Washington, hosted by Cougar Mountain Zoo for an unforgettable event.

Take advantage of the Early Bird rate available until January 15th!

Don’t forget to secure your discounted hotel reservation by January 10th.

What to expect:

Insightful Workshops: Participate in professional development sessions led by industry experts, designed to deepen your knowledge and advance your skills.
Meaningful Networking: Connect with peers, colleagues, and leaders in the field who share your passion and commitment to excellence.
Community building: Collaborate and exchange ideas with like-minded individuals, building relationships that inspire and strengthen our shared mission.

We look forward to seeing you there!

New Clouded Leopard AMP!

We’re thrilled to announce that the Clouded Leopard Animal Management Plan (AMP) has officially been approved, marking an exciting milestone for ZAA. This achievement brings ZAA’s total number of AMPs to an impressive 12, showcasing our commitment to advancing animal care and conservation.

A special congratulations to Stephanie Jeter, who has been appointed as the Species Manager and Studbook Keeper for the Clouded Leopard AMP. Stephanie’s expertise and dedication will play a pivotal role in guiding the care, breeding, and conservation efforts for this remarkable species.

Does your facility want to be part of this important initiative and contribute to the future of clouded leopards? Joining the AMP is a great opportunity to collaborate with other dedicated professionals and make a lasting impact on conservation. Contact Stephanie today at sjeter@twpark.com.

Let’s celebrate this achievement together and continue our mission to protect and preserve wildlife!

ZAA Professional Development Webinars

Shift Your Perspective: Pre-requisites to Effective Communication

January 8th, 2025

Click here to register

Common Myths of Zoo and Wildlife Feeding

January 22nd, 2025

Click here to register

Keepers are the Backbone: Enhancing and Advancing an Existing Wellbeing Program

January 29th, 2025

Click here to register

Building Bridges: How and Why to Establish Essential Relationships with Your Representatives

February 26th, 2025

Click here to register

Conservation & More

APHIS Reminds All Animal Caretakers of the Importance of Biosecurity in Protecting Animals from HPAI

Young Mako Shark Travels 750 Miles, Offering Hope For Conservation Efforts

Saving valley dragons: How a conservation group helps save endangered lizard species

WWF report highlights 234 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region

JWM: Caribou adjust their migrations in response to snow

Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park's Thermal Basins

Read Some of the Most Exciting Stories From the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2024

Capybaras take their turn as the holiday season's 'it' animal

The world’s deadliest cat is deceptively cute. Meet Gaia.

New Workshops and Events

An Introduction to Target Training with Cassie Malina - Awesome Animal Solutions

January 12, 2025 at 1-3pm EST | Online

Incredible Poster Presentations at the 2024 ZAA Conference!

Congratulations to all of our 2024 ZAA Annual Conference presenters! This year’s conference featured an outstanding lineup of poster presenters, showcasing a diverse range of innovative topics. From conservation efforts and animal welfare to groundbreaking research, their work highlights the passion and expertise driving our field forward.

Click here to visit our newsroom and read their abstracts and explore their work in detail! These are ideas that inspire action and spark progress!

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: Cooperative Care - Introduction to Husbandry Behaviors Part 2

January 7, 2025 at 2-4pm EST | Online

An Introduction to Target Training with Cassie Malina - Awesome Animal Solutions

January 12, 2025 at 1-3pm EST | Online

Giraffe & Okapi Conference

January 20 - 24, 2025 | Palm Desert, CA

Click here to learn more.

SDZWA Safe Capture Training Events

January 22-23, 2025 | San Diego, California – San Diego Zoo Safari Park

February 15-16, 2025 | Athens, Georgia (Univ. of Georgia)

March 17-18, 2025 | St Joseph, Missouri (Missouri Western State Univ.)

March 22-23, 2025 | Lincoln, Nebraska (Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln)

April 5-6, 2025 | Phoenix, Arizona (Arizona Game & Fish Dept.)

Click here for more information.

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: Understanding Observable Behaviour

February 4, 2025 at 2-4pm EST | Online

2025 IAATE Annual Conference

February 19-22, 2025 | Pigeon Forge, TN | Hosted by The American Eagle Foundation

Registration is now open. Click here to learn more.

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: The Science of Behaviour

March 4, 2025 at 2-4pm EST | Online

Small Mammal & Ambassador Symposium

March 5-7, 2025 | Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, Texas

Abstracts due December 2nd, 2024

Practical Zoo Nutrition Management Course - Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

28 April – 2 May 2025 | Front Royal, VA

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