This Week's Headline Highlights

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

The last day to secure your discounted hotel reservation is tomorrow, January 25th!

Click here to register.

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

Don’t forget to secure your discounted hotel reservation by January 24th.

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!

Conservation & More

Remembering Karen Pryor - Zoo Logic

Elephants denied ‘personhood’ must sue to leave zoo: Colorado Supreme Court

New wildlife crossings could save panther lives in 2025

Second wolf release confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

How AI and machine learning led to ‘mind blowing’ progress in understanding animal communication

Giant pandas to debut at National Zoo in Washington: Here's how to plan your visit

‘These animals are essentially family:’ Horses, sheep and ducks not forgotten in California wildfires amid rescue efforts

Celebrating National Wildlife Refuges

New Study Reveals Whale Sharks Use Man-Made Structures To Navigate The Oceans

The Hidden Benefits We Get From Wildlife

Last Chance to Register for PSC 2025

New and Upcoming Workshops

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - "TEC Talks" Webinar Series Relaunch: "Choice and Control: Understanding the Differences and Their Impact on Animal Welfare"

January 27, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

ZAHP: Webinar: Enhanced Keeper Safety through Engineering and Administrative Controls

January 30, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

Bitesize Behaviour Series: Raptors Reimagined - A Holistic Approach to Choice-Based Care and Training - Virtual 10 Week Course on Contemporary Raptor Care and Management

Tuesdays beginning April 15, 2025 from 2-4pm EST

Early Bird Registration pricing ends March 15

Calling All Authors for ZAA’s Quarterly Magazine!

We invite you to contribute to ZAA's quarterly magazine! If you have a successful education or conservation program at your facility and want to share your work, we would love to hear from you.

Please note, we are not seeking opinion pieces; instead, we are looking for articles that highlight your facility's achievements and initiatives.

Interested in contributing? Fill out the form below to get started:

ZAA Magazine Contribution Form

Interested in featuring your ad in our magazine?

Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your business, organization, or product in our quarterly magazine, reaching a dedicated and engaged audience in the industry.

With a variety of ad sizes and competitive rates, there's a perfect fit for everyone. Don't miss the chance to connect with our readers and make a lasting impression.

Click here to explore our ad rates and reserve your space today!

Now Accepting Applications for the 2025 ZAA Conservation Initiatives Grants

Do you have a game-changing conservation project in mind? ZAA is proud to support innovative initiatives that drive species conservation, habitat preservation, and biodiversity enhancement.

Application Window: January 1, 2025 – April 15, 2025

Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 per project

We’re looking for proposals that excel in:

Conservation research
Education and outreach
Community engagement
Field programs and scientific studies
Multidisciplinary approaches to solving conservation challenges

Apply Today

Curious about the impact of these grants? Discover stories of past recipients and their incredible work!

Click here to view past recipients

ZAA Professional Development Webinars

Common Myths of Zoo and Wildlife Feeding

January 22nd, 2025

Click here to view the recording

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

January 29th, 2025

Click here to register

Dangerous Conservation: the Addition of Giraffes to the ESA

February 5th, 2025

Click here to register

Anatomy of a Dangerous Bill

February 19th, 2025

Click here to register

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

February 26th, 2025

Click here to register

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - "TEC Talks" Webinar Series Relaunch: "Choice and Control: Understanding the Differences and Their Impact on Animal Welfare"

January 27, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

ZAHP: Webinar: Enhanced Keeper Safety through Engineering and Administrative Controls

January 30, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: Understanding Observable Behaviour

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

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop

February 8-13, 2025 | In-Person

SDZWA Safe Capture Training Events

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.

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.

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Virtual 4-Week Course: Parrot Training and Behavior

Tuesdays: February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 2025 | Online

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - "Expanding Your Training Toolbox": 1 Day Training Workshop with Steve Martin

February 26, 2025, 10am-3pm EST | Online

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Immersion Workshop

March 1-6, 2025 | In-Person

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

Bitesize Behaviour Series: Raptors Reimagined - A Holistic Approach to Choice-Based Care and Training - Virtual 10 Week Course on Contemporary Raptor Care and Management

Tuesdays beginning April 15, 2025 from 2-4pm EST

Early Bird Registration pricing ends March 15

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Virtual 4-Week Course: Ambassador Animal Training and Welfare

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

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

28 April – 2 May 2025 | Front Royal, VA

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop

November 8-13, 2025 | In-Person

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