A teaching zoo is a working zoo that offers learning opportunities to students of zoology, zookeeping, and related fields. The public is welcome to visit the teaching zoo, and it is run similarly to other zoological parks, except that the zoo’s staff is made up of students and teachers rather than professional zoologists. Teaching zoos can provide invaluable experience for zoologists, and they can also be used to showcase cutting-edge research in everything from animal husbandry to new veterinary procedures.
Although teaching zoos are designed to educate people about zookeeping and zoological practices, many of them are also used for research and captive breeding of endangered animals. Research is an important part of the field of zoology because it contributes to the development of better animal husbandry techniques by providing more information about animal biology. Teaching zoos frequently have the personnel and resources to conduct research, whereas traditional zoological parks do not.
Captive breeding is also an important part of a teaching zoo, as it contributes to endangered species genetic diversity by increasing the number of animals available, as well as providing a learning opportunity for future zookeepers. Students can learn how to handle animals, deal with a variety of real-world situations, and apply new techniques that aren’t widely used by working in a teaching zoo. Students may also have the opportunity to meet zoology’s leading figures.
Future zookeepers are expected to do a lot of coursework in addition to working in a teaching zoo. The zoo experience allows people to practice procedures and work directly with the animals that they are interested in, while classroom education covers everything from animal safety to animal nutrition. Traditionally, teaching zoos have been associated with colleges and universities that offer zoology courses.
Some teaching zoos are also schools, in addition to being affiliated with them. Pioneers in the field of zoology have created teaching zoos and educational programs that are used to establish zoological parks and breeding programs in countries with endangered animal populations, encouraging local residents to get involved in environmental preservation. A teaching zoo may be affiliated with a veterinary college, providing exotic veterinarians with hands-on experience with the animals they are learning to treat.