The Zookeeping Situation at Colombian Zoos A. Girón, Executive Director Acopazoa – Colombian Association of Zoos and Aquarium Colombia , South America
13 Institutions – 9 zoos and 4 aquariums – are members of the Colombian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Improving the welfare of the animals that are keeping in their collections is at this moment one of the main objectives of directors and team work of the institutions. Zookeeping is the basic to achieve this objective in the way of keepers are the direct responsible of the basic routine developed with the animals. The education level of our keepers is improving to the secondary level, at this moment 75% of them are in this level. This situation and the creation of lead keepers charge in almost all the institution promote the developing of zookeping career in our country. Acopazoa, are developing a basic standars process and the aspects related with animal welfare, environment, enrichment and training has a high level of exigency, which promote the commitment of the directors to qualify the keeper’s team. At this moment we are planning a workshop for the keepers and the lead keepers, looking for the duplication of the information inside the institutions. |