Ex-Situ Wildlife Management and Husbandry (ANIM2055)

Course overview

This course explores the ex situ management and husbandry of wildlife populations in captivity.

Evidence of immunity to Q fever and vaccination against tetanus is mandatory for this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information. External mode of study is restricted and will require permission to enrol. To request permission email environment@enquire.uq.edu.au with the course information and include relevant supporting evidence.

Eligibility criteria:

• Students must show evidence that travel time of greater than 90 minutes or 100km from Gatton Campus and is reflected in mySI-net: Acceptable Evidence advice that MySi-net record is up to date;
• Students must show evidence that work commitments restrict their ability to attend regular practicals: Acceptable Evidence a letter from employer
• Students with core course timetable clashes: Acceptable Evidence a copy of correspondence from Science My Timetable indicating clash is unable to be resolved. Clashes with elective courses will not be considered.
• Students unable to provide this evidence will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Zoo and aquarium science is the scientific study of the care and management of wildlife populationsﾠthat live in zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums, and rehabilitation centres. This course is intended to provide students with an interest in becoming a manager of captive vertebrate species or a ﾠzoo professional ﾠwith an introduction to zoo biology, an understanding of the way the zoo community functions and knowledge of wildlife husbandry. 

The course is structured into two main streams, the management principles of zoos and the husbandry of selected species, with a deliberate focus on Australian wildlife. 

Topics covered include: ﾠ(1) The history of zoos, (2) The purpose and popularity of zoos, (3) Zoo exhibit design, (4) Zoo organisations and legislation, (5) Collection planning, (6) An introduction to zoo animal management software (ZIMS), (7) The principles of zoo animal nutrition and feeding, (8) Small population demographic and genetic management, (9) Reproductive management,(10) Behavioural enrichment, (11) ﾠZoo ﾠanimal restraint,(12) Zoo animal training and conditioning, (13) The principle and application of preventive veterinary care, (14) Amphibian husbandry, (15) Reptile husbandry, ﾠ(16) Crocodile husbandry and handling, (17) Avian husbandry, (18) Echidna husbandry, (19) Dasyuridae, (20) Wombat husbandry, ﾠ(21) Koala husbandry, (22) Macropod husbandry, (23) Marine mammal husbandry, (24) The role of wildlife hospitals and (25) The role of ex situ conservation - Save the Bilby Fund.

A major highlight of the course will be the student's ﾠexposure and introductory training to the ZIMS animal management software (a key component of management in modern zoos) - this skill set ﾠis highly desirable when applying for positions in the global ﾠzoo industry. Other workshops include; genetic management, behavioural enrichment and recent advances in the practical use of veterinary technology. 

An exciting feature of the course is the inclusion of a broad range of zoo professionals (curators and zookeepers) as guest lectures and UQ academics with active research programs in zoos. 

Students will also have the opportunity (non-compulsory) to experience and develop "hands on" animal husbandry skills at UQ Gatton's Native Animal Wildlife Teaching and Research Facility.ﾠ

This course has mandatory immunisation requirements due to an increased risk of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) for students working with animals or in agricultural environments. Students will be asked to provide evidence of immunity to Q fever via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

ANIM1026

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ANIM3016 and ANIM7016 (co-taught)

Restrictions

Restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements.
External offering requires permission to enrol.

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

The course content for ANIM2055 is co-taught with ANIM7016.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

PLEASE NOTE:ﾠ The lecture and practical timetables may change slightly during the semester. These changes will be notified to students at the lectures and on Blackboard. Lectures will be a mix of on-campus and virtual delivery to provide flexibility to some of our guest lecturers. The course content for ANIM2055 is co-taught with ANIM7016.

Participation in a "hands-on" husbandry training session at the Native Wildlife Training and Research Facility (UQ Gatton) is non-compulsory. A roster for the husbandry training sessions will be available early in semester and all sessions will be scheduled in the afternoon (2 - 5pm).ﾠThese sessions may be dependant on staff availability. The 'hands on' husbandry training sessions have been identified as high-risk activities for Q-fever exposure. If a student wishes to part-take in the non-compulsory husbandry sessions then they will need to be vaccinated.

Attendance is compulsory for all scheduled practicals/tutorials (3 practicals on-campus at UQ Gatton and 1 practical at Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre) for students enrolled in the "in person" mode.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this course is to discuss and investigate the care, husbandry and management of wild animals in captivity. It will introduce students to the fundamentals of zoo animal management including the history, purpose, organization and regulation of zoos, the principles of zoo animal nutrition, small population demographic and genetic management, reproductive management, behavioural enrichment, zoo animal restraint, zoo animal training and conditioning, preventive veterinary care from a zookeeper's perspective, and the importance of enclosure design for animal welfare, public display and keeper safety. It will also provide students with an understanding of the husbandry of animals found in Australasian Zoos including amphibians, reptiles (snakes, lizards and crocodiles), aves, monotremes (echidna), marsupials (dasyurids, wombats and macropod) and marine mammals. Students will also develop competency in the use of the ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System) database and an introduction of how to make informed decisions on which zoo animals to bred based on genetic and disease status. A highlight of the course will be the inclusion of Queensland zoo industry experts as guest lecturers.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Design brief of enclosure

• Identity Verified
• Online

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

20%

Due date

28/03/2025 1:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L03, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the assignment submission link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

In-semester Examination

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

25%

Due date

2/05/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See the additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferred applications

Zoo keeper talk

• Identity Verified
• Online

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

15%

Due date

16/05/2025 1:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

This assessment task is to be completed via a pre-recorded presentation that is uploaded and submitted to the ANIM2055/7016 Blackboard website. The presentation must include a video insert of the student presenter delivering the brief.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

End of Semester Exam

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L03, L04, L06

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Please note the following when writing assignments

You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.

Turnitin

Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠ

Release of marks

Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved,ﾠevery attempt will be made to haveﾠthe results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ

Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility

Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:

• You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
• Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
• Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.

Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.ﾠ

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for timeframes. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Additional supplementary material may be posted on the Blackboard Site for the course at learn.uq.edu.au. Please check the announcements section of the Blackboard Site regularly for information updates.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

Students will be given the opportunity to participate in the husbandry of a range of species at the native animal wildlife teaching and research unit. Participation is not compulsory. A roster will be made available by week 3 of semester.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Vaccinations and Immunisation Procedure

Course guidelines

Student immunisation requirements 

The University policy Vaccination and Immunisation (Vaccinations and Immunisation Guideline / Document / Policy and Procedure Library) provides information about immunisation and screening requirements related to programs and courses. Failure to comply with student immunisation requirements can lead to an increased risk of serious illness occurring. Therefore, non-compliance will result in the relevant course/s being dropped from your enrolment under Section 3 of the Enrolment policy (Enrolment Procedure / Document / Policy and Procedure Library).