Santa Fe College Celebrates National Zoo Keeper Week; July 15-21

July 17, 2012

In recognition of the dedication of zoo keepers, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) and zoos and aquariums across the nation will take part in National Zoo Keeper Week, July 15-21.

Created by AAZK, National Zoo Keeper Week is celebrated each year beginning on the third Sunday in July. During the week, zoos nationwide honor animal care professionals and the work they do in animal care, conservation and education.

"The American Association of Zookeepers is excited to announce National Zoo Keeper Week," said Shane Good, President of AAZK. "We are proud to have zookeepers recognized for the important work they do on behalf of wildlife and conservation."

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo will honor its zoo keepers with a week of activities including the "Zoo Keeper Olympics" at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 18. The competition features zoo keepers competing against each other in games requiring use of their zoo keeper skills, such as animal identification, animal capture and restraint, and animal feed identification.

As the only zoo keeper training facility in the United States with a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is the premiere training program for exotic animal keepers. The Zoo Animal Technology program is a five-semester degree program that trains students for a career in captive animal management.

The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) a nonprofit, volunteer organization made up of professional zookeepers and persons dedicated to professional animal care and conservation. The mission of AAZK is to advance excellence in the zoo keeping profession, foster effective communication beneficial to animal care, support deserving conservation projects, and promote the preservation of our natural resources and animal life.

For more information, contact Jonathan Miot at 352-395-5602.