By Angelica Chavez

Security officers at the San Diego Zoo undergo extensive year-round training. In the past, this training was done manually, and was both time- and paperwork-intensive for team members and supervisors. Our wildlife care and HR staffs were already using the Academy for training, professional development, and educational purposes—and I wondered if the security team could benefit from using the Academy for our personnel training needs. A site customized for security officers turned out to be the perfect solution.

By Jerrica Owen, NACA

The National Animal Care and Control Association is proud to partner with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Academy for chemical immobilization training.

By partnering with the SDZWA Academy, we are achieving our mission by supporting animal care and control officers in the field with the training necessary to safely perform their job.

Registration is now open for the following Academy Safe Capture livestream events:

November 6–7, 2021: This event is being hosted by Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and is open to all participants. 

In-person training events are back!
Registration is now open for the following Academy Safe Capture in-person events:

Pennsylvania: October 9–10, 2021: This event is being hosted by the Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences at Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences, and is open to all participants.

Wisconsin: October 23–24, 2021: This event is being hosted by the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and is open to all participants. 

These training events have been approved for 16 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval. This training has been approved for 16 hours of Continuing Education Credit by National Animal Care and Control Association. Also, The Wildlife Society will now allow a maximum of 16 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this training in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program.

For more information, or to register for these events, please visit our Safe Capture website.

By James F. Gesualdi

Opportunity is knocking for the zoological community to lead in advancing animal and public health, safety, and well-being. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced its proposed strategic framework "to conduct surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging and zoonotic diseases in susceptible animals and build an early warning system" as to "potential threats" to act more quickly to limit or prevent a pandemic.

By Don Janssen, DVM

It is a pleasure to be on a team where everyone pulls together, each contributing to the project at hand.

But, admit it or not, we all have a desire to control things. You have essential responsibilities and people to whom you are responsible, but a strong desire for control works against you.

Influential leaders impact the thinking and actions of others without the need to exert control or authority. These are leaders we love to follow.

What, then, does it take to increase our influence and give up our desire for control?

For more information about the Academy, please send us an email at SDZWAAcademySales@sdzwa.org.

Individual, group, and institution rates are available. Please contact SDZWAAcademySales@sdzwa.org.

Academy Newsletters are archived at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Academy website.

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