Another world leading zoo has joined Sparsholt College’s exclusive zoo keeper training programme. St Petersburg, the oldest and second largest zoo in Russia is the latest to sign up to the Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA), the official training course for zookeepers, offered nationally and internationally by Sparsholt and endorsed by BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums).

Zoo-keepers from the prestigious St Petersburg’s Zoo joined other keepers from Moscow, Latvia and the UK for a launch event held at Riga Zoo.

Course director Andy Beer explains the appeal of the course: “This consolidates the College’s reputation and work with international zoo partners and the appeal of distance learning. Keepers study on location to achieve the qualification that is the gold standard for zoo keeper training in the UK. The DMZAA course, is now studied nationally, in Europe, the Middle East and the Baltic States and we are negotiating with other countries to establish the programme in new regions.”

The DMZAA is a partnership between BIAZA and Sparsholt College and is designed for people already working in a zoo or with an animal collection.

For further information on the DMZZA and our Animal and Zoo Management programme click here or contact Andy Beer at andy.beer@sparsholt.ac.uk