CROCODILIAN BIOLOGY AND PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT
Spring 2023
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, FL.
For information on registration click HERE
.
Join us at the only facility that houses all existing species
of crocodilians and learn from the experts! This course concentrates
on the captive maintenance techniques, husbandry, breeding, and
special requirements for the care of crocodiles, caiman, gharials,
and alligators in zoos and aquariums. Relevant topics on basic
crocodilian biology such as taxonomy, reproductive biology, behavior,
anatomy, physiology, and conservation are included as the foundation
for captive management practices.
Course Tuition (Early Bird,12 weeks prior to course start date)
$1,350 for AZA Individual Members
$1,550 for Non-members
Course Registration
Please note, Payment is now due at the time of registration. Please do not submit a registration
form without payment, as it will not be processed.
If you have any questions about your acceptance status, or for
additional details please contact the AZA
Professional Training Department or call (301) 562-0777.
Travel and Accommodations
Please wait until you are admitted into the course before making
your reservations. You will receive a confirmation letter containing
detailed information regarding your accommodations and transportation
once you are admitted.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is the closest airport.
Course participants stay at a hotel within a 10-minute walking distance to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
General Hotel Pricing Estimate:
$80+ One/Two Queen Bed(s)
Course Scholarships
The following scholarship opportunities are currently available
to aquarium and zoo professionals for the Crocodilian Biology
and captive Management course.
Robert O. Wagner Professional
merit based award
An additional scholarship opportunity is provided by the The
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, for The John Behler Scholarship.
For a full list of available AZA scholarships click
here.
Target Audience
This course is open to professional biologists who either work
full time with crocodilians or who may work with them in the
near future. Priority will be given to individual members working
at AZA accredited institutions. International applicants and
those not affiliated with an AZA accredited institution will
be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students must be at least 21 years of age.
If applicant does not work at an accredited AZA institution please
attach a separate letter describing your intended benefit from
taking this course.
Course Topics
The school is a balanced program of classroom lecture, demonstrations,
and hands-on wet labs. Relevant topics on basic crocodilian biology
including taxonomy, reproductive biology, behavior, anatomy, physiology,
and conservation will be included as the foundation for captive
management practices. Management subjects will include enclosure
design, social groups, introductions, breeding, nesting, egg incubation,
training, sexing, capture techniques, chemical immobilization,
diet, medical care, and population management.
Course Instructors
- Kent A. Vliet, Ph.D., Coordinator of Laboratories
University of Florida
- John Brueggen, Director
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- John Groves, Emeritus Curator of Herpetology
North Carolina Zoo
- Greg Lepera
Greg Lepera Photography
- Gen Anderson, General Curator
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- Jim Darlington, Curator of Reptiles
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- Jen Brueggen, Crocodilian Biologist
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- Bruce Shwedick, Director
Crocodile Conservation Services
- Curt Harbsmeier, J.D., Executive Board Member
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
- Elliott Jacobson, Professor of Zoological Medicine
University of Florida
- Kevin Torregrosa, Collection Manager of Herpetology
Bronx Zoo
- Jessi Krebs, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
- Mei Len Sanchez-Barr, Executive Director
EcoAdventures
- Matt Shirley, Research Associate
Rare Species Conservatory Foundation
- Bill Zeigler, Senior Vice President of Collections and Animal Care
Chicago Zoological Society
- Darryl Heard, B.V., Ph.D, Service Chief in Zoological Medicine
Universiy of Florida: College of Veterinary Medicine
For additional details please contact the AZA
Professional Training Department or call (301) 562-0777.
Questions about the Crocodilian Advisory Group's Education efforts,
contact Education Liason: Mei Len Sanchez-Barr at meilens@aol.com.
If you need to contact us our email is:
cag@crocodylia.com
