Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the process of assisting with capture and restraint of animals that may need rescue and/or moving from one location to another.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application of the unit 

The unit is applicable to wildlife animal keepers or carers who are expected to perform tasks under supervision.

In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan the capture and restraint of animals

1.1. Species  of animal to be captured is confirmed.

1.2. Capture and restraint of animal are planned  in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

1.3. Role of individuals involved in the process is allocated and confirmed.

1.4. Equipment  required is identified and checked.

1.5. Occupational health and safety  (OHS ) and emergency procedures  relating to procedure are reviewed and put into place.

2. Capture and restrain animals

2.1. Capture and restraint equipment is used in a safe and humane manner , using safe lifting techniques, where appropriate.

2.2. Assistance  is provided in administering medication to animals under veterinary supervision where appropriate.

2.3. Animals are monitored carefully for distress and/or injury.

2.4. Dead animals are disposed of in accordance with legislative requirements and institutional policies and procedures, if relevant.

2.5. Capture and restraint equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

2.6. Debriefing sessions are conducted with relevant personnel after an animal capture.

3. Assist with animal transportation requirements

3.1. Animals are prepared  for transportation as directed.

3.2. Transport containers  appropriate to the species are designed or selected and prepared in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations.

3.3. Protocols and procedures  for shipment or transfer, including animal welfare requirements are followed under supervision.

3.4. Relevant documentation and reports are completed.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• complete animal husbandry tasks as required, including conditioning animal for transportation and providing special dietary requirements
• complete relevant documentation and reports
• employ safe, humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling, restraining and moving animals
• follow quarantine and disease control procedures
• implement institutional policies and procedures
• maintain capture and restraint tools and equipment and transport containers in accordance with manufacturers' specifications
• monitor animal health and behaviour for indicators of injury, compromised health or distress
• literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; follow treatment instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
• communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisors and consulting with supervisors
• numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures and transport container requirements as required
• interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
• problem solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks
• use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment
• use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge 

• anatomical structures and physiological features of animals related to capture, restraint and transportation
• animal husbandry requirements related to capture, restraint and transportation
• emergency procedures
• IATA shipment requirements and protocols
• maintenance of capture and restraint equipment
• principles of animal welfare and ethics
• principles of capture and restraint and associated behavioural and physiological aspects
• relevant institutional policies and procedures, including OHS, animal welfare, ethics, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines
• relevant legislation, including state or territory acts and codes of practice
• relevant quarantine requirements for the external shipment of animals.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

• assist with planning and implementing the safe capture and restraint of animals
• assist with moving animals in accordance with established protocols and legislative requirements
• complete relevant documentation and reports.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with capturing, restraining and moving animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a captive animal workplace.

There must be access in this situation to animals to capture and restrain, from at least two of the six major animal groups (amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles), as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment 

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

• written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
• observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
• simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
• third-party evidence
• workplace documentation
• portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Species  may include animals from the six major animal groups:

• amphibians
• birds
• fish
• invertebrates
• mammals
• reptiles.

Planning  requirements may include:

• assessment of the impact of the capture or restraint on animals and/or group
• choice of capture technique depending on species' characteristics:

• aggressive nature
• defence mechanisms
• flight or fight
• physiological attributes
• sex
• size
• stress response

• choice of staff, including veterinary
• climatic conditions
• contingency plans in the event of escape
• equipment required
• safety issues, including those relating to the public and the team involved in the capture or restraint
• time factors.

Equipment  may include:

• anaesthetic agents
• bags
• catch poles
• nets
• ropes
• transportation containers
• visual barriers.

OHS  risks when handling animals may include:

• animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
• biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
• handling of chemicals and medicines
• gas leakage
• inhalation of aerosol particles
• intraocular contamination
• manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
• needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
• release of infective agents (animal and human)
• slippery or uneven work surfaces
• zoonoses.

Emergency procedures  would relate to:

• injury to animal, other animals, staff and potentially the public
• potential escape of animal.

Safe and humane manner  requirements include:

• allocating sufficient time to the process
• appropriately restraining the animal
• conducting the capture or restraint out of the public's view
• observing stress in the animal
• using personal protective equipment.

Assistance  to the veterinarian may be provided by:

• safely and securely restraining the animal
• administering tranquillisers and/or sedatives
• using chemical agents.

Preparation  prior to transportation may include:

• building transport containers
• conditioning the animal for transport
• providing special dietary requirements.

Transport containers  may include:

• bags
• padded containers
• pouches
• shipping boxes
• transfer or crush cages.

Transportation protocols and procedures  may include:

• IATA shipment requirements and protocols
• container requirements
• transportation methods
• transportation standards for specific species
• food and water requirements.

Unit sector 

Captive animals

Competency field 

Co-requisite units