Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and monitor the implementation of an animal population management plan, by ensuring extensive liaison with internal and external personnel and assisting in the development of facility policies, manuals and records in species management.

The unit applies to senior team members with zoo keeping, wildlife care, aquarium or related experience who generally supervise others and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and unpredictable problems. Tasks may vary in scale from individual animal welfare to social group management, working across a range of programs or animal groups in the facility.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures according to Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.

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

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Exhibited Animals (EXH)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has:

• actioned activities to implement one species population plan for designated area, including:

• coordinated animal breeding and/or transfer activities
• communicated information to staff on species population plan
• maintained accurate records and documentation relating to species population plan

• researched and contributed information for species population plan for designated area, including:

• liaised with and accessed technical information from internal and external personnel
• analysed data and managed animal records
• provided recommendations for population planning to management.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• principles and objectives of population management, including:

• breeding or population control
• transfer of animals, species stocking
• wildlife conservation
• species recovery
• population planning requirements
• taxonomy and relevance to population management

• facility population planning policies and procedures, master plan and other relevant policies
• key requirements and guidelines of Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP):

• Regional Census and Plans
• criteria for studbook keeping

• role of the Zoo and Aquarium Association in population management
• working knowledge of international agreements, conventions and conservation status categories, including:

• World Zoo Conservation Strategy
• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

• animal welfare principles and ethics related to population management, including:

• Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Exhibited Animals
• state/territory regulations including native wildlife protection

• compliance requirements of state/territory legislation relevant to species population planning, including:

• animal welfare
• environment protection and biodiversity
• wildlife trade
• biosecurity

• animal identification to the sub-species level
• species-specific biology and husbandry of animals in designated area
• breeding and genetic concepts, including:

• concepts of inbreeding and outbreeding
• genetic principles for the management of species in captive care
• importance of breeding coefficients
• small population biology
• species stocking policies

• facility approved breeding and population control methods, including:

• fertility control – permanent or temporary; removal of nesting opportunities, removal and/or manipulation of eggs
• separation of males and females during breeding; keeping single sexes
• approved transfer of animals; euthanasia

• information management requirements, including:

• features of studbooks and animal husbandry manuals
• types of animal information management software
• database programs for record-keeping and data analysis
• formats for species population management plans and reports.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• an animal care workplace or an environment that accurately reflects a real workplace setting

• resources, equipment and materials:

• facility animal information management system, database or inventories
• studbooks and husbandry manuals

• specifications:

• facility policies and procedures and relevant ASMP Regional Census and Plan

• relationships:

• internal and external personnel.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103