CROCODILE MANAGEMENT CLASS, come on join the fun!!!

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Posted by Paul Bodnar on March 27, 2003 at 17:48:10:

Crocodilian Biology and Captive Management School 2003

Registration is now open for the AZA Board of Regents Crocodilian Biology
and Captive Management School, which focuses on the biology and captive
management of the Crocodylia. This course is developed and taught by
members of the AZA Crocodilian Advisory Group. The course will be held May
18-22, 2003 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL.

This is the course's third year, and now accepts AZA members, non-AZA
members, and international non-AZA participants.

This five-day training program on May 18-22 will concentrate on the captive
maintenance techniques, husbandry, breeding, and special requirements for
the care of crocodiles, caiman, gharials, and alligators in zoos and
aquariums. 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. On May 23 there will be an optional field trip to
Paynes Prairie, a large natural wetland just south of Gainesville, FL.
Students will have a chance to view wild alligators. In the past years,
students have seen dozens, even hundreds, of alligators basking, bellowing,
courting and mating. Students will travel to the prairie by van. The trip
includes a stop at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Students will
return to St. Augustine in the early evening.

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.

Letter of support
All applicants must submit a letter of institutional support from their
Executive Director. The letter should outline the applicant's qualifications
and needs for participating in the course. Release Form
Students will be required to sign a release (included on the registration
form) and be covered for worker's compensation by their institution.
Students who are not covered by worker's compensation should contact Alexis
Weider, AZA Training Administrator, or call 301-562-0777, ext. 238.

A registration form can be downloaded from
http://crocodilian.com/cbcm-registration.doc

R. Andrew Odum, Curator
Department of Herpetology
Toledo Zoological Society
PO. Box 140130
2700 Broadway
Toledo, OH 43614

Phone: 419-385-5721
FAX: 419-389-8670

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