Zoo addresses are available on the websites of the following organisations, British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA),and the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA).

Please contact the membership secretary on membership@abwak.org

ABWAK Professional membership is for both people who are already keepers and managers of captive animals - whether they be private collections or visitor attractions.

ABWAK Associate Membership is for any students or those who are not yet working within the animal-keeping industry, but they are studying towards it.

Keep writing to Zoos and if possible work voluntarily at weekends to show you are willing, it is also possible to get a job doing something else in the Zoo so that when a vacancy occurs you are known to the organisation.

You need to write to individual Zoos, see our UK Zoos page for how to obtain their addresses.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to get a job as a Keeper without qualifications. Any animal-related degree would be relevent, i.e. Animal Biology, Zoo Management, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Marine Biology, etc. Whether you have qualifications or not you must show that you are enthusiastic about animals and prepared to work hard.

Many Zoos put vacancies on their websites. There is a 'Careers' page on both the ABWAK website and BIAZA websites. The weekly publication: “Cage and Aviary Birds” also includes job listings.

Land-based Colleges (there are around 35 of them in the country) run courses in Animal Management to Level 3 (National Diploma) some also run HND courses. A few colleges run degree courses in Animal Management, among these are Sparsholt, Reaseheath and Rodbaston. These colleges also provide hands-on experience during the course as many have animals on-site. There is also an Advanced National Certificate in Management of Zoo Animals at Sparsholt. You can also have degrees in Biology or Veterinary Medicine.

The addresses may be found on the website of the Association of Land-based Colleges www.landex.org.uk.

For forthcoming events run by ABWAK and other organisations see our News & Events page

Very often the programme is not finalised until very close to the event but the information should be on the ABWAK website at the end of January in the year of the event.