Membership
Membership of the Association is open to those directly involved in the field of wild animal husbandry and those working towards careers in this field.
​
Members must support the aims and objectives of the Association and comply with its Constitution and Byelaws.
​​
Open to those who are employed as wild animal keepers or zoo professionals aged 18 or over. Employment should be on a permanent or long term contract and be the applicant’s primary occupation.
For example: an employed animal keeper who undertakes part time study in addition to their job, would qualify for professional membership. However, a student who undertakes a few hours a week of paid zoo work, summer jobs, or cares for college animals as part of their course, would not qualify for professional membership.
Other zoo professionals that would qualify for professional membership must have an integral role in animal welfare or conservation at their institution e.g. curators, zoo marketing personnel, zoo educators, zoo horticultural personnel, animal college lecturers, zoo veterinarian personnel. Retail, catering or ground staff would not qualify for ABWAK membership.
Private wild animal keepers, dependant on the species kept, also qualify for professional membership.
Details of current occupation must be provided on the ABWAK membership application form and employment referees may be asked for.
Open to those, aged 18 or over, not employed as wild animal keepers or zoo professionals (e.g. students, interns or zoo volunteers). The purpose of associate membership is to aid those aiming to become employed as animal keepers or other zoo professionals.
​
​Students must be actively studying in a related animal field to qualify for ABWAK membership.
​
​Zoo volunteers and interns included in this category are those working in animal husbandry e.g. alongside keepers at that institution.
​
​Associate members receive all the benefits of membership except they have no voting rights, are not eligible to stand for Council election. NB: We no longer offer joint associate memberships.
​
​Detail of current occupation must be provided on the ABWAK membership application form and references may be asked for.
​
Professional members receive full benefits of membership as well as voting rights and are eligible to stand for election to the Council.
​
Open to those who are employed as wild animal keepers or zoo professionals aged 18 or over. Employment should be on a permanent or long term contract and be the applicant’s primary occupation. For example: an employed animal keeper who undertakes part time study in addition to their job, would qualify for professional membership. However, a student who undertakes a few hours a week of paid zoo work, summer jobs, or cares for college animals as part of their course, would not qualify for professional membership.
​
Other zoo professionals that would qualify for professional membership must have an integral role in animal welfare or conservation at their institution e.g. curators, zoo marketing personnel, zoo educators, zoo horticultural personnel, animal college lecturers, zoo veterinarian personnel. Retail, catering or ground staff would not qualify for ABWAK membership.
​
Private wild animal keepers, dependant on the species kept, also qualify for professional membership.
​
Details of current occupation must be provided on the ABWAK membership application form and employment referees may be asked for.
ABWAK provide a group membership rate if you sign up together with friends or are you a collection looking to fund multiple employees to become ABWAK members.
​
​Buy 7 memberships for the price of 6.
​
Buy 15 memberships for the price of 12.
​
Buy 25 memberships for the price of 20.
​