Animal Management

Animal management with a focus on zoo and wildlife conservation addresses one of the most important practical challenges in conservation biology: how to maintain healthy, thriving animal populations in captivity as part of broader strategies for species survival and public education. Modern zoos are not simply entertainment venues but institutions with serious responsibilities for conservation breeding, research, and public engagement with biodiversity. Studying this field combines the biological sciences of animal behaviour, ecology, and veterinary science with the management and conservation frameworks that govern the work.

This three-year full-time programme at Anglia Ruskin University develops your knowledge of animal biology and behaviour alongside the practical and professional skills needed to work in zoo and wildlife conservation settings. You will study animal physiology, nutrition, health and welfare, and reproductive biology, and engage with the behavioural science that underpins good animal management. Conservation biology and wildlife management principles are integrated throughout, placing zoo practice in the context of global biodiversity challenges.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 points, the programme is accessible to students with a strong interest in animals and conservation and a commitment to developing professional expertise in the field.

Graduates from animal management and zoo conservation programmes move into careers in zoological collections, wildlife organisations, and conservation projects. Zookeeper roles, animal care positions in wildlife parks and sanctuaries, and work with conservation NGOs are direct paths. Fieldwork and research roles with wildlife conservation organisations, government agencies, and national parks draw on the biological and conservation knowledge developed in the degree.

Environmental education, visitor interpretation, and public engagement work in zoos and nature reserves are further routes that combine scientific knowledge with communication skills. Many graduates also move into veterinary nursing or ancillary roles in veterinary practice, or go on to postgraduate study in conservation biology, zoology, or animal behaviour to develop specialist research expertise.