AD3ZES: Zoo and Exotic Animal Science

Module code: AD3ZES

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Mrs Rebecca Morgan, email: r.morgan@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Kate Johnson, email: k.f.johnson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Why do zoos exist? What is the scientific understanding that underpins the management practices of exotic animal collections and animals kept as pets, to maintain animal health and welfare? What does the behaviour of a zoo animal or exotic animal kept as a pet tell us about its welfare? How can we use observations to understand and improve an animal’s health and welfare? To answer these questions you’ll:

• Understand the science underpinning management of various species of animals such as exotic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish kept in zoos or domestic settings
• Develop skills in critical evaluation of animal management practices and the welfare of small exotic animals kept in zoos and as pets
• Carry out and write up a small-scale behavioural research project
• Consider the global and local context of zoos, animal establishments, and the trade in exotic animals

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Discuss and critically analyse underlying scientific concepts and principles for keeping exotic animals in captive settings, to propose solutions and improvements for welfare
2. Critically evaluate methods and techniques for zoo animal behavioural observations, and analyse, critically interpret, contextualise, and present scientific data
3. Critically discuss the local and global context of zoos, small exotic animal collections, and the exotic pet trade

Module content

The course contents will draw on a range of example species including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish, and will introduce and critically discuss topics such as:

• An introduction to zoological and domestic exotic animal collections, their function & management
• Legislation related to the trade, procurement and keeping of exotic species in both domestic and zoo environments
• Importance of studying behaviour and welfare of zoo and exotic animals and relationships between animal husbandry and behaviour, health and welfare
• Nutritional requirements and feeding methods/strategies for different species
• Environmental requirements and methods of accommodating these for different species
• The management of zoo and exotic animals to allow expression of normal behaviour
• Behavioural observation techniques
• Approaches to analysis of collected behavioural data
• Best practice for presenting scientific data

Where possible, guest speakers from zoos/exotic animal collections may be invited to take part. The practical content will cover:

• Visits to selected zoos/animal collections
• A zoo/exotic animal behavioural study providing practical experience of how to plan, conduct, and present a small-scale behavioural observation-based research project

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course will be comprised of a range of lectures, seminars and tutorials, with visits to zoological collections and/or exotic small animal establishments/businesses, including practical experience of how to plan, conduct and present a small-scale behaviour observation-based research project.

Study hours

At least 48 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative work on methods and pilot day for the small-scale research project.

Reassessment

Additional costs