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• The history of zoos and wildlife preserves.

• Introduction to Animal Keeping and zoological facilities.

• Staff and guest safety. Zoological careers.

• The professional relationship between in-situ and ex-situ preserves and zoos.

• Animal behavior in-situ vs. ex-situ. Ethology: the science of animal behavior.

• Captive care and behavior.  Training animals for assisting in better care. Understanding ecology and natural behavior to assist in animal care and training. Animal communication and social behavior. Operant conditioning.

• Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and arthropods Africa. Introductory Taxonomy.

• Reproduction ex-situ. SSP/Species Survival Plans, management of breeding programs. Reproduction for reintroduction. Neonatal care and considerations for hand-rearing. Reproductive behavior. Parental and developmental behavior.  Recording and analyzing behavior.

• Record Keeping. Identifying and Marking Wildlife.

• Botany and grasses. Offering and enhancing seasonal browse and enrichment ex-situ based on natural seasonal feeding habits. Nutritional considerations. Pellets versus whole foods. Diets and growth rates, species specific dietary considerations.

• Conservation management in-situ vs ex-situ. Conservation based fundraising.

• Weather and climate. Creating more accurate climate for species ex-situ and choosing the correct species to exhibit in select geographic locations.

• Biomes of South Africa. Astronomy, ecology and geology. Exhibits and enclosures; Creating natural exhibit design. Design philosophy for on exhibit and off exhibit enclosures. Education and considering your visitors. Horticulture, landscaping, rock and tree sculpting. Enhancing the visitor experience.

•  History of animals under human care.

• Creating an educational nature experience in-situ and ex-situ. Educating the public. Specialized classes and age appropriate subjects. The ecophobia concept. Education through exhibitory signage.

• Research at ex-situ facilities. Field research .Application of ex-situ research to field projects. Rehabilitation of wildlife, release and reintroduction programs.

• Knowing you local Wildlife Legislation, Laws and Permits, Transport, Shipping and quarantine procedures.

• Safe Weapon handling, reading animal warning signs and dealing with dangerous animal escapes ex-situ. Animal capture and restraint methods. ​Shooting will be conducted with high and low caliber rifles on targets only.

• The art of tracking. Track and Sign training and evaluation.

• First Aid

Safari Guides Course

• Introduction to the natural environment and Biomes.

• Creating a guiding experience

• Geology

• Astronomy 

• weather and climate

• Introductory Ecology

• Introductory Taxonomy

• African Flora

• Amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals

• Animal behaviour

• Conservation management and historical human habitation.

• The art of tracking. Track and Sign training and evaluation.

• First Aid.

 

All ASGAI courses are endorsed and accredited by AFGA the African Field Guides Association. Part of the South african curriculum revolves around the FGASA ​​​​South African standards for South African Field Guide Certification and is trained by our highly qualified partners at the LFGA. The In-Ex-Situ Course, combines zoological subjects to make it relevant for African Wildlife Professionals and enthusiasts envolved in ex-situ conservation.

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The species covered in our course are indigenous to both South and East Africa. All our venues are rich in African fauna and flora and home to the Big 5 (elephant, rhino, cape buffalo, lion and leopard). 

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To be able to offer a course that will meet the requirements of each student, we keep our practical groups small. Participants will receive a certificate upon course completion.

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